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How can I Improve the Appearance of my Foyer?
The foyer should be one of the most inviting spaces in the home. It is the first area people see when they enter your front door and it should be a space that makes your guests feel welcome. It should also draw people further into the home.
One of the best ways to make the foyer warm and inviting is to add life by filling in empty spaces with plants and lush greenery. A gorgeous ficus tree softening the hard lines of a corner, or a soft, feathery fern cascading down from a niche will instantly liven up the entryway and make it feel homier.
Adding color to the walls and perhaps even the ceiling will also warm up this area. Placing a small bench in the foyer will not only give guests a place to sit or somewhere to set down their belongings while removing their coats; it will also provide another opportunity to add color and softness with cushions and throw pillows. A coat rack just inside the door says, "Take off your coat and stay awhile."
The addition of a thick luxurious accent rug in deep rich colors will lend a lot of warmth to the entryway, especially if your foyer has hardwood or tile flooring. A rug can be used to anchor the space, setting the foyer apart from the rest of the home. Making the foyer into its own separate space makes your home appear grander. An area rug can also act as an "arrow" pointing to the next room, or leading your guests into the living areas of the home.
Do not forget artwork. Just because the foyer is not a living space, does not mean it shouldn't reflect the beauty of the rest of your home and reflect your personality. The foyer is a great place to display a few of your favorite pieces to give your guests a sense of your style from the moment they enter your home. A large mirror can also act as a piece of artwork, and the reflection will make the space appear larger. It is a nice touch for welcoming your guests, so they can check their appearance before making an entrance.
If your foyer currently feels cold and sterile, or is just a bland space with stark white walls, warming up this area will improve not only the appearance but also the feel of the space.
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![Area rugs can improve the look of a foyer.]()
By: fotoedgarasArea rugs can improve the look of a foyer. -
![Throw pillows may improve the appearance of a foyer.]()
By: phaendinThrow pillows may improve the appearance of a foyer. -
![Earth toned-paint can make a foyer warm and inviting.]()
By: aberenyiEarth toned-paint can make a foyer warm and inviting. -
![Ferns can enhance the appearance of a foyer.]()
By: vencavFerns can enhance the appearance of a foyer. -
![A foyer may feature a place to hang coats and outerwear.]()
By: indigolotosA foyer may feature a place to hang coats and outerwear.
Discussion Comments
@browncoat - I'm not sure I agree, to be honest. I once lived in a group home where one of the girls decided to decorate without consulting the rest of us. She went to the local cheap warehouse and bought a bunch of printed canvases with photos of cities and cars.
None of the cities were places we had been, and none of us even had a car, let alone an interest in them. She just thought it was better to have some random pictures up than to have bare walls.
Personally, I preferred the bare walls. The pictures were quite hideous and had nothing to do with me. I always felt kind of embarrassed bringing friends home to them, as they made the place feel different from what I would have preferred.
Of course, if she had asked, I could have told her that before she bought them, so communication is probably the key in this kind of situation.
@Iluviaporos - Even if you are in a group home you can still take the initiative and try to liven up the place. Buy art that you love and ask them if they mind if you hang it up. If there's nothing else there, I can't imagine why anyone would object, as long as you aren't hanging up something really controversial.
Likewise with a rug, although bear in mind that it might not stay in good condition if your housemates aren't invested in keeping it looking good. It's much easier to ruin a rug than a painting on the wall.
And if you are willing to buy and care for a plant, I don't see why anyone else would mind. As long as you don't live with unreasonable people, and you make sure there's not going to be any inconvenience for anyone, you should be fine.
The first room to greet your guests can really make a difference to how they feel when they are in your home.
I have been a student for a while now and I generally live in shared houses, which don't tend to be decorated very well. With so many people involved in the house, you don't want to hang up any art or anything in case you step on someone's toes, and since the house isn't yours, you don't really want to spend money on fixing up the furnishings.
But, when I went to visit a friend who has her own place I was shocked by how different it felt walking in the door. She had lovely art on the walls and warm lighting and the whole place felt very welcoming.
It was almost difficult to go back to my own, not-so-welcoming home!
So I would think very carefully about how you present your foyer, particularly if you are planning to have a lot of guests to stay.
I know as soon as I have my own place, I'm going to try my best to make it lovely.
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