10 Ways to Make Your Entryway Look More Expensive, According to Interior Designers

5 min read

Whether it’s a grand foyer or modest front hall, entryways do more than simply connect the front door to the rest of the house. They offer a glimpse into the home’s personality, welcoming you home at the end of the day, inviting in guests, and creating that all-important first impression.

While you may only spend a few minutes there at a time, an entryway shapes nearly every departure and return, making it one of the most influential spaces in the home. Fortunately, creating an elevated, luxurious-looking entryway doesn’t necessarily require a major remodel or renovation.

“Making it feel more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean adding more,” says Tracy Morris, principal designer at Tracy Morris Design. “It’s about thoughtful lighting, beautiful materials, restraint, and choosing a few elements that have real presence. The goal is to create a space that feels warm, polished, and intentional without feeling overly styled.”

To find out how to give your entryway the luxe, design-forward makeover it deserves, we turned to the pros. Ahead, interior designers share their favorite strategies for transforming a lackluster entryway into an engaging space worthy of its place at the front of your home.

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Create a True Sense of Arrival

“The most luxurious entryways aren’t necessarily about expensive furnishings,” says Amanda Hickam, owner and principal designer of Harper Harris Design. “They’re about creating a sense of arrival.”

Architecturally, a dedicated foyer creates what Hickam describes as “a moment of compression before the home opens up beyond it,” giving guests a chance to pause and transition into the rest of the house. Even if you don’t have a traditional foyer, defining the space with a rug, statement light fixture, console table, artwork, or a combination of all of the above can create that same intentional feeling.

“The best entryways create a transition between the outside world and inside the home,” Hickam says. “A moment to pause, feel welcomed, and anticipate what’s beyond.”

Layer Your Lighting

Lighting is one of the fastest ways to elevate an entryway, and designers agree that relying solely on an overhead fixture rarely creates the most welcoming atmosphere.

“Lighting is one of the quickest ways to make an entry feel warm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed,” says Morris, who recommends layering a beautiful ceiling fixture with recessed lighting to highlight artwork, plus a table lamp on the console for a softer glow throughout the day.

“A lamp glowing on the entry console creates the kind of warm, tiered lighting scheme that feels immediately inviting,” adds Kathy Kuo, interior designer and founder and CEO of Kathy Kuo Home. Choosing a dimmable lamp makes it easy to transition from bright daytime lighting to a softer evening ambiance.

SAFAVIEH Jillianna Travertine & White Table LampSAFAVIEH Jillianna Travertine & White Table LampHang an Oversize Mirror

Few design elements work harder in an entryway than a mirror—and not just because it’s ideal for last-minute touch-ups as you’re walking out the door. “A large-scale mirror bounces light throughout your entryway and doubles the sense of space, which is especially transformative in a tight foyer,” says Kuo. “It’s one of the oldest tricks in a designer’s book, and that’s because it works every time.”

For even greater impact, she recommends choosing a mirror with an antique finish or sculptural frame that functions as artwork while reflecting natural light throughout the room.

A Large 19th-Century Round Painted MirrorA Large 19th-Century Round Painted MirrorAdd Architectural Details

One of the quickest ways to make a home feel custom is by introducing architectural character. “Custom millwork always lends genuine architectural presence to a room, and picture frame molding is one of the simplest ways to do it,” says Kuo. The panels can be left simple or used to frame artwork or wallpaper, instantly giving an otherwise plain foyer greater depth and sophistication.

Hickam also recommends giving entryway walls, and even ceilings, their own identity through wallpaper, specialty paint finishes, or bold color. “It creates that subtle but important feeling of, ‘I’ve arrived,’” she says.

Thomas Loof

Choose One Standout Piece

Rather than filling the space with an abundance of decorative accessories and furniture, focus on one memorable feature.

“Whatever your style, select furnishings that exude wealth,” says Vicente Wolf, interior designer and founder of Vicente Wolf Associates, and that doesn’t mean chasing labels or items with a hefty price tag. He says, “That might mean a significant piece of art, an antique, or exquisitely crafted console—but it could also mean something unexpected such as a piano or unusual sculptural object.”

Giving the eye one focal point creates a stronger impression than competing collections of smaller objects. “The key is to give the eye something memorable to discover,” he adds.

Erbavoglio Milano Erbavoglio Milano Hand-Painted Copper Ornamental FlowerErbavoglio Milano Erbavoglio Milano Hand-Painted Copper Ornamental FlowerLet the Space Breathe

Luxury often isn’t about adding more, but removing what’s unnecessary. “Less really is more,” says Wolf. “Air around the furnishings gives a room a relaxed quality that allows the design elements to have greater impact.”

Instead of pushing every inch of the room full of furniture, allow your console table and decorative pieces enough breathing room to appreciate their proportions. The resulting sense of restraint usually feels far more sophisticated than a heavily decorated space.

Morris agrees. “I would rather see three meaningful objects with presence than ten accessories competing for attention.”

Incorporate Rich Textures

Texture is one of the simplest, yet most effective ways to make an entryway feel layered and engaging. “Wall texture truly does make a space feel more expensive,” says Morris.

Whether it’s grasscloth, plaster, textured wallpaper, or a specialty finish, adding dimension to the walls creates richness and character that paint simply can’t replicate. Since entryways are typically compact, Morris says they’re an ideal place to experiment with more distinctive finishes without overwhelming the rest of the home.

Thomas Loof

Don’t Overlook the Floor

What’s underfoot matters just as much as what’s at eye level. “A beautiful rug or thoughtfully selected flooring immediately establishes a sense of grounding when you walk through the door,” says Morris. Her go-to is antique or vintage rugs because they introduce warmth, history, and character while standing up well to daily traffic. In more contemporary homes, a tonal, textural rug offers a similar effect.

Whatever style you choose, scale matters just as much. “A rug that is too small can make even a beautifully furnished foyer feel less considered,” she says.

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Fresh greenery instantly breathes life into an entryway, so don’t hold back when it comes to scale. Or, you can instead opt for dried arrangements for lower maintenance.

“A generously scaled vase filled with tall branches brings life, height, and a little bit of drama to your entry table,” says Kuo. She recommends changing the branches with the seasons, from cherry blossoms in springtime to pine in winter, to keep the space feeling fresh throughout the year.

Introduce Reflective Finishes

Strategic shine can make even a modest-sized entryway feel grander. “Lacquered ceilings and reflective floors expand the space and give a subliminal wow factor,” says Wolf.

Reflective surfaces bounce light throughout the room, making it feel brighter, larger, and more glamorous, similarly to how oversized mirrors function. A polished stone floor, mirrored accent, or high-gloss painted ceiling can introduce just enough shimmer to create understated luxury.