A shabby chic entryway is a romantic welcome for your guests, a calling card for those visiting for the first time. There's a saying: "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression." In short, the first impression is what really counts.
Did you know that your brain only takes 7 seconds to decide if it likes something? And this also applies to homes. A quick glance is enough to make you feel comfortable (or, conversely, uncomfortable) in a room.
This is why it's important to decorate the entryway in a pleasant way: it's the first thing guests see of our home. However, entryways are often small, a bit cramped, and poorly lit, which is another reason why they're so overlooked in home decor!
If you want to revitalize your entryway, you'll first need to decide which style to decorate it in: it's very important that the entryway decor is consistent with the rest of the home. Do you love shabby chic and Provençal elegance? Then this is the approach you should follow! Let's explore how to furnish a shabby chic entryway so that it's both elegant and functional.
The identikit of a shabby chic entryway that's perfect
First, let's understand the characteristics of a shabby chic entryway that's perfect, romantic, and captivating. The term "shabby chic" refers to a style with a worn look that retains its refinement. Classic, slightly French, yet artfully distressed furniture is your perfect ally.
The most classic shabby chic color is white, best paired with beige, pastel tones, dove gray, caffe latte, and natural wood grain. If your entryway is very small, white walls and a mirror are always a good idea.
If you have a larger space, wow everyone with a beautiful striped wall! Whether you decide to buy wallpaper or paint the wall, it doesn't matter: beautiful, wide vertical stripes in pearl gray, lavender, or light brown will give the room a wonderfully refined look.
And now that we've thought about the walls, let's move on to the most fun part of decorating a shabby chic entryway: choosing furniture and decorations!
Decorating a shabby chic entryway: essential elements
The entryway is strategically important: it's a passageway, where we often put our things as soon as we get home. Each item needs its own place. There's a place where you always put your keys, a place where you take off your shoes and put on your slippers, a place where you put your bag... it doesn't take much to make the entryway a mess if it's not well-organized! So be sure to always arrange your furniture with both aesthetics and practicality in mind.
What do you need to decorate a shabby chic entryway?
Shabby chic entryway cabinets: a space-saving solution without sacrificing style
Let's see if this situation sounds familiar. You're on the couch, finally taking a relaxing break, when you get a phone call: it's that friend you haven't seen in a while and who wants to stop by for a moment because she's nearby. You look around and...let's just say the house isn't exactly tidy. Help, especially today!
If things like this happen to you, perhaps you need some shabby chic entryway cabinets to quickly hide everything that's out of place. Yes, we know it's cheating, but you can always tidy up after your friend has moved out! That's why cabinets for trinkets and storage are a must-have in a shabby chic entryway: they enhance the space, provide a storage surface (which you can decorate with candles and ornaments), and are much larger than they appear on the outside.
When furnishing a shabby chic entryway, it's best to opt for cabinets in white, ivory, or beige, or even dark wood. One thing's for sure: whatever their color, the practicality and beauty of a shabby chic entryway piece will win you over.
The shabby chic entryway bench: all the comfort you need
There's not always room for a proper closet in the entryway. In fact, in most homes, this room is very small. However, you may need a cabinet to put your shoes away as soon as you enter the house, and then slip on your slippers.
A shabby chic entryway bench with baskets and drawers is the perfect solution! In one fell swoop, you'll have a padded seat to rest on while taking off your shoes, and convenient storage compartments to keep your slippers close at hand. This way, you'll never have to wander around barefoot again, or leave unnecessary dirt on the floor.
In distressed white, it will stand out beautifully against a colored wall, while in natural wood, it will give the room a warm and comfortable feel. Get inspired by the shabby chic entryway benches in our online store; you'll find a selection of small Provençal-style chests perfect for decorating shabby chic entryways!
How to decorate a shabby chic entryway with a console table
Here it is, the queen of shabby chic entryways: the console table! A quick browse on Pinterest will confirm it: a shabby chic entryway console table instantly enhances any room. Not sure how to choose the perfect console table for you? In our online store, you'll find a selection of coffee tables and small console tables that will look stunning even in your entryway!
This type of furniture requires absolute symmetry: place it on the wall opposite the entryway and hang a clock or a beautiful mirror directly above the console table.
Decorate the top of a shabby chic console table with a few well-chosen ornaments: candles, decorative plates, knick-knacks...you can also place a few items at the foot of the console table, like a pair of lanterns or a small stool. Complete with a rug in natural colors and...we bet it's already become your favorite corner of the house?
What's a must-have for a shabby chic entryway? A refined umbrella stand!
Finally, what's a must-have for a truly shabby chic entryway? A beautiful umbrella stand, of course! Even better if it's in delicate pastel shades and decorated with writing and a retro motif.
Umbrella stands are often overlooked decorative accessories, but they can add a touch of sophistication to your shabby chic entryway. It's certainly not pleasant to come home after a rainy day and create a giant puddle on the floor, just as it's not ideal to leave an umbrella lying around the house and not have it readily available before you leave.
In our store, you'll find a range of elegant and functional umbrella stands, small home decor elements to furnish a shabby chic entryway without losing sight of the style of your foyer, and to match with storage units, console tables, and indoor benches.
Now there's only one thing missing to decorate a shabby chic entryway and make it truly unique: some handmade accessories! Let's take a look at some DIY ideas.
Three DIY ideas to make your shabby chic entryway unique!
Shabby chic style thrives on DIY! Sure, buying a brand new piece of furniture is always nice, but complementing it with something handcrafted and made by yourself will make your home infinitely more precious and more "yours."
If you're a creative person and have good craftsmanship, here are three DIY ideas for decorating your shabby chic entryway!
A pallet coat rack to decorate your shabby chic entryway
Credits: www.evercreative.com
Shabby chic entryway decor always starts with recycled materials. For example, how about creating a beautiful coat rack with pallets? All you need is a pallet, chalk paint (which gives surfaces a beautiful weathered look and can be applied without sanding first), and a few vintage handles, which you can find at flea markets and antique shops. Remember to create a small shelf with nails and a hammer: this will allow you to decorate your DIY shabby chic coat rack with flowers and ornaments.
Decorate a shabby chic entryway with a shelf made of wooden crates
Credits: www.bricobravo.com
Entrances are often not completely separated from the living area. After all, we live in the age of open-plan living. So why not partially divide the spaces with a small shelf? You can create one by attaching (with glue or nails) a few painted wooden crates together!
Exploit the full decorative potential of wooden crates to create truly original cabinets. A little tip? Don't arrange all the boxes facing the same direction, but alternate them: this way, you can fill the shelf on both sides, decorating both rooms at once. If you want to add movement to the composition, arrange the boxes in a ladder-like fashion, taking care to arrange some vertically and others horizontally. With such an original piece of furniture, your shabby chic entryway will be even more beautiful.
A super shabby DIY idea? Use an old door!
Credits: www.welke.nl
That's right: you can decorate your shabby chic entryway using a recycled door. First, you'll need to decide whether to paint it a beautiful themed color (white, dove gray, pastel shades, etc.) or leave it in natural wood. In this case, you'll still need to sand and polish it to restore its former glory. And now that you've arranged the surface... go wild!
You can transform the door into a fully-fledged wall unit: add handles to hang coats, shelves to decorate with plants and ornaments, smaller hooks to hang keys... even a mirror! The only limit is your imagination. Glue, nails, and a hammer will help you secure each element to the door surface.
Now that you know how to decorate a shabby chic entryway, don't waste any more time: we bet you can't wait to get started!
