HOT PROPERTY

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GIVE YOUR ENTRYWAY MORE PERSONALITY

Aweddinginvitation

gives a firstglimpse of the celebration’s style, as an entryway offers a preview of a home’s style.

Whether it’sgot tons of spaceorissmall and cozy,yourentryway should be as well-thought-out as the rest of your house.

Check out these tips to maximize your front door space.

Hang an interesting mirror

Mirrors have amagical quality that lets them help makeadark area lighter.When natural light hits the mirror,itbounces off,creating morelight. Find one in a sculptural frame that works with the room’sstyle. But be careful whereyou position it: avoid having it face a white wall or abunch of backpacks!

Keep it tidy

Connect it to the restofthe house

“I always trytoincorporate what we’redoing forthe rest of the houseinto the entryway,” says Jodie Okun of Jodie Okun Interiors in VenturaCounty.“Youalways want aflow.IfI’m doing the downstairs,for example, I’ll pick four colors that you’ll seerepeated throughout the houseindifferent tones.”

Create afocal point

To make theentryway feel grounded, pick something that could be the room’sfocal point, which is the first thing that drawsthe attention of someone entering a room. “The focal point depends on the arrangement of the entrance,”saysOkun. “If there’sawall to anchor

the space,it’salwaysnicetoput some type of console or dresser there.”Ifyou don’thavemuch room, youcould paint one wall in abold color to makeitstand out. Okun says that aprettylamp on aconsole could work as a focal point too.

Lighten up

The right lighting is as essential in the entryway as it is in the kitchen or living room. “If youhavealow ceiling, youwant afixturethat people aren’twalking into!” says Okun. “If youhaveahigh ceiling, that’sagreatway to bring your eyedowntoabeautiful light fixturelikea pendant lamp or chandelier.”

Don’tlet apile of muddy boots or an overloaded coat rack define the space. Create aneat, uncluttered entrythat doesn’tforce guests to step over anything on theirway inside.Okun’ssuggestions: acabinet, baskets, bench with storageunderneath, boottrayorcoathooks.

Always go with something youlove

Even if you’re dealing with asmall space,you should be happywith everydetail. “I neverwant anyone to put anything in their housethat they’re like, ‘I’mnot sure about this,’”saysOkun. Itell them, ‘We’llfind something else.’There’salwayssomething else.”

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Aproperly decorated entryway should reflect the home’soverall style. Photos courtesy of

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