Focusing LIFESTYLE on the Foyer Dress Your Entryway to Impress Guests and Welcome Friends Written by Ashley Gartland
LIFESTYLE Photography provided by (clockwise from top right) ©iStockphoto.com/ SteveStone, ©iStockphoto.com/ dogayusufdokdok, ©iStockphoto.com/Escaflowne. yYou might think of the foyer as a fairly insignificant space in your home. After all, you don’t likely do much living in your entryway or use it for any primary functions like you do the kitchen or bedroom. And yet, the foyer plays an important role that belies its small size. Though you might not spend long stretches of time in your foyer, you do interact with it every time you enter your home. And because it’s the first room guests will see when they visit, it also provides you with the opportunity to make a good impression when someone walks in your front door. Ready to create a foyer that sets the tone for your home, and provides household members and guests with a welcoming transition from the outside in Read on for tips on how to create an inviting, organized, and fabulous foyer today. START WITH THE FRONT DOOR. Every foyer has a front door, which means every homeowner can make a statement with a stylish door that turns heads. Whether you swap your front door for one with more interesting architectural details or just update your old one with a coat of bright paint, you’ll find it gives your home character and instantly increases its curb appeal as well. MAKE SPACE. Does your front door swing open Easily If not, you likely need to address the clutter filling your foyer. Get organized by creating dedicated storage spaces for everything from shoes to umbrellas. (See sidebar for specific organizing ideas.) Additionally, you should rid your foyer of any large pieces of furniture to cultivate an open atmosphere. In other words, a small slender console table has its place in your entryway, but in most cases, a large armchair does not. ENGAGE VISITORS IMMEDIATELY. Don’t miss out on the chance to catch your guests’ eyes the moment they walk in your front door. Consider hanging an interesting piece of art, an antique mirror, or a collection of framed letters, cards, or family photos on your entryway wall to give the room some much-needed personality and spark conversations with guests. Not into wall art You can also add interest to your foyer with small structural elements such as a great lamp or decorative bird cage, or an unexpected storage piece like a vintage locker or an antique bench. ACCESSORIZE. A clean entryway table is a thing of beauty, but so too is one on which the homeowner displays a collection of pretty, well-thought-out objects. You might position a few stacked books or collectibles atop your console, or bring the outside in with potted greenery, a small terrarium, or a vase filled with fresh flowers. Or you can use accessories to introduce color and pattern to the foyer in small doses. Consider placing a decorative vase on top of the table or updating a plain lamp with a patterned lampshade to set your entryway apart. PLAY TO THE STRENGTHS OF YOUR SPACE. Whether your home has a grand entrance or a basic one, you should celebrate its unique architectural details. If your foyer has great elements such as a winding staircase, soaring ceilings, or a striking chandelier, let those elements shine by keeping the room’s color scheme neutral and minimizing furniture and accessories. Alternatively, if your foyer lacks such elements, you can make it stand out by adding interesting furniture pieces, painting it a rich color, or using wallpaper or wainscoting to give it some character. Five Easy Entryway Organizing Ideas Keeping your entryway looking sharp has everything to do with keeping it organized. Here are five simple organizing solutions for the oft-cluttered space. 1Pick up an attractive boot tray to contain shoes and keep dirt at bay. 2Purchase metal storage bins or baskets for each member of your household, and use them to store everything from school bags to sporting equipment. Arrange the bins under a bench or simply line them up in an orderly fashion along a wall. 3Mount hooks or knobs on a wall or inside a nearby closet to contain bags and jackets and keep bulky items off the floor. 4Set a small bowl, basket, or decorative tray on a narrow table to house everyday clutter such as sunglasses, keys, and mail. 5Install a rod extender in your entryway closet to double your hanging space. home by design|april|may|2014 15
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