The design of your home should be reflected in the details and furnishings of the entry. In a residential setting the entry serves as a passageway, and like all good design should not be cluttered. An easy flow of traffic is essential. Ample storage areas need to be designed to accommodate coats, shoes, packages, etc. Furnishings that may be appropriate in an entry include a console or narrow table, a mirror, a coat rack, and accessories. Many clients require a bench or small chair for sitting while changing shoes.

Where the front doors opens directly into the living room, a desirable plan is to create an unobstructed entrance to redirect traffic and provide some privacy. One successful way to set off an entrance is with a built-in or freestanding storage wall. If space is available, a deeper storage wall may provide closet space for outer garments on one side, and open shelves for books or a display on the opposite side.

Where space does not permit a heavy divider, a screen may serve as a partial divider. In a small room where any type of divider would cut needed space, the furniture may be arranged to redirect traffic by turning a sofa, desk, or chairs toward the room and at right angles to the door, leaving a passageway for traffic. Such devices provide limited privacy and create the feeling if an entrance way.

Lobby areas may serve many different functions. For instance, a hotel lobby needs adequate room for seating, luggage, bellhops, a reception desk, and a directory. The hotel lobby also requires a focal point for ambiance, such as a foundation or sculpture. On the other hand, an office lobby may require only a conversation area.