During a renovation or new build, kitchens and bathrooms garner a lot of attention. Living rooms and landscaping are often top priorities, too. Even the mudroom can draw ‘favorite-child energy’ during the design phase. But what about our entryway flooring ideas?
Sadly, foyer and entryway ideas are sometimes overlooked — an afterthought, along with hallways. But the entryway flooring is the first thing you see and feel when you step foot in a home, setting the scene for the rest of your interiors. “It deserves attention,” stresses Shona McElroy, founder and director of Smac Studio. “Whether it’s through materials, layout, or finishes, it’s a great opportunity to create a beautiful first impression.”
With that in mind, be inspired by these grounded yet transcendent examples of entryway flooring ideas.
1. Electrify your entryway flooring with color
The owner of this new Dublin townhouse simply wanted a “cool” house that was wildly different to every other home. So, interior designer Róisín Lafferty drew inspiration from installation art, namely the American artist James Turrell, a key figure in the Light and Space Movement.
“We wanted to create a strong color-blocking effect — almost an art installation in the three-storey stairwell,” Roisin explains. “We opted for an Yves Saint Laurent-inspired blue and had the floor made in Mortex, a micro cement durable finish that wraps on stairs and floors. The walls are Pantone color matched. The result is fully encompassing and powerful; a solid-colored floor is so dramatic, yet strangely calm and simple.”
2. Go tactile with terracotta flooring
While this former Melbourne handball court, then brick factory building underwent extensive alterations to become a cozy pied-à-terre for musician Troye Sivan, interior designer David Flack was cognisant of preserving its heritage and colorful history.
The earthy, original terracotta tiles of the entryway date back to the 1970s, when bohemian architect John Mockridge turned the warehouse into his own three-level home.
“We love natural terracotta flooring and have used it in many projects,” says David, founder and principal of Flack Studio. “It gives a warm and earthy sensibility to spaces and, when used appropriately, is very robust. Our preference is for tiles that have an already worn-in, antique feeling.”
3. Evoke a sea of green
Sure, marble flooring is a clear choice when the design brief calls for ‘boutique hotel’. But it’s what you do with said marble that truly counts. Designer Shona McElroy of Smac Studio elevated the entryway of this family home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs by installing an oceanic Verde Antigua marble floor, paired with a sophisticated Elba marble staircase, which appears to ‘pool’ onto the floor.
“There’s a subtle contrast between the two kinds of marble — they don’t scream for attention,” says Shona. “There’s a calmness in how they play off each other, which I love, and they look especially beautiful together on the same plane. The Elba on the floor also acts like a ‘border’ to give the space an extra layer of detail.”
Shona recommends using honed or 'leathered' marble. “Polished marble can feel overly shiny and, frankly, a bit over-the-top,” she explains. “It doesn’t have the same elegance. Think about how the marble will be laid: large slabs are beautiful, but you can also have fun with patterns like checkerboard or inlays for a more decorative effect.”
4. Lighten up your entryway
Embracing the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi, the entryway of this inner-city house is patinaed, calm, and breezy, literally inspiring its owners to feel lighter as they return home.
Keen to explore an entryway flooring idea that was simultaneously “luxurious and playful”, Studio Tate employed honed Palladiana terrazzo of marble and white aggregate. “This brings texture and movement to what is often a flat finish,” explains Studio Tate's associate director, Elizabeth Ride.
The entryway flooring feels “dramatic,” she adds. “The double height void really sets the tone for the rest of the home, with beautiful exposed curved bricks and concrete detailing offsetting the luxurious marble Palladiana floor. During the day, the space is creamy and light-filled from a high-level window and skylight; at night, the pendant is a delicate sculpture floating in space.”
Love Palladiana flooring? Elizabeth advises getting samples made, since there are so many variables when it comes to terrazzo infill color, aggregate color and size, and marble piece sizes and so on. “We went through many iterations until we found one that we loved!”
5. Make a punch with a parquetry entryway
The parquetry entryway flooring in this glamorous penthouse is not your mother’s parquetry. Using dark engineered oak, the designers at Thomas Hamel & Associates arranged the custom parquetry into a unique geometric pattern that feels both classic and contemporary, if not a little ‘dark academia’.
“Chosen for its versatility and timeless appeal, this particular parquetry offers durability as well as aesthetic sophistication, which is both stylish and functional,” explains principal Thomas Hamel. “It feels warm, welcoming, and refined, and other natural materials shine against it. The real beauty of this flooring? It works in both modern and traditional settings.”
A bespoke wool and natural silk runner also makes a stylish statement on the staircase. “It adds texture and luxury, while also softening the transition between the levels of the home,” adds Thomas.
6. Weave detail into entryway flooring
Interior designer Sophie Ashby, of Studio Ashby, drew from her client’s feminine and colorful style when reimagining this Belgravia apartment, most evident in its sublime entry foyer flooring. The detailed floor is a geometric marble twist on traditional parquetry in a palette of colors that are repeated throughout the home.
