On the walls
If your walls need decorating, or are just plain boring, you could take some bold steps with murals (top right). LifeEd Direct stocks a range of bright, appliqued murals made from vinyl-covered nylon, so they can be easily wiped clean. The murals depict very simple designs, such as a flower, boy and girl outlines and a ladybird, and range in size from 78 x 78cm to 182 x 182cm. The murals come with grommets for hanging and are priced from 49.95.
* Telephone 01777 869044
Making regular changes to the entrance area lets people know they are in a stimulating environment, and it doesn't have to be a costly commitment. The children's work, along with festive and seasonal celebrations, plays a big part in brightening and enlightening the area, and you can provide cohesion to displays and link themes with decorative borders. The Hands On catalogue has a selection of borders, with designs including Welcome (above); Butterflies; Fish; Smiley Faces and Umbrellas. Each border measures 875(l) x 65(w) mm and is priced 2.99.
* Telephone 01732 773399
The Festival Shop also has a large stock of banners and posters, many of which are designed to inspire and encourage positive thinking. The 'A smiling face makes this a happy place'
banner, measuring 297 x 20cm is priced 7.95. The company's best-selling greetings poster says 'welcome' in 16 languages, and measures 590 x 840mm. It is priced 7.95.
* Telephone 0121 444 0444
Self-adhesive wall motifs and borders are quick and easy to change, and inexpensive to replace. LifeEd Direct stocks silhouette-style pre-school figures running, jumping and sitting, number sets, animal families and International Children Borders (below) that depict childrenin traditional costumes, at play and at work. The borders measure 20.5(w) x 42(l)cm and have no repeat pattern. The set of three is priced 59.98.
* Telephone as before
If you're cursed with a particularly dull, dark corner in your entrance area, try lifting it with something a bit more unusual. A Feng Shui-influenced Rainbow from Holz Toys is intended to create a calming atmosphere. The Rainbow is made from balsa wood from renewable sources, is painted with non-toxic paints and measures 55cm in length, priced 21. A Dolphin design is also available.
* Telephone 0845 130 8697
Information station
We are all constantly bombarded with information and it is easy to overlook the humble notice board, so make yours worth stopping for. The entrance hall is the ideal place to position notices that parents can read while they wait for their children. Morley's boasts a versatile range of notice boards (above) in five bright frame colours and five felt base colours that allow you either to coordinate the frame with the felt, or to mix and match. You could try allocating a certain colour board for each subject - blue for outings, red for curriculum matters and so on - so parents know where to look for the information they require. The boards come in four standard sizes, starting at 900 x 600mm and can be hung as either landscape or portrait. Other sizes are also available to order if you have an awkward space to fill - call for further details. Standard prices start at 36.50.
* Telephone 01869 320320
Entrance areas are often the site of unattractive features such as broom cupboards and lighting panels that have to be easily accessible, but do not need to be permanently on show. Panels and display units that can be easily assembled and moved quickly when needed come into their own in these circumstances. The Plex Display system (above) from Philip & Tacey is designed to be both lightweight and quick to assemble without the need for tools. Panel and Pole kits come in a variety of sizes and combinations, and storage bags are available for when you want to pack the whole thing away.
If space is limited in your entrance area, you can still create a striking display area with the Folding Mini Table Top kit from the Plex range: this includes two panels, measuring 600 x 450mm; one panel, measuring 600 x 900mm and one header, priced 82.79.
* Telephone 01264 332171
Wipe your feet
The dirt that is brought in from outside is probably the most contentious issue regarding the entrance hall, especially as far as caretakers and cleaners are concerned. However, if you can manage to draw attention to your doormats, people are more likely to make use of them. Morley's Logo mats depict the name of your nursery with an accompanying design in the colours of your choice. The mats come in plain or ribbed, heavy duty matting, and are available in eight standard sizes. They can also be especially made to order for awkward-sized areas. Prices start at 214 for a mat measuring 1 x 1.2m.
* Telephone as before
Hang it all
Even if you have a dedicated cloakroom area for children's coats, you should still consider providing extra hanging space in the entrance area for visitors and for other bits and pieces that might otherwise end up on the floor. Holz Toys' Bear and Tree coatrack is hand painted with apples on a tree, a bee and an eccentric-looking bear with a walking stick and hat.
This rack has four pegs, is 49cm wide and priced 26.
* Telephone as before
Letterbox stocks a cheerful wooden Dog coat hook with floppy leather ears and four pegs, measuring 40cm, priced 18.99.
* Telephone 0870 600 7878
PinToy, from John Crane, has freestanding clothes stands (left) with four high pegs and four lower pegs, with either a parrot, frog or teddy head at the top. The stands are made from replenishable rubber wood and measure 30.5(d) x 115.5(h)cm, priced 23.99 each.
* Telephone 01604 678790
HELP!
* Entrance halls are frequently the most difficult areas to deal with because they are often too small, poorly lit and over used. If you know this area needs improvement, take time to stand outside looking in and from every other angle you can. Also, observe the busiest times and how people use the area before you take the plunge and revamp it.
* The most important issue is safety - which includes proper lighting, flooring that doesn't trip people up, secure doors and unobstructed fire exits and passageways.
* Always remove out-of-date or 'dog eared' notices, and ensure information is professionally presented on notice boards.
* If your entrance hall feels stuffy rather than ambient, introduce some potted plants - bamboo palms, spider plants, flowering mums and peace lily plants are especially efficient at purifying the air. But make sure you tend them regularly, remember - scruffy plants make everything look worse.
