The foyer or entry is the first room of your house that guests will see. It's basically the first-impression space. For this reason, it's important to do it right. A foyer should be inviting--it should say, welcome to my home without words! It should also be an appropriate representation of your style--it should flow with the rest of the house and act as a goo pre-cursor to the style of the other rooms. It's important because it will basically set the mood of the house, like most first impressions do for relationships. So even though the foyer is small and seemingly insignificant, it matters! Today we're going to go over some ways that you can create the most appropriate foyer for your home--one that will leave a lasting good impression.

For starters, make sure you understand the tone of your home before you tackle the foyer. Is your home's style French Country? Industrial? Modern? Farmhouse? Coastal? Transitional? Electic? You have to nail this down before you really start in on the foyer.

Once you've figured out your style, start considering all the elements that a foyer requires. Foyers need layers. Like any well-designed space, it's important for them to have some depth and of course visual interest. Lighting, for example, is key in a foyer. Most entryway's have some sort or chandelier or hanging light. While this light isn't always super fancy, it needs to offer an appropriate transition from the outside to the inside of the house. Consider ambient lighting too. An overhead light can sometimes be too harsh, or maybe even too little light. Consider adding a lamp or some other sort of lighting that can balance out the over-head glow.

Functionality of a foyer is key. Is there a space for guests to set stuff down. If they have a bag or coat, is there a place to quickly set them down? Or even for you, the homeowner. Is there storage where you can drop your keys and phone? Some homeowners prefer that guests don't where shoes in the house--is there ample storage for guests to remove their shoes and leave them in the foyer without creating an eyesore? We like to think of the foyer as a landing space--a space where guests stop briefly to make the transition from outside to inside. Make sure your foyer has the essentials to make this transition easy for them.

What's underfoot? There can sometimes be controversy on whether or not it's approrpiate to have a nice rug in a foyer. Some would prefer more of mat that can functional well for wiping feet off. We say, go for the pretty rug. It doesn't have to be an expensive rug, but it should be something that beautifies the space while also functioning well to catch any dirt. This layer of softgoods also adds a cozy touch to the entry, warming up the overall feel of the space.

Don't forget the walls! The walls in a foyer matter! Just like our recent post about placing art in the kitchen, we absolutely feel that art in a foyer is appropriate. What guest wouldn't want to walk into your home and immediately view a lovely piece of artwork or some great photography. Not only does it enhance the space but these pieces can easily be a fun conversation starter that [once again] helps make the transition into your home more comfortable for your guests.

If you don't have a large foyer or don't have a good area to hang art, wallpaper is always another option. Just like small powder bathrooms, foyers have the ability to pack a big punch with a bold wallpaper.

Does that help!? We hope so! Homes should be comfortable and inviting and we believe the foyer is the very first thing that determines that. Now go make a beautiful foyer and invite us over to see it! :)

Inviting Spaces | The Foyer