Organizing Ideas for a Split-Entry Home

Each home’s entryway is one of its most prominent rooms, giving guests and potential buyers a first impression which affects how they feel in the house. Entryways into split-entry homes are particularly challenging to decorate, as the two stairways, one top up, one leading down, can make the space seem as a transition stage as opposed to a location for greetings.

Warm Lighting

Because visitors enter a split-entry directly from outdoors, it is important to ease the transition from the brightness of sunlight or the dimness of night. Even if the rest of your house is always dim or bright, use light which you are able to control in the split-entry. You can do this by placing a dimmer switch on a hanging or chandelier lamp, or incorporating candles into the space to present cozy, soft light during the nighttime.

Vertical Storage

The stairways that exude at a split-entry can exude the space of precious floor space. This may limit storage and decoration choices. Use vertical pieces, including tall bookshelves, to add interest to the space without making it feel too busy. A tall corner shelf with a triangular footprint will fit well in many split-entries. Try matching furnishings into the bannister or railings to get a consistent look that starts in the split-entry and continues into the rest of the house.

Single Focal Point

Split-entry rooms lack a natural focus. Rather, visitors have their eyes drawn in multiple directions from the stairways which lead to different areas of the house. To repair this, add a single focal point, such as a large sculpture, bright decorative or painting chair. This will help to center the space and make it feel less like a distance of transition.

Establish Color Schemes

The entryway is the place to set up color schemes which will persist through the house. Use wallpaper or paint to tie your upstairs and downstairs colour palettes together. Instead of using a neutral colour, incorporate colors from the floors with a multicolored, marbled paint job or a chair molding which divides subdued versions of the upstairs colour above and also the downstairs colour under.

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