Entryway Settees Open the Door to Hospitality
Set a tone of gracious welcome from the get-go with comfortable, cushioned seating for family and guests
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
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I've always loved settees. They're like the Goldilocks of seating: not too big, not too small — just right. And one of my favorite places to see them is in entryways. More so than a chair or bench, they offer an instant invitation to settle in and get comfy. They also make a perfect spot to curl up on and wait for guests, Halloween trick-or-treaters and others to arrive at your door.
These entry settees, vastly different in style, all add a vital sense of warmth and hospitality to their surroundings.
These entry settees, vastly different in style, all add a vital sense of warmth and hospitality to their surroundings.
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| To my mind, nothing puts forth an air of welcome like a cozy place to sit. This high-back, tufted settee helps to make the formal entry feel less imposing and more relatable, especially with the casual throw and toss pillows. |
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Large-scale furnishings cozy up this narrow entry hall. The settee and the zinc-topped console, against an unfussy backdrop of wood planks and textural weaves, make the small space instantly inviting.
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A battered bench found at a garage sale, refreshed with a lemon-yellow seat cushion and a sprinkle of candy-colored pillows, adds a stroke of sunshine to this entry hall.
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| An entry settee in a luxe fabric such as velvet or silk adds an air of pure luxury. Sleek lines and bolster-style pillows give this model a hint of art deco glam. |
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Although I'm usually a fan of overscale pieces in voluminous rooms, I think the opposite approach works here. A low-slung, luxurious velvet settee and sideboard keep the focus on the spectacular barrel ceiling and decorative painting, which are the real stars of the space.
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I love the idea of pulling a small cocktail table or tray table up to an entry settee. If you're lounging with a book or chatting with a friend, you have an instant spot to set a cup of coffee or another drink, and the table also can serve as a perch for a handbag, gloves or a parcel as you prepare to head out the door.
by CIH Design
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I'm not sure I could live with flashy decor like this for long, but the round settee — which reminds me of a Victorian kissing bench — does have a certain grandeur. Its shape is well suited for the rotunda-style space; a more angular style might have felt at odds with the curves.
by Tucker & Marks
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Updated with subtle fabrics, this 18th-century Italian settee brings a dash of freshness and grace to its serene setting.
| Curved-back benches such as this one emit a wonderful, embracing welcome. The caning helps to lighten its look so that it doesn't appear too weighty for this bright space. |
I couldn't resist including this: a settee made from three mismatched chairs, attached and unified with paint. What fun! Doesn't it make you want to get to know the people who live here?
Ideabook published on Jan. 7, 2013.
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I agree with you, I always try to include a settee in a floorplan. They are very versatile in floorplans becasue their depth and generally small scale is workable into many spaces, especially an entry. Thank you for using my picture, great ideas as always. Charmean Neithart
My little entry is full with two bookshelves and one slipper chair. Shoes come off at the door.
It made me smile to see some of those entries, which are as big as my living room/studio.
Living in The Great White North as I do, it is not uncommon to have some type of seating at the main entrance whether it be a fashionable settee, a bench seat or even a chair to not only welcome guests upon their arrival but to accommodate the removal or dressing of winter footwear. ☺