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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.
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