Entryway floor ideas – 10 luxury flooring designs that look good underfoot

Entryway floor ideas should be chosen with careful consideration.

An entryway floor’s appearance is important, naturally, but so too is how it feels to walk on, how it will stand up to the room’s activities, how much maintenance it will require, and how it will look on entry into the home. After all, is it the first thing anyone will see when they enter.

To help you get started we've curated a selection of different entryway ideas and materials to add to your list of flooring ideas, along with some advice from the experts.

Entryway floor ideas

From hardwood and natural stone to statement parquet and soft carpet and area rugs, these entryway floor ideas can help inspire an entryway room remodel.

1. Be as authentic as possible 

Sometimes old is best when it comes to entryway floor ideas. 'If you can keep your entryway's original flooring then do, because there's nothing more characterful than what may have been there for a centuries,' says Melanie Griffiths, editor, Period Living. 'It might look worn, but that's part of its charm and if it can withstand all those years it can take a few more.'

2. Add a geometric element to a dark and dramatic entryway

'Practical and beauty can co-exist in harmony,' says Patrick O'Connell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball. 

'The thing to bear in mind about small entryway ideas is that we don’t tend to spend long periods of time in them, so you can be a bit bolder with strong or oversized patterns and colors that, in time, might become overpowering in another room, says Dean Keyworth, director, Armstrong Keyworth. 'A large repeat-patterned hallway wallpaper idea or dark stair paint idea is particularly effective for your staircase ideas, as you have a long drop to show off its full glory.'

3. Add character with a textured stone tile

Put stone on your list of possible hallway flooring ideas. Using any of the different stone flooring types ensures your entryway floor has the unique beauty that comes with a natural material. Natural stone will also stand up to the foot traffic of a busy family home – and is a wonderful flooring idea for entryways and landings.

'Stone is one of my favorite things, and I especially enjoy visiting stone yards,' says interior designer Fran Hickman. 'They’re extraordinary places and the slabs are like works of art. We often use stone for areas such as entryway mudrooms, because it helps create a feeling of grandeur in a home.' 

4. Get the luxury look with vinyl flooring

‘'When it comes to choosing flooring for an entryway, opting for quality, durable, low maintenance style is essential,' says David Snazel, hard flooring buyer at Carpetright.

'Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is an elegant choice that effectively emulates more expensive design styles, whilst being incredibly hardwearing. If are working to a tighter budget, there have been many developments in recent years to durable laminate designs where the effects they can achieve, such as wood, are incredibly realistic.' 

'It’s worth investing in underlay as it helps reduce wear of the flooring, making it more resilient whilst offering a more luxurious feel. Opting for a thicker underlay will boost the longevity of your flooring and a good underlay can make a big difference to a value carpet, helping to make it feel plusher underfoot.'

5. Give your entryway a classic finish with marble 

'Marble flooring takes very well to neoclassical designs, including chequerboards and diamond-laid formats with cabochon inserts,' says Isabel Fernandez, director at Quorn Stone. 'This can help achieve a classic yet contemporary feel and is the perfect stone for a timeless floor full of grandeur. We often find the most practical stone finish is tumbled. A softly tumbled, imperfect finish makes for a forgiving choice in busy areas.'

6. Lay down carpet

Choosing a carpet in a classic base note will bring a sense of calm to your entryway. A neutral shade is a wise investment too, as its versatility and longevity add value to your property. It will also make co-ordinating the flooring in different rooms a breeze – with a neutral palette, everything goes – enabling you to combine plains and subtle patterns, while keeping a consistent flow throughout the house

'Carpet is a fantastic option for high traffic areas like entryways and stairways due to its ability to withstand natural wear and tear,' says Jodie Hatton, a Residential Designer at heritage carpet company Brintons. 

7. Add a silk rug for a luxe touch on top of tiles

'In terms of flooring for entryways, you'll want to keep in mind that there will be a lot of foot traffic, so you'll want something strong,' says Natalie Zirbel of Dennis E. Zirbel Architect. 'Hardwood and tile are always great options. We went for elegance in this formal entry space, so we incorporated a stunner of a silk rug for a luxurious touch along with a crystal chandelier and shiny brass accents.'

8. Use a natural flooring like sisal for a high-traffic entryway

'When choosing a floor covering for the entryway and stairs, we’d recommend opting for either sisal or wool,' say the in-house design team at Crucial Trading. 'Sisal is a hardwearing durable option while if looking for something a little softer wool is a good option.'

9. Make symmetry your friend

Get symmetry right and you can create harmony in your entryway – and make this small space feel bigger and tidier.

'To offset the angled ceiling, we went with a symmetrical entryway design,' says Lindye Galloway, founder and chief creative officer at Lindye Galloway Studio + Shop. 'The wood floors complemented the wood panel walls to open up the space which made the illusion of a bigger area. We added a rug to help bring in warmth and a more lived in look.'

10. A striped runner will make a narrow entryway appear wider

'A playful runner can provide an attractive focal point in the home and is an ideal way to experiment with pattern on a smaller scale without dominating the area,' says Jon Flannigan, product manager at Kersaint Cobb. 'The entryway is often the first thing seen when entering a home, so it is important that your choice of flooring reflects your personal style and taste.'

'Stripes add visual interest to the floor and for those tight on space, it is worth remembering that linear stripes can help to enlarge the appearance of a room, this is especially effective in entryways as the stripe draws the eye along the design and therefore appears to elongate the area. Striped flooring is also ideal in high traffic areas of a busy home as it will withstand the effects of dirt and wear better than plain and flat single color flooring.'

11. Introduce plenty of pattern

There’s a lot of interest in patterned flooring and in surface design in general, believes Mark Findlay, founder of vinyl flooring specialists Harvey Maria. ‘Entryway floor ideas are no longer an afterthought; they’ve become an integral part of interior design and are now seen as a key feature,’ he says. 

Harriet Goodacre of Topps Tiles agrees: ‘We often associate patterned flooring with Victorian-era design and for good reason; they are famed for their use of refined yet intricate patterns in the home to bring an air of timeless luxury.’

'Patterned floors, especially tiles, are forgiving and practical but they can also visually link spaces, creating a continuous vista between the interior and the exteriors, says Sophie coller, managing director, Kitesgrove.

What kind of flooring is best for an entryway?

The best flooring for an entryway is one that will stand the test of time – durability, maintenance and materials should all be considered when choosing the best entry floor ideas.

More than any other floorcovering, entryway floor tiles have undergone a renaissance, becoming a design favorite whether used in a new build or to revamp an existing home. While there are plenty of choices for popular neutral tones, the big trend is for tiles that mimic natural stone and timber, cement, metals and fabrics. These offer all the advantages of a hardwearing, easy to maintain, long-lasting tile with the look of a luxury material. And, making a surprise comeback, patterned tiles celebrate the glory of modern, geometric designs and opulent colors. 

When it comes to size, large format tiles are increasingly popular and no longer limited to the kitchens and bathrooms where their practical advantages have always been appreciated. 

'More people are tiling their entryway floor,' says Jules Archard, sales manager at Surface. 'As rooms are opened up, a large format tile used throughout creates a seamless look that unites the whole space.' If you are worried that your entryway floor tiles will feel cold underfoot, remember that many work well with underfloor heating.