Exclusive: Shea McGee's simple secret to a festive entryway
This is how the designer creates a lasting first impression in her home – and you can replicate it this Christmas
The importance of creating the right first impression is important at any time of the year, but none more so than in the holiday season.
Christmas is the most sociable time on the calendar, but how can you ensure your entryway will leave an impact on all who visit? By learning from the best.
Enter Shea McGee, the Dream Home Makeover star who shared the key to a festive entryway is as simple as a candle. Sharing her interior design tips exclusively with Homes & Gardens, Shea reveals how to use a candle to create the first impression your home deserves.
Shea McGee's festive entryway secret
As well as looking inviting this Christmas, an entryway should set the tone for the rest of your home – and should be considered alongside entryway ideas and hallway ideas to ensure a coordinated feel.
'The holidays mean lots of hosting and entertaining at our house, so it's important that the entryway welcomes our guests with form and function,' Shea says. 'I love lighting a festive candle on our entryway table to set the scene, and I always have a basket close by for guests to drop their shoes.'
1. Curate atmospheric lighting
Alongside sitting as a focal point on your entryway table, a candle adds atmospheric light to your festive space. However, as Shea suggests, choosing the right lighting for your hallway remains important after the holidays conclude.
'Illuminating your space is key in creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere,' she adds whilst sharing her entryway ideas in her blog. Alongside your candle, Shea recommends layering your lamps and adding a statement light that will 'draw the eye up in an entryway.'
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2. Invest in a stylish storage system
Plus, Shea's shoe storage idea will similarly endure after Christmas. The designer suggests choosing textural baskets that are ideal for storing your shoes after your guests leave. She also recommends investing in small bowls with 'decorative details' where you can keep your candles, books, and art pieces.
'Whether you have a small entryway, an open-concept entryway, or a traditional entryway, designing an inviting entryway space is all about creating a space that merges form with function,' she adds.
While Shea's Christmas decorating ideas will bless our entryway over the holidays, these versatile tips will stay in fashion long into 2022. The only thing left to do is find the best candle for the season.
Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.
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