With an accompanying Delia Harmer artwork, sculptures, a reupholstered 19th century sofa, hand-painted walls, and the ‘Sunburst’ ceiling light by Sophie’s retail arm, Sister, it’s no wonder this project was dubbed ‘Belgravia Jewel Box’.
And it taught Sophie the value of collaboration; in this case, with her chic French client. “Together, we transformed the bland space into a vibrant, whimsical home, layering textures, colors, and antiques in a ‘more is more’ approach,” Sophie explains on her website.
7. Inject personality through entryway flooring ideas
The owners of this grand 1930s bayside home have quite different personalities, which posed a challenge for interior designer Sally Knibbs, principal of interior design firm Sally Caroline. One that she relished, of course.
“This home is a story of perfect couplings — the quietly relaxed husband and his vibrant, expressive wife,” she explains. Enter, the green Palladiana terrazzo entryway flooring, which, she says, “reflects that contrast beautifully. It’s bold, artistic, and unexpected, yet grounded in craftsmanship. It instantly injects personality into the space.”
Consisting of green marble slabs that have been broken into irregular fragments and set into a terrazzo infill, the fun Palladiana flooring continues down the garden path to the pool house, which is used both for kids’ playtime and grown-ups’ parties.
“It was crafted in situ, meaning it was poured and set directly on-site,” recalls Sally. “Given the scale, we collaborated closely with the builder to plan the layout and pattern — before the stone was set. Once in place, the terrazzo infill was poured, then ground down to achieve a smooth, refined finish. This method allows for custom patterns and seamless integration with the surrounding architecture.”
8. Tinker with industrial finishes
You would never guess that behind the doors of this bucolic late Georgian house in Wicklow County, Ireland, is a contemporary renovation with an industrial edge. “The whole concept for ‘The Estate’ was to create a new version of what a farmhouse could be,” explains interior designer Róisín Lafferty. “We sought to balance refined elegance with raw industrialism.”
The hardworking flagstone entryway flooring idea, seen here in the hall, pays homage to the original floor which would have been laid in 1850, eliciting an air of informality and authenticity off the bat. “The brass accents and art-like lighting provide contrast, achieving a sense of harmony,” says Róisín.
9. Leave the pattern and color to the stairs
Staircases are a common architectural feature in an entryway, so shouldn't be ignored when it comes to entryway flooring ideas. While practicality is, of course, important, staircases also pose an opportunity to get a bit playful.
In this space, designed by 2LG Studio, timber hardwood flooring in the entryway sets the scene for a more striking purple patterned stair runner — elevating the space from soft and neutral, and giving it a whole other level of interest.
"Hallways are transitional spaces that you pass through but don’t necessarily linger," says Jordan Cluroe, co-founder of the studio. "But it's a space where you can make a bold statement. It’s the first impression that people will get when they enter your home so don’t be afraid to go big and bold with pattern and color."
10. A contemporary take on a classic checkered pattern
When it comes to the most classic entryway flooring ideas, a checkerboard pattern is the one that instantly comes to mind. And while it has traditional connotations, it can easily be made to feel modern.
Case in point, this space, designed by Arent&Pyke. "The oversized checkered pattern and wide borders were inspired by Italian loggias that incorporate colored stone floors to define rooms," explains the studio's co-principal, Juliette Arent. "We certainly played with scale as this generous diamond motif would traditionally be reserved for larger floorplans, but given the soaring ceiling height, we knew that it would work."
As a high-traffic area of the home, the best entryway flooring ideas also consider practicality. "We used Verdi Alpi and Fior Di Pesco terrazzo for several reasons — it’s super practical for high traffic areas. It’s also a more economic material than marble," explains Sarah-Jane Pyke.
FAQs
What type of flooring is best for entryways?
When selecting entryway flooring ideas, choose your own adventure, advises Shona. “I’m pretty open-minded when it comes to flooring. I love everything from crazy pave and travertine to timber and interesting tiles.” If timber is your type, consider laying it in a unique pattern, such as parquetry or ‘French Versailles’, she adds, which makes your entryway flooring ideas feel distinct and special.
Consider cork, offers interior designer and director of YSG Studio, Yasmine Ghoniem. “Cork flooring's insulate qualities and soft underfoot feel make it a great, relatively cheap floor option throughout the home,” she explains. “It's also an eco-friendly choice."
Is vinyl flooring good for an entry?
Vinyl flooring has come a long way since its yellowing linoleum days, and you can get some really stunning designs that look every bit as beautiful as tile or even wood.
What you need to consider about vinyl is its longevity, though. It's not the most durable flooring and can quickly start to warp if it gets wet. So if your entryway flooring gets a lot of use, and you have wet shoes or muddy dogs moving in and out regularly, you'd be best going for an entryway flooring idea that's more hardwearing.
Zeroing in on entryway flooring ideas you love is just the beginning. Once it’s installed, you’ve moved into your abode and the dust has settled, the maintenance begins.
Not to worry! We've got guides on how to clean different types of floors to ensure your tile, wood, stone, or whatever other kind of floors, stay clean and therefore, stylish.
