ANTEROOM

Do you have a small private room adjacent to or adjoining a larger public meeting or dining space? Or you have a room, where you conduct private business away from the larger party?

Then, that is your ante room! It is that small room situated outside of the main room, but inside of the outer doorway. It connects the main room to the outer door, linking the exterior with the interior. Maybe you should call the ante room your entrance hall.

Decoration of the ante room should be kept simple. Let there be a table and the paint colour is often neutral. The neutral colour scheme is central to most standard ante chambers.

 Wall: Wall accents and other accessories must wear this subdued colour tone to make the building seem inviting. The angles and the flow of the room must be taken into consideration when artwork and other interesting elements are being introduced into the décor. Create a beautiful room and avoid cramming in unnecessary items.

 Floor:  Use tile or wood flooring since the ante room is directly past the outer door.

A runner or mat of some sort is welcoming and helps define the space too. Remember not to get something so thick that the door would not open and close over it. Make choices that are ideal for high traffic areas and which can handle a lot of wear and tear.

 Mirrors: Almost everybody likes to take one last look at the mirror before leaving the house. So, including a decorating mirror is always a good idea when decorating an ante room. A full length mirror is great if it makes sense in your space, but otherwise hanging one over your table or shelf is perfect. Mirrors are also great because they open up the space and reflect light. In a small ante chamber, a mirror can make a world of difference.

 Lights: Many ante rooms have a chandelier or overhead fixture which is great, but it’s always nice to have another light source such as a table lamp. You could come in when it’s dark and be able to turn a soft light on right away without having to overwhelm your eyes with too much light. This also creates a cozy and welcoming atmosphere when guests come over.

 Furniture: Be very creative with your settee especially when deciding on the colour scheme. Colourful sofas are the vogue in interior designs, so you can embrace them but think of your drapes too. The choice of colour is dependent on individual taste and the space.