Decorating A Foyer: Three Ways To Make Your Home's Foyer Say 'Welcome'

(HIT) - Your home’s foyer conveys to visitors the first impressions of both your home and of yourself. Your home’s foyer sends messages about your overall decorating theme, and your attitude toward guests—perhaps formal and elegant for those who entertain often, or more casual and all-purpose for families with children.

No matter what your needs or the size of your home’s entry, your foyer doesn’t have to be a mish-mash of coats, shoes, briefcases and umbrellas. Some easy-to-do, practical and inexpensive approaches can really brighten up this often overlooked space:

Foyer Flooring Ideas

Decorating your foyer with a fresh new floor can make a huge difference in your foyer’s appearance. And you don’t have to spend a mint to get the look you want.

Resilient (vinyl) flooring, in tile or sheet form, complements almost any decorating style and offers fast, easy maintenance in this high-traffic area. It comes in such a wide range of styles that you’re certain to find one that works for your home. For an elegant look in your foyer, choose one of the new faux finishes—marble, granite, brick, or ceramic looks. For a more casual foyer feel, try a bordered floral or a café-style checkerboard pattern.

The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) recommends that you consider the scale of the floor design relative to the size of your foyer when decorating. In a small space, avoid large, busy patterns. Sheet vinyl patterns with a small design repeat work best. A bigger space allows more room to experiment. Alternating black/white tiles have a timeless style; open florals and geometrics also work well.

Contain Foyer Clutter

Is your home’s entry a dumping ground for gym bags, books and assorted outerwear? Even if you don’t have much space, you can probably use this area more efficiently. Make the most of closet space; buy a closet organizer or install hooks, drawers and shelves so that everything has a place. Other options to keep your entry neat: a tall, narrow wardrobe to stow coats, or a coat-tree in brass, cast iron, or wood. And don’t dismiss the classic umbrella stand! It serves an important purpose and can be very attractive in porcelain or brass.

Foyer Wall Treatments And Accessories

Again, you’ll want to think about the size of the space and how best to accentuate it when decorating. A subtly patterned or textured wallcovering, or paint in a neutral earth tone, can open up and "warm" the space. Mirrors are a good way to "enlarge" a foyer. You can purchase inexpensive panels to hang on the wall, or a gold-framed mirror to rest on a table or small bureau.

Consoles, either bracketed to the wall or stand-alone, can make a great design statement in your entry – try one with a cast iron frame and a glass top, or opt for wood or even wicker. An antique dresser or table adds a homey, country touch. Accessorize your furniture with a small fabric-shaded lamp, silver or brass tray for mail and keys, moire tablecloth, or framed pictures.

Whatever options you choose, spiffing up your foyer will make it more efficient and organized for you and your family, as well making it welcoming and warm for friends and visitors.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center