Most homeowners are so caught up in designing and decorating the bedroom and living room of their home, that they overlook the foyer altogether. Most often, foyers
are neglected areas of a home and are decorated as an afterthought. But as the entryway
is the first space that your guests will notice as they enter
your abode, it makes sense to decorate the foyer
in such a way that it looks welcoming and inviting. As foyers
are generally small and narrow spaces, it is best to decorate it in a minimalistic decor. Another thing
that you should keep in
mind while decorating a foyer is
that it should match seamlessly with the rest of the home decor, particularly the living room.
How to Decorate a Foyer
Choose the Right Wall Color
To give your foyer a dramatic
look, it is best that you paint the walls in a different
color from the living room. If you have a small and narrow foyer and the layout
is not well-defined, then choose a bright and warm paint color to liven up this space. If, on
the other hand, you have a larger entryway,
you can stick to warm neutrals like slate
gray, tape and wheat. These colors give the entryway a sophisticated and elegant look and works well as a backdrop for hanging various wall art.
Decorate with Furniture
To decorate the entryway
and make it more functional, you need to choose
the right
furniture. If you have a small foyer,
then it is best to pick furniture pieces
that are long and narrow
in scale, like a console table or a long
wooden bench. For a larger foyer,
a round hail table, a round pedestal table, an antique
chair or an ornate
dresser will help in giving the foyer a chic look.
You can group together accessories like vases, quirky table lamps and small art work on the console table.
Lighting for the Foyer
It is imperative that the foyer be well-lit so that guests can navigate to the living room without any problem. One of the best ways to illuminate the foyer is
to install recessed
lighting on the ceiling of the entryway. You can also opt for
decorative wall sconces and pendant lighting
that will match the decor of the foyer. A
modern and minimalistic chandelier suspended from the ceiling will
create a focal
point in the
entryway.
Creating a Wall Display
Wall art can make your foyer look warm, inviting and elegant. But you need to choose the right wall art to achieve this. You can create an eye-catching wall display by hanging
a single piece of modern art on one of the walls of the foyer. Alternatively, you can group
together smaller pieces of
art work and hang them in an asymmetrical manner.
Mirror as Wall Art
To create a dramatic
look, you can group together a number of ornamental
mirrors in various shapes and sizes on one of the walls of the foyer. This foyer decorating idea works well in
a small entryway, and mirrors
as wall art look stunning against a dark wall. You can also hang a single, large wall mirror
with an antique frame on
the wall of the foyer. Such a mirror will create the illusion of extra space by visually expanding the narrow area of the foyer.
Dress Up the Flooring
To add some warmth to the foyer and to keep dirt
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Opt for an Accent
Wall
For decorating a foyer with a staircase, the best idea would be to paint the wall opposite to the stairs in a bold and dramatic
hue. Choose
a wall color
like aubergine, sunny yellow, brick-red or chocolate to enhance the look of the foyer. You can also choose to install a modern wallpaper on one of the walls of the foyer. Architectural details
like wainscoting and chair rail molding
installed on the wall opposite to that of the stairs, will give the foyer an elegant appeal.
Tips for Decorating a Foyer
For the foyer to shine and look as elegant as the rest of the house, here are some foyer
decorating tips.
• If you have a large foyer, then you can consider placing a small sofa or loveseat in one corner.
A beautifully upholstered sofa or loveseat is not only stylish, but it is also functional.
• A tall sculpture placed on the floor, next to the console or dresser, will add a beautiful
touch to the foyer.
•You can also decorate
the entryway by placing a few decorative houseplants on either side of the
console or bench.
• In case you have opted for a long bench as furniture for the foyer, you can dress it up by adding some fancy and colorful
throw cushions.
•If you
would like to highlight a
particular piece of art work or wall display in
your foyer, then
you can install
track lighting. Creative
foyer lighting ideas like track lighting
is also great for illuminating
a long and narrow entryway.
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• One of the most important tips to remember while decorating a foyer
is not to over
accessorize it by placing
too many decorative elements and knickknacks. Over decorating the
foyer will make it look cluttered and disorderly.
Always remember
that the decor that
you choose for the foyer should be cohesive with the decor style of the rest of the house.
By using these ideas for decorating your entryway, you can create
a memorable first impression on your guests.