Your entryway deserves a little drama. It’s your home’s handshake, your first hello — and in 2025, we’re doing away with bland fixtures and welcoming people inside with radiant lighting that showcases your home’s style, warmth, and personality. Whether you have a grand two-story foyer with a staircase or a cute corner entrance, all you’ll need is a tape measure and a vision to enhance your home’s entrance and make it even more stylish. Let’s take a look at some of the hottest entryway lighting ideas right now.

Entryway Lighting Ideas in Contemporary & Modern Styles

Contemporary and modern lighting is classy, sculptural, minimalist, and above all, interesting — in both aesthetic and technical design. Eclectic floating chandeliers with matte finishes and exposed bulbs, or chic pendants with geometrical shapes and clean lines come to mind. Smart lighting and various illumination strengths also allow you to set the mood from the moment guests walk through the door.

Different Material & Finish Options for Entryway Lighting

Some of the most popular trends in entryway lighting right now revolve around using mixed materials for a unique, yet sophisticated look. Many designers have grown fond of combinations such as wood and smoked glass, bronze with matte black, and brushed nickel with wrought iron. Whether you’re looking for a traditional, elegant look or want to make a statement with a thought-provoking fixture, there are many options for decorating your foyer.

Size & Scale Considerations For Your Home

It’s imperative that you take the size and scale of the lighting in your entryway seriously. After all, you want to make a great first impression when people walk through the door! Having a fixture that’s too large or small will make the area feel awkward, so remember the following rule to determine the perfect measurements: Just add the length and width of the entryway in feet, and then convert that number to inches to find the ideal diameter of a fixture in inches. For example, a 12×20 foyer will need a fixture with a diameter of about 32 inches.

It’s a general rule that all entryway ceiling lighting should have at least 7 feet of clearance to be clear of traffic underneath, but those 10 feet and under should utilize flush or semi-flush mounts so as not to overwhelm the area. Taller foyers allow for more elaborate pieces, allowing you to take advantage of the additional space to create a dramatic effect.

Versatile Entryway Pendant Lights

There’s truly a pendant style for every home, and the possibilities for these entryway lighting ideas are virtually endless. Whether you’re looking for a bold, artistic shape or a simple, casual design, these lighting types allow illumination to spread evenly throughout the room, adding character while ensuring safe navigation. Cages, globes, and other sculptural shapes often feature a range of materials and finishes, and grouping smaller pendants together can create an even more captivating visual element.

Jude 30 Inch Large Pendant by Capital Lighting Fixture Company

@farr_built_homes

The stunning nature of the Jude 30 Inch Large Pendant by Capital Lighting Fixture Company enriches the ambiance of any entryway. The brushed Mystic Luster silhouette evokes contemporary glam by flaunting its bold, graphic shape against the angular wooden beams. It creates a stunning focal point amid the sharp angles of this entryway.

Elegant Chandeliers to Make an Impression

There’s no room a chandelier can’t go, and entryways have become a great place to take advantage of the avant-garde designs that exist today. Whether you’re talking elaborate, mixed material pieces with an elegant presence or sleek contemporary forms that use colored glass and subtle finishes to pull the room together, chandeliers are a timeless lighting option that will create a spectacle for everyone passing through.

Tilda Chandelier by Arteriors Home

@emcyinteriordesign

The Tilda Chandelier by Arteriors Home consists of several tiers of wooden sticks on curved iron arms. It is finished in a neutral and breathtaking whitewashed color. When switched on, the light glows from within and transforms the space into something magical, and wooden dowels placed atop pliable arms allow light to disperse properly.

Entryway Wall Lights for Smaller Spaces

Not all entryways are built the same, but a smaller foyer can easily be elevated with stylish and functional lighting that helps the area feel cozy and welcoming. Flush mounts, wall sconces, and even linear fixtures can all make your home’s entrance feel grand no matter its size, and the numerous designs and materials available make these pieces feel just as stylish as larger forms of lighting.

Somerset 11 Inch 1 Light LED Semi Flush Mount by Hinkley Lighting

@beyondkitchensmn, Photography by @maritwilliamsphoto

The subtle yet exquisite composition of the Somerset 11 Inch 1 Light LED Semi Flush Mount by Hinkley Lighting fuses modernity with vintage appeal. Details include an etched opal glass deftly floating inside its streamlined metal yoke, while turned metal knobs add an authentic edge. As you can see, it sufficiently contributes to the style and functionality of the entryway.

Color Temperatures & Light Output Considerations

Being able to control the ambiance in your entryway is a huge advantage, as you can dictate the mood and setting before anyone even arrives. If you opt for light temperatures of 2700-3000 Kelvin, you’ll curate a rich, warm feel that acts as a natural hug as guests come and go. For more activity and practical visibility, a higher Kelvin of 3500-4000 will give you enough glow to get the family ready before leaving the house.

Smaller foyers can utilize bulbs with lumens reaching up to 3,000 but don’t exceed this value unless you have a two-story entryway. Finally, if you’re able to install lighting with dimmable capabilities, you’ll have even more control to adjust the atmosphere depending on the time and day.

For a full look at our range of entryway lighting ideas, check out Capitol Lighting’s 2025 digital catalog to view a wide assortment from many of the leading brands in home illumination. With shapes, sizes, and styles to fit every home, we guarantee you’ll be able to add a touch of brilliance to your entryway with these fashionable and functional fixtures.