Dress Up Your Design: Reinvigorate an Entryway

Each month, a lucky reader wins accessories from Etsy.com to complete a room. For July's winner, Melissa, designer Claire Watkins selects the accessories and shares why she chose them to update this too-traditional entryway.

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Before: Too-Traditional Entryway

"This is a combination entryway, sitting room, dining room and office space. It is filled with mahogany antiques and a green sofa and chair. I have no idea how to finish it so that it doesn't look like my grandmother's house, which isn't this boring, by the way," says this month's winner, Melissa.

Before: In Need of Accessories

"The lamp was another flea market find, and the mirror needs to be hung," says Melissa. "I could use some ideas to liven this area up a little." Here's how designer Claire Watkins decided to modernize the space.

Add Personality With Pillows

"The first thing this room needs is some fun toss pillows. Ditch the green ones matching the sofa for some patterns that add interest and personality," says Watkins. She chose this mixture of ikat and floral prints in a monochromatic gray and white palette.

Play With Patterns

"Selecting just one accent color allows me to add impact and frees me up to mix the patterns without them looking too busy," says Watkins. She recommends placing this chevron pillow on the couch with two of the ikat pillows, then placing the remaining one in the slipper chair.

Let There Be Light

This midcentury lamp will illuminate the room and add a modern twist to this this traditional space. "Put the silver lamp on the desk behind the sofa to give yourself some height and continue pulling that silver around the room," says Watkins.

Glamorous Accessories

"Use these silver candlesticks on the coffee table to add height and glamour," says Watkins. "Just buy some elegant black tapers for them for an unexpected alternative to cream. Next to the candlesticks on the coffee table, add a few of your favorite large coffee table books. A stack of three will help add color and weight to the existing glass top."

Add Flair to the Console Table

"Go ahead and hang that mirror. Then, switch out the lampshade for one that will cover the metal hardware. You may also need to select a harp that isn't quite as tall," says Watkins. This bold chevron shade repeats the pattern featured in the toss pillows.

Create a Home Bar

Next, add a vintage tray to the console table, like this antique Florentine piece that will bring in rich color and pick up on both the greens and grays in the room.

Add Vintage Barware

"Top off the tray with fun and funky vintage barware in, you guessed it, more silver," says Watkins. This ombre carafe and matching wine glasses will add tons of flair.

The Finishing Touches

Finish the bar's look with a matching set of silver ombre glasses. "Now, all that's left to do is to add a rug in between the couch and the chairs. Try a gray one!" says Watkins. "I'd paint the walls a silvery lavender; it's more interesting and feminine that plain gray, and more sophisticated and grown up than purple."

Dress Up Your Design: Reinvigorate an Entryway

Related To:

Shop This Look

Before: Too-Traditional Entryway

Before: In Need of Accessories

Add Personality With Pillows

Play With Patterns

Let There Be Light

Glamorous Accessories

Add Flair to the Console Table

Create a Home Bar

Add Vintage Barware

The Finishing Touches

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