Foyer, entry, entrance hall….whatever you call it, the “lobby” of your home, while it may possibly be the smallest area, can have the biggest impact.
The entrance hall sets the tone for the rest of your home, so be sure it represents the style and feel you want to communicate to your guests. Design elements such as balance and scale will play a major role in the decorating of your foyer. Whether it is a small or large area, the foyer is the first impression or introduction to your home, so this is where your creativity should shine.
Whatever the size of your foyer, follow your heart and be as adventurous with the color and pattern you would like in the room. You can get away with thinking outside of the box with a foyer because it is a small space and you only spend short periods in there.
You’ll want the room to have impact and make a statement. Of course, keeping in mind the spaces your entry foyer may be linked to. This after all, is the space where your guest will get a preview of the rooms to come. The goal is to create a continuous flow, room to room, each space complimenting the other. This doesn’t mean matchy- matchy….the foyer should have its own identity while visually connecting to the rest of your home
Combine function with aesthetics as you place a table to hold your mail, briefcase and phone. Put in a small bench to sit on to remove boots or shoes and store the kids’ backpacks underneath. Include an umbrella stand for umbrellas or walking sticks and install a key holder on the wall for your keys. A mirror is always a great idea as well. It gives you a chance to check your makeup or outfit before heading out for the day.
Create a dramatic effect with the flooring, ceiling, lighting and wall treatments. This is a great way to bring in strong colors, fabrics, and interesting materials. Try a horizontal stripe paint treatment or grass cloth wallpaper. Maybe the flooring can have a special design or an interesting area rug or runner. Find every opportunity to bring in fabrics to soften up the area – try upholstering a bench to complement the window treatments in the adjacent rooms and add throw pillows.
Place a signature piece in the foyer. Hang a large mirror to reflect a scenic view or put a large painting on the wall opposite the entry door so it draws you into the room. Place a sculpture on the table or a corner stand. Pick a piece that coordinates with the other artwork in the home. This is also a great way to show off a collection or collage of special mementos.
Bring fragrance into the foyer through fresh flowers or scented candles. Sometimes living in a space for a long time you cannot detect odors, but someone visiting will be sure to detect them. Let freshness, beauty, creativity and even whimsy be the first impression to your home, while allowing your guests to feel welcomed.
Check out some grand and not so grand foyers. Hope you are inspired to create the home of your dreams!
www.casavilorainteriors.com/products.php
(sigh) my entrance leads right into my living room. No foyer for me- though this is something I’ve always wished I had in my home. Love all the pictures!
Such great photos of beauty! The foyer is the first thing everyone sees when they walk in so I agree that it is very important to set the tone. I love the one with the numbered staircase and boating rope. Gives it a very oceany feel. Perfect for a summer home!
My entrance to my apartment leads right into my living room also–however-right next to the door I have a telephone table with a pic of me at about age 3 sitting at it in my grandparents house and next to the closet is a small bookcase with various objects on it. I put an overstuffed chair facing the window in my living room which kind of delineates the rooms.
Great ideas and information! I’ll share this with my wife so we can be sure the entrance to our new home is ‘exactly right’.
Sigh….I live in a small cape and the entrance of my house is literally in my kitchen. Someday, I swear I am going to live in a bigger, fancier house and I will have you come decorate for me
I, too, wish I had such a foyer to decorate but your tips are helpful regardless. My one “foyer” could use your expertise. My other entrance has a washer/dryer in it. I can’t complain – it makes a great mud room!
These are some great photos, These will come in handy when we move, I will make sure i bookmark this, thanks for the great ideas
Oh wow, beautiful pictures. Looks very much like my dream home. Love the decor as well. Thanks for sharing this!
Your photos are incredibly beautiful, as always! I don’t have a foyer where I live now but perhaps in my next apartment, I will. One picture, with the dresser, gave me an idea of what I can do with mine. Thanks for sharing. Lovely!
Great ideas – I’m a fan of mirrors in my foyer as I have a small space.
We have a small entrance, so we put a tall bookcase, and we used light yellow to brighten it up even more. I love the ones with brown wood and brown tones in your pictures, though. I just love lots of wood.
The foyer is the first impression of your home, and in some cases of you. It has to be uniquely you, but nicely done to represent you well!
First impressions are important… My entry way is so small that I don’t have the room to do much of anythiing.
Those are great looks for a foyer.. We don’t have one in this house.. but if i did these are great ideas!
Very nice! Our foyer is tiny, and almost a part of the dining room and living room…but not really…if that makes sense at all. I have my Holiday Shelf in the foyer, and it’s always decorated for whatever holiday is nearby, and I always make sure there is decor on the inside of the door, as well.
Lovely pics! That is why I leave it to the professionals! They have the talent to make it look great!
This is just so inspiring and my entryway is a total disaster. I so want to make it over now!
Love all the pictures wish I had a foyer to decorate!
I wish we had an entryway to decorate. I think it would be so much fun! Hopefully when we move we will have one.
I have along hallway but not room to do anything i have canvas up on the walls..another great post though you always have great ideas.
Perfect images. I wish I have a foyer so I could decorate.
