Your entryway is more than just a place to drop shoes and keys—it’s your home's first impression. It sets the tone for everything that follows. At Vancouver Views, we wanted the entry to feel intentional, inviting, and above all—good. Not just "wow" on Instagram, but the kind of good where you exhale the second you walk in.
We asked ourselves: how do you create a sense of arrival without making it feel formal? How do you open up the space without making it echo? How do you blend character, flow, and warmth—especially when you're dealing with outdated bones?
Stick with us through the details, then grab the goods at the end.
How To Transform Your Entry?
Step 1: Open It Up (Literally)
Start by asking: Can this space breathe?
If there’s anything blocking sight lines, interrupting flow, or chopping up the space—consider simplifying or swapping it out. Sometimes the biggest design impact comes from simplifying.
Step 2: Light It Like You Mean It
Your entry light sets the tone. Period.
Skip the builder-grade boob light and go for a fixture with shape, warmth, and a finish that nods to your home's vibe. Bonus points if it ties in with other fixtures nearby. At Vancouver Views, we used a sculptural fixture in a warm tone that introduced brass and copper used throughout the home.
Step 3: Rethink the Railing
If you’ve got a stairwell, your railing matters. A lot.
We replaced a dated railing with one that was clean, modern, and light-sharing—aka it doesn’t block light or sight lines. Topped it with a white oak rounded cap that matches the floors for continuity. Pro move, especially to have it feel good in the hand!
Step 4: Mind Your Art Placement
Yes, you can have a gallery wall in a stairwell—but placement is everything.
Make sure your art isn’t hiding behind a railing or battling with the light fixture. Staggered frames, soft spacing, and neutral frames can keep things feeling elevated, not cluttered.
And don’t forget mixing materials. If you have acrylic paint on wall 1, opt for a different medium on wall 2, like textured art or a gallery wall.
Check out an oldie but goodie blog post with some meaty info:
Step 5: Fix the Architectural Funk (If You Can)
We swapped an awkward octagonal window (or as Teal calls it: octa–what-now?) for a crisp square one. Small shift, huge difference. You don’t always need new walls—sometimes you just need smarter shapes.
Step 6: Honor the Past Without Living In It
That vintage chair you inherited from Grandma? Keep it—but don’t force it.
Layer it with updated rugs, modern lighting, and fresh paint. The key is letting sentimental pieces breathe within a current layout. At Vancouver Views, Grandma’s chair found a spot that made it feel relevant, not random.
Step 7: Finish With Feeling
A great entry doesn’t shout—it welcomes.
It should make you feel something every time you walk in. Start with flow, layer in light, then add art and furniture that tell your story.
Ready to make your own entryway feel just as intentional as our Vancouver Views project? You can shop below what we would pick to finish off the space! But if this isn’t your style, don’t worry, we have many styles to select from…
Want to shop based on YOUR own design style? We’ve got you!
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Need Hands On Help?
Our PowerHour service is a great way to get to know us, what we would do in your space, and get the project scoped — including styling.
In the Powerhour we'll tackle your design challenges through suggestions, spatial planning, material selection, renovation help, suggestions for new pieces, or refreshing existing pieces... the possibilities are infinite!
If you’ve already had a PowerHour, but want consulting time, please reach out to us!
Your FREE Resource Guide Awaits…
Now that the Vancouver Views entry has a fresh foundation—new floors, a stunning modern railing, and the kind of lighting that sets the tone—it’s the perfect time to layer in new pieces. We pulled together a curated Shop the Look with everything we’d source if we were styling this space from scratch today.
Your FREE Shop the Look is ready—just download the PDF below and start dreaming.✨
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