HGTV star and design expert Joanna Gaines has once again captured attention with her masterful approach to seasonal home design, showcasing a lake house entryway that perfectly blends nostalgic 1970s style with contemporary fall color trends. The space demonstrates her signature ability to create environments that are simultaneously calming, warm, and grounding while maintaining modern functionality.
The entryway's design centers around a carefully curated warm color palette that draws heavily from autumn's natural beauty. Rich, earthy tones dominate the space, featuring deep wood accents that span from the structured staircase to the rich-toned front door, creating a cohesive and timeless aesthetic. A patterned runner in shades of red, burnt orange, and muted gold serves as the focal point, bringing the space to life with its autumnal charm.
According to Little Greene's Ruth Mottershead, this approach reflects a broader trend in interior design. "Browns and honey-hued colors are re-taking their rightful place in our interiors," she explains. "Shades of honey, caramel, and chocolate will bring warmth and comfort into our homes, creating cozy enveloping spaces." This color movement is expected to continue well into 2026 and beyond, making Gaines' design choice particularly forward-thinking.
The fall-inspired, 70s color palette that Gaines employs draws on rich tones including terracotta, rust, ochre, and golden yellow. These hues naturally echo the changing leaves and seasonal landscapes, creating an inviting atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and timeless. When paired with deeper colors such as mustard yellow, copper, and burnt sienna, the palette adds dimensional depth while maintaining the relaxed, grounded feel that has become synonymous with Gaines' design philosophy.
Practical elements in the entryway are seamlessly integrated into the aesthetic vision. Natural stone flooring provides both texture and durability, adding a sense of solidity to the foundation of the space. A wooden bench with soft, earthy upholstery creates a functional focal point that serves both practical and stylistic purposes, offering seating while contributing to the overall design narrative.
The finishing touches in Gaines' entryway design showcase her talent for creating spaces that feel effortlessly curated rather than overly designed. Small but meaningful details include a carefully arranged stack of books and a potted cactus tucked strategically in a corner, adding personality and charm without overwhelming the space. These elements contribute to the lived-in, approachable quality that makes Gaines' designs so appealing to homeowners.
The success of this entryway lies in its ability to set the tone for the entire home, immediately communicating values of warmth, thoughtful curation, and comfortable living. The space demonstrates how Gaines balances nostalgia with modern livability, creating an environment that feels both stylish and genuinely welcoming. This approach reflects her broader design philosophy of creating spaces that serve real families while maintaining aesthetic excellence.
For homeowners looking to recreate elements of this look, Gaines has made key pieces available through her collaborations with major retailers. Her collections at Walmart, Target, and Magnolia offer accessible ways to incorporate similar design elements, including ceramic vases with crackle glazes, machine-washable area rugs in coordinating patterns, and artificial seasonal stems that capture the autumn aesthetic year-round.
The mid-century modern influence in the entryway speaks to the current revival of 1970s design elements in contemporary homes. This nostalgic trend offers a counterpoint to the stark minimalism that dominated recent years, instead embracing warmth, texture, and the kind of lived-in comfort that makes a house feel like a true home. Gaines' interpretation of this trend demonstrates how vintage-inspired design can be both authentic and thoroughly modern in its application.
