A vestibule is a small entrance space or lobby between the outer door of a building and its main interior, such as the hall. It provides a buffer against draughts and noise, a place to remove coats and boots, and a formal transition from the outside world into the house.
The term derives from the Latin vestibulum, the entrance court of a Roman house. In grand classical buildings the vestibule could be an impressive room in its own right, often with columns, niches and statues, and many Georgian country houses have stately vestibules leading to the principal staircase. In Victorian and Edwardian town houses the vestibule was commonly a small space enclosed by an inner door, frequently glazed with stained or etched glass panels, and floored with geometric or encaustic tiles. Typical furnishings include hall lanterns, umbrella stands, boot scrapers, coat hooks and small hall chairs or benches. When restoring a period property, original vestibule doors, tiled floors and glazing are especially worth preserving, and architectural salvage dealers often supply replacement doors, tiles and lanterns of appropriate date for missing or damaged features.
