Entryways are an incredibly powerful way to increase the value of your home and to help your home to sell quickly once it is on the market. The entryway sets the tone for the inside of your house. It is the first thing visitors and buyers see once they clear the front door. Creating a great entryway is easy, and it doesn’t have to break the bank.
Shrinking Entryways
Entryways have been getting steadily smaller over the past thirty years. This is because of a combination of changing tastes and because it helps lower energy costs. Many buyers prefer smaller entryways to the large, cavernous spaces that were once popular. However, it is important to still have a space where guests can get their bearings before entering the rest of the house.
A typical size for a modest entryway is four by five feet. This is enough room for a visitor to notice the entryway without it wasting the valuable square footage of the house. There are also many tricks you can use with mirrors and lighting to make a small space seem larger and more inviting.
Know Where to Go
An entryway should not feel like a closet. Ideally, you should be able to see into the rest of the house. Once someone is in the entryway it should be obvious where they need to go next. Some modern entryways open onto a long hallway that allows a visitor to see all the way into the backyard.
If your entryway is completely closed off from every other room, it can make the house feel dark and unwelcoming. If possible, try and eliminate a wall to allow visibility between at least one room and the entryway.
Flooring, Lighting, and Furnishing
Even if your house has a back door or a mudroom, the front entryway will still see a lot of visitors. Make sure to choose flooring that is both elegant and durable. Instead of carpet, try a slate or stone floor. Soft wood floors easily dent and show wear and tear faster than many other flooring choices.
Using different flooring in the entry from the rest of the house also helps set the area apart as special. It can help your house appear larger.
You want to have plenty of lighting in the entryway. You can add natural lighting with a window above the door. Another excellent choice is to have a hanging light fixture or chandelier in the entryway.
The entryway doesn’t need much in the way of furnishing. However, a few tastefully chosen pieces can make all the difference. Depending on the climate, a coat rack and an umbrella stand will make guests feel at home while also keeping wet objects away from the rest of your house. If your entryway is slightly larger, a small table gives the entryway more ambiance.
Don’t waste the chance to make a strong first impression. Invest in an inviting and practical entryway and you will reap the rewards when you sell your home.
Please see our Market Reports for a complete city by city analysis on the Marin County real estate market.
Behzad Zandinejad
Broker Associate
A Top Producing Agent for 2015
BRE#01175448
Decker Bullock Sotheby’s International Realty
100 Tiburon Blvd, Mill Valley, CA.94941
Tel:415-793-0015
Marin County Real Estate Report