How to Design the Perfect Foyer

Your home wants to make a good impression on guests, but the way you design the foyer can hold it back. Make your entryway a display-worthy spot rather than a dingy, tunnel-like passageway from point A to point B by paying attention to the details. If y’all need some pointers on how to design the perfect foyer, consider these tips that helped me.

Strive for Design Clarity and Function

First, be intentional about what your entryway does for people. Sure, you walk in the door to get inside your home, but the entryway should do so much more than that. It’s a place where you put on your shoes, so make room for a convenient bench for people to sit on. My bench even doubles as a storage spot for our family members’ shoes. Guests also need a place to hang their coats, so park a coat rack in a corner, or mount one on the wall to save space. Overall, your functional pieces should be cohesive and readily accessible inclusions that fit the aesthetic of the space. Make sure your foyer doesn’t confuse people in any way when they enter, and you’ll be golden.

Accentuate Your Staircase

Our staircases often splay out into our foyers. Some people think this adds an unavoidable eyesore, but frame the situation differently, and you’ve got an opportunity on your hands. You can find creative ways to add details to your staircase or plan a bigger redesign to tastefully accentuate it. Either way, there are some key considerations for designing a staircase, including paying attention to what materials you use and finding banister and post designs that fit your style. This is a potential medium for intricate detail that adds depth to the entire space, particularly if you find outside-the-box custom wood carvings to use.

Light the Way

Another important facet of designing the perfect foyer is light. If your foyer looks like a bat cave, consider broadening your windows, hanging a mirror to distribute light throughout the space, or adding multiple sources of light. This helps the entire foyer feel more like a stage to show off your home than a tunnel through which you walk your guests elsewhere. Consider accentuating the areas of which you’re proudest by intentionally lighting them—that wall niche you love will get the attention it deserves if you illuminate it properly.

In your quest for lighting, be sure not to overdo it. Focus on warm hues, and avoid glaring white light that blinds your guests. You want to invite them in, not stun them.

Be Bold and Include Accenting Décor

Finally, be a bit bolder in this space. Splashes of color set the tone well and show off your sparkly personality. Even if muted hues dominate, make sure to combine colors daringly but tastefully. Tie everything together with décor pieces on a front table, which will act as a natural focal point. After doing all this, you may start to absentmindedly gape in wonder at your beautiful new foyer. That’s a good thing—don’t worry too much, and just enjoy.