'Don’t be afraid to treat your hallway like a room in its own right —it deserves just as much attention as any other space in the home,' design expert Magdalena Gierasinka tells Homes & Gardens.
This philosophy fills the home with character, warmth, and a cozy atmosphere, and more and more homeowners are embracing it in 2026. For an example of how to bring it to life, we turn to John Lennon and Yoko Ono's entryway. Photographed in 1969, their Berkshire home was a Georgian country house called Tittenhurst Park.
Inside the property, they designed turne a simple hallway into a living room with velvet chairs, a wooden sideboard, and a patterned rug. Layered lighting, including pendants and lamps, elevates it even further.
To explore how we can tap into their technique, Homes & Gardens discussed ideas for elevating an entryway with some of our favorite home decor experts. We also curated an edit inspired by John and Yoko's traditional entryway.
Recreate John and Yoko's Look at Home
This rich brown armchair is the perfect way to add velvety texture to your living room with a chic silhouette and on-trend color. It would be gorgeous paired with brighter colors, or a symphony of deeper browns and sand tones.
Something about a lacy antimacassar on the back of a chair feels so old-world, and this pretty one is a dead ringer for those in John and Yoko's entryway. It would be a fun pairing with a more modern sofa, for a contrasting look.
Mixed lighting brings an entryway to life, and this scalloped one provides a more modern and sculptural version of that in John and Yoko's home. It would be beautiful paired with natural materials, like a wooden sideboard or marble table.
This beautiful dusty pink rug has a yellow and red border and stylish floral pattern. Its earthy feel would be beautiful in an entryway for adding hand-knotted texture and stylish pattern.
This sturdy, Japandi-style media console shelving unit is the perfect option for upgrading your entryway experience. It is adjustable, depending on how you want to store and display your items.
If you love a pendant light with texture, this pleated stoneware design is a chic choice for your kitchen. The beautiful combination of cream and brass feels elegant and timeless – it would look so charming above an entryway like John and Yoko's.
Though people tend to play it safe with an entryway, John and Yoko's space is a reminder that the best first impressions are bold. Magdalena Gierasinska, design expert at Barker and Stonehouse, advises: 'A hallway can be a canvas for creativity and set the tone for the rest of the home. Abstract prints, striking silhouettes, and blocks of primary colours can transform a transitional space from drab to creative. A boldly patterned rug, sculptural lamp or fluted sideboard adds colour, texture and personality.'
Between the velvet armchairs, the couple has positioned a wooden sideboard, which creates space for vases and decorative objects. It's a designer-approved tactic for elevating an entryway. 'If space allows, a sideboard with beautifully styled accessories or planters will help to seamlessly tie in this room with the rest of the home, whilst providing helpful storage to conceal everyday items,' states Shelley Cochrane, design expert at Furniture Village.
Furthermore, even if you have less space than John and Yoko, it needn't stop you from infusing the entryway with plenty of personality. Magdalena advises: 'Those with smaller entryways should consider a mirror – this will create the illusion of space and make the hallway feel lighter and airier.'
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