Look at those entryways!! Wow!!
I remember having an overall feeling about how a house was going to look/feel just from stepping into the foyer. I think you are 100% right about its potential impact.
Oh my… these are beautiful entryways! I want one…
Totally classy, well set up. I think I’d spend time sitting there and reading a good book!
Those are beautiful entryways. I really don’t have a foyer. My front door opens almost directly into my living room. I could probably add a picture or mirror there though.
My foyer is nothing like any of the ones in the pictures here..I guess it needs some work after reading your post.. I could certainly use a stylish foyer
I wish I had a foyer. My entrance is right into my living room. I will share this post with my daughter though. she just purchased her home and is redoing the entire house. I am sure this post will inspire her.
my entrance is very small. We have a huge canvas of our kids hanging on our enterance.
All of this decor is lovely. I like a floral themed foyer.
Lots of pretty options, for the large and small entrances!
I really lobe the staircase photo wall design, but sadly we don’t have stairs in our apartment. Thanks for sharing great tips!
My front door opens into a tiny space that I created a separation, making it a foyer by using the back of the couch. I placed a stained glass mirror over the table where we keep our keys and gloves, hats. Its functional and the best I could do with the space. Your selections in photos are beautiful and I could live in any of them.
Itr sounds like you had a good idea and purpose with your foyer. I just moved my shoes out of the way so you don’t trip… apartment living at its finest:)
The entry way, even if it is directly into a living area, is the “welcome” area for your home. You have done a great job presenting ideas here. Love your stuff!
Oh wow to have the room to do something like that! Magnificent.
Wow, now all I need is money to furnish my foyer!
I wish I had a nice foyer like the ones in those pictures!!! Our entrance way is so small =( But I usually have my scentsy warmer going. when someone comes in through the door, they always have a nice welcoming scent! =)
It is crazy that the smallest room can say so much. Ours is empty as is the two front rooms of our home. I get asked all the time if we just moved in but honestly I hate our house and can not get motivated to decorate it. Luckily we are moving soon and I can not wait.
A great foyer, can sell a house the minute a potential buyer walks in.
I like a house that has a foyer to greet you on the way in. I really like all the different styles you showcased.
It’s always a joy to visit your blog., Such beauty!!!!
working on my entry now and i couldn’t agree with you more!
I love the 2nd to the last Very neat and clean. Thank you for sharing
Love the pictures. Those are massive houses, and I wish we had a bigger house to do something with
First, I need a foyer or at least one that’s larger than the one I currently have.
i love the second picture down because it truly makes the room look so much more wide open. You have some great ideas above! I love visiting your site. Great designs!
I dont have a foyer but if I did I’d love to use some of these decorating ideas to make a good first impression. Flowers are always nice to see when entering a home
These foyers are all so beautiful. I would replace mine with any of these right now. I love a well decorated home.
Wow those are beautiful pics of people’s foyers. I don’t have one. My living room is my foyer – lol!
When we had our house we had a lovely big hallway and half way up the stairs was a huge window that overlooked the fields, lake and mountains. I had so many ideas and dreams for that hallway but it was not to be. Some fabulous pictures there and great tips xxx
My house does not have a foyer. When you walk into my house, you walk into my dining room.
I hope my next home has a foyer… It’ll be so pretty! You’ve got some great pictures here.. For now I am stuck with the front door leading directly into the living room.
What a great foyer! Just gorgeous!!!
Wow, those are all gorgeous! I thought the third was my favorite, but then as I scrolled down, I realized I just can’t choose a fave. They’re all beautiful!
Very cool pictures of Foyers
Very welcoming
I don’t have a foyer in my current home but it’s a rental home so it’s temporary. When I purchase my dream home it will definitely have a foyer so I’ll need all the decor inspiration I can get. These ideas are very helpful!
We have a foyer and I have been looking for some creative ways to spruce it up. You just gave me some great decorating ideas.
We don’t use our front door for our personal main entrance so thankfully we do not need the place for our coats, hats, shoes, keys, mail, etc. We enter into a mud/laundry room for every day. The front door is only for guests and it opens into our great room with the log open stairs going directly up to the master bedroom. To the right of the stairs, you walk directly into the living room area of the great room and look out the view windows at our view which is wonderful. To the left of the stairs is a wide area that leads to the kitchen area of the great room. We have a cabinet with glass doors plus a small curio cabinet along with lots of pictures, etc. No room to sit but really don’t need it. People do tend to say “Wow” when they walk in so it must be a catchy entry. Thanks for giving me a place to share.
I love your blog’s design aesthetic! Great tips for the foyer
And I really like the thematic approach- keeping a beautiful flow going throughout the entire house is a great idea!
Thank you Elisa!
I’ve never understood how people who have entryways (even if not large enough to call true foyers) turn them into places to hang coats, toss boots and drop sporting gear … or whatever. No matter how small the space, it can be turned into a statement area, as you so clearly showed in a couple of your images. Takes some creativity, willpower and discipline, though!
This was fun, especially if you like decorating. Wish I had a grand foyer to design. Nice tips – thanks