Entryway Design: How To Decorate The Perfect Foyer

Entryway Design: How To Decorate the Perfect Foyer

The entrance of your home is the most important space in your home, but sadly, it often receives the least amount of attention. Whether you call it a foyer, entrance, or entryway, it’s the space that says welcomes and bids farewell to all your guests. It should be the first area of your home that make the Needs Decorating list, but I cannot tell you how many homes I walk in too that the entry is not decorated. The most I will find is a piece of furniture and maybe a mirror or artwork that was leftover from other well-decorated rooms. Today we are going to give you some decor ideas to help you create a fabulous entry to welcome your guest.

Let’s start at the beginning; an entryway is defined as a hall that is generally located at the front entrance of a house. Space between the outdoor and indoor areas. The TLC should begin on the outside, so replace your siding with the help of a company that specializes in Siding replacement in roswell for example, or give the exterior a lick of paint to spruce it up. The opening or hallway allows entry into a structure. The entryway often has a coat closet, and usually has linoleum or tile flooring rather than carpet, making it an easy-to-clean and transition between spaces.

Your entryway begins from the outside, your home’s curb appeal sets the tone for what is to come. The entrance to your home acts as the window into your character and style; the impression it makes to your guest when they walk in the door should ultimately set the tone for what’s to come or you can use it as an opportunity to share a fun and corky side of you. Right now you are probably saying to yourself- Sounds great, but I wouldn’t even know where begin to design my ideal entryway? No worries, we have it covered, we begin with the basic anatomy of the entryway.

The Outside – Yes, your entryway begins outside. Your home’s curb appeal sets the tone for your foyer- Ask yourself the following is your front door inviting and visible from the street or sidewalk? The easiest way to achieve this is to paint the front door a bright color. Can people see your house number from the street? You don’t know how many times I have driven past a house because the number was not visible? Is the exterior of your home properly lighted? This is especially important if your home is situated in a neighborhood where street lighting is sparse. Are all the finishes the same, from the light fixture to the doorbell, make sure these items are all the same finishes and style.

Now we step inside

Wall Treatment the wall treatment is the first layer, be sure to take some time and consider the decorative style you’d like to convey. What does YOUR style call for? Is it paint? Defining the space with a bold color like red will exude a warm welcome. Or maybe it’s a fabulous wallpaper! It’s OK to have fun with it, as long as the end result is cohesive regardless of your style.

Flooring – In many cases, homes will have the same flooring throughout, great for continuity, but does nothing for adding personality, toss down an area rug or runner to soften floors and define your entry space. A great rug adds texture and draws guests into your home. Keep it clear of furniture, so as not to make the space feel closed-in. A quality rug may also require some maintenance from time to time as it can become dirty with having people walk on it so frequently. It’s a good job there are people like Pinecrest Oriental Rug Pros offering their cleaning services of rugs with delicate fabrics.

Lighting Lighting your entry is extremely important for creating ambiance, adding warmth and highlighting wall decor or architectural details in your foyer. So it then comes as no surprise to find that some people choose to check out sites like steellightingco.com, in the hopes of finding new lighting options for their home.
Select something that will make a statement, I always say the bigger, the better, whether it’s a three-tiered crystal chandelier or an over-sized lantern. If you have a console a slim table lamp can also cast an inviting glow. Hang your overhead fixture so that the bottom is about eight feet above the floor. If you hang it much higher, you will lose its visual effect.

TIP: I always put my entry overhead fixtures on a dimmer which will give you control and allow you to set the mood.

Furniture – The size of your entryway will dictate what furniture(s) can be used in the space, this is important to keep it from getting cluttered with excessive furniture. A great storage piece you love is always a good idea, it will allow you to build your look around it. A console repurposed buffet or reclaimed bench will also work well. Often people have an example of antique furniture as a centerpiece in their entryways as a statement to all who visit. If you would like to see what items of furniture you could buy for your home, take a look at antiques world. Just make sure it’s the right size for your space.

TIP: If you have a nook in the foyer, add a table and a chair or maybe even just a chair, to give it a cozier feel.

Accessories Now this is the fun part! It’s time for adding your personality or jewelry to your entryway. Start by creating a focal point above your table or bench for major impact, whether it’s a large mirror/art, a gallery of wall art or family photographs. Accessorize below with personal objects such as a vase, trinkets, a dish to drop your items or decorative pillows that pack a punch to a bench.

Another very important aspect of decorating your entryway to consider is Function. If you use your entry on a daily basis, the function should be the very first focus when planning out space. The idea here is to create storage for items like keys, shoes, and coats and still make a GREAT first impression! The best way to do this is to choose the right piece to store and potentially hide all the daily necessities.

A Hall Tree {literally defined as a coatrack in the hall of a house} is the best solution for a busy entryway.

{A hall tree is usually found in hallways or near the entryway of homes, it is designed for people to hang items such as hats, coats, or other clothing. They often have mirrors and drawers to store personal items such as wallets, sunglasses, money, etc. Many incorporate a bench to sit on while putting on or taking off footwear. The bench seat is often hinged with storage space underneath for shoes. }

If you do not have the luxury of a built-in hall tree with tons of hidden storage to hide the clutter, a free-standing hall tree is a classy and functional option, like this one …

Another option is to use baskets in a piece with open shelving to store hold practical items like gloves and scarves, and shoes. But this does not mean you have to sacrifice decorative Items like art, plants or your favorite trinket.

If you only need minimal storage, a beautiful piece of mirrored furniture like the one below can fulfill all your entry storage needs in in high-style. A mirrored chest crowned with a decorative mirror makes for glamorous reflection. A sweeping floral arrangement and few well-placed books is all you need as shown in this space designed by Tomas Pearce from The Arcadian Blog The two drawers can store items like gloves, scarves, and keys while the cabinet below can be outfitted to hold shoes, hats and umbrellas.

So there you have it! The basic anatomy of an entryway – but What does the BODY of YOUR entryway look like?

In closing, remember to be practical when considering how space best serve you, Don’t be intimidated by the location, as a matter of fact, let the location and size motivate you to have a little fun! Create something unexpected and dramatic to great your guests.

I hope this has been helpful to you, do you have an element you like to add or a picture of your entryway you would like to show off? Add it to the comments below.

For more information on decorating your entryway or if you find that you still need some or email Here We would be happy to help.

Creatively yours,

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