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Beautiful entry ways + the best consoles

April 26, 2017 How to create a beautiful entry way. Photo via Oh Happy Day.

It wasn't until I didn't have a console for my entry way that I realised how much I relied on one. Not only was there nowhere to drop my keys when I first walked through the door, but everything that belonged in the hallway - hats, coats and gumboots - started to drift into other rooms throughout our home. Practicalities aside, there was nothing visually anchoring the entrance to our home. It was missing colour, texture - and personality. Here, I've listed my top five top tips to consider when buying a console, along with my favourite looks and products to give your entry way a fresh new look. Top: Jordan from Oh Happy Day created the perfect balance of style and functionality in her beautiful entry way. Photo via Oh Happy Day.

Inspiring hallways and entry ways: Christina Prescott's beach house.

A stool, side table and row of hooks make a stunning - and functional - entrance. Photo via Christina Prescott.

5 things to consider when buying a console

1. Practicalities First, think about how you use the hallway in your home. If you like to have your keys, wallet and spare coins at hand when you come and go, consider getting a console with drawers as a way to organise your stuff and stash any clutter. However, if your kids use the hallway as a place to dump their shoes and outer wear, you could use a bench as a seat for putting on shoes, with baskets underneath for shoes and hooks above for hanging hats, coats and bags.

A bench seat with a row of hooks for hanging bags and hats makes an inviting entrance in this home. Photo via Tigmi Trading.

2. Space Keep the length and width of your hallway in mind when choosing a new console or bench. If your hallway is narrow, choose a console that is around 35cm to 40cm wide. Alternately, you could hang a floating shelf as a handy bench top to stash your stuff. A mantle with hooks hung high on your wall can also save valuable space in an entry way. Check out Australian company Willow and Wood for their wall-mounted mantles, benches and hooks for the mudroom.

The Virginia mantel by Willow and Wood is a stylish space-saver.

Fresh ideas and favourite looks for a stunning entry way. Photo via Child Mags.

With space at a premium, a set of Eames wall hooks is a practical and vibrant solution for kids in this home - and a blackboard wall can be used for messages and reminders. Photo via Child Mags.

A row of hooks and woven baskets look at home in this rustic Italian cottage. Photo via Berenice Blog.

3. Style As your entry way is the first thing you see when you walk through your door, the furniture should reflect the style of the rest of your home. If your home, for instance, is filled with mid-century style furniture, look for a timber console with sleek lines and tapered legs. Scandi-style homes, meanwhile, lend themselves beautifully to a practical bench seat.

Fresh new ideas for a stunning entry way.

A carefully considered arrangement of form and texture reflects the style of this design-led home. Photography and styling by Bloesem Studio via Decor 8.

4. Lighting Many hallways lack natural light, and a dark and dingy entry doesn't make the most inviting look to your home. If you don't have overhead lighting, a table lamp on your console is an easy solution. Otherwise, a floor lamp next to a bench is an alternate solution.

Fresh new looks for stunning entry space. Photo via Sharyn Cairns and Mim Design Studio.

A slim console table makes the most of the space in this hallway, while pendant lights above make dramatic use of the high ceiling. Photo via Sharyn Cairns for Mim Design Studio.

5. Organisation and storage A console table or bench doesn't necessarily offer instant organisation. For example, I use baskets under my console table as a way to store shoes at the front door. Hooks and wall knobs above a bench seat or on the back of the door are an invaluable way to store clothes, and keep things off the ground. Click here to shop my edit of the best-looking wall hooks. If your console table doesn't have drawers, use a system of trays, baskets and bowls to store all of your essential things.