Your entryway is the first thing people see when they walk into your home. It’s their first impression so selecting the right design and decor is super important! Whether you want your guests to feel warm and cozy when they arrive, or want to impress them with a bold statement, the entryway truly sets the tone for your home.
Step 1: Planning
I had been wondering what to do with our entryway the moment we moved into our loft (three years ago). but it was only recently that I decided to tackle the project—and even then I struggled with my vision. I changed my mind about a million times but finally sketched out my idea to visualize it better. Here is the before photo along with my original ideas for this space:
Step 2: Prep & Paint
Once I got a better idea of what I wanted to do, it was time to get to work. I cleared out the entire area, removed everything that was hanging on the back walls, gave everything a good cleaning, and then headed to the hardware store for some paint. I ended up selecting the Interior Eggshell Enamel Paint & Primer In One by Behr paints in the color Limousine Leather for the back wall.
YES, I planned to paint my wall BLACK.
I decided I wanted a bold color on the back wall, and since so much of the design elements in my loft are black, I felt it was the perfect color to tie in the entryway.
Here’s where things get interesting… I made a TikTok video about how excited I was to paint one of my white walls black, and it BLEW UP. Within a few hours my 7 second video had already hit a few million views, and by the end of the weekend we went full on VIRAL with 9 million views. The video is still getting views to this day and at the time of this blog publishing we are currently at 5.1 million views! Here is the video for your viewing pleasure…
Step 3: Vertical Wood Slat Accent Wall
It took some time before I decided what to do with the corner nook in the far back of the hallway. I knew I wanted to offset the black wall and add something that brightened up the space, and a vertical wood slat accent wall was the perfect solution. Check out this blog post with the full step-by-step tutorial on how to do it. It’s a relatively simple project and didn’t take much time at all! In the meantime, here’s a video tutorial.
Something hilarious that ended up happening during this project actually happened during a TikTok Live! I was staining the wood and accidentally spilled the rest of the black paint can all over the entryway floor, rug, and wall! It was a mess. Here’s a recap in case you missed it…
Step 4: Entryway Decor
If you know me, you know that decorating is by far my favorite part of any project. I love how adding even just a few things to a space can make a huge difference!
- Artwork—The artwork I selected was actually a DIY project! I build a custom canvas frame, ordered a 68″x80″ wall tapestry from Society6, wrapped the tapestry tight around the frame and secured it with staples, nailed in some wood trim along the outside to create a custom frame, and then painted it black. Click here for the video tutorial.
- Entry Table—For this space I went with a long, black entry table by Studio McGee to tie in the color from the back wall and to also offer some contrast against the white wall.
- Storage Baskets—I added functional storage for our dog’s toys using two wicker baskets that are displayed on the bottom shelf of the entry table.
- Catchall—Every entryway needs some form of catchall dish. This decorative bowl from Target is great because it’s not only functional, but also very stylish!
- Floor Mirror—Whenever you’re painting a wall black its important to add a few elements to keep the space from looking to dark, one of them being reflective surfaces. This floor length mirror was the perfect fit for this space and the gold metallic trim looks so nice against the dark wall.
- Runner—This entryway is really long so an entry runner was a must! I went with a black and white tribal pattern from Ruggable, but these are two almost identical options if you have a smaller budget. (Rug 1, Rug 2)
- Decor Extras—For entryways, I always love to add a few details like coffee table books, candle holders, and a plant!
- Candle holders—Using multiple candle holders that vary in height is a great way to add dimension. (Here are two that I love from Crate & Barrel)
- Coat rack & bench—A coat or shoe rack is an entryway essential. I found mine on Amazon but ended up giving it a black paint job to match the aesthetic.
