Unique Ways To Make Your Home's Foyer Stand Out
The entrance of your home is the area that sets the tone for the rest of your space. Despite this, it's frequently overlooked in favor of other, more useful areas like the kitchen or living room. While you may not spend much time here as you rush in and out on the way to work or to drop your kids off at school, it's still important to use the area to your advantage to make a good first impression on your guests.
Thankfully, this is fairly easy to do. Foyers and entryways are typically smaller spaces that don't require much planning to completely transform, and since they usually feel more open, you have plenty of freedom to get creative with bolder choices that may feel overwhelming in other areas. In most homes, a stylish and unique entryway can be accomplished with fun hues, experimental light fixtures, and functional decorative pieces.
Utilize mirrors
Entryways are one of the smaller spaces to design in our home, so there's no better choice than a mirror to act as a room-widening and functional piece of décor. When properly placed, mirrors can reflect more natural light around the room, creating an illusion of depth that makes a small space look bigger than it actually is. To create this look, try to place your mirror in a spot where it will catch the most light. Right next to a window or light fixture is always a good bet.
Additionally, you can use the myriad of different mirror shapes available on the market to your advantage. Round mirrors are great for bringing some softness to an area with many sharp lines, like an entrance with a rectangular door frame and windows, while a rectangular or square mirror can leave you with a more sleek and modern look. If you adore the eclectic aesthetic, there are also plenty of abstract, organic-shaped mirrors to complement your unique space.
Don't be afraid to go bold
Because you typically have limited floor space to work within your foyer, they present a great opportunity to get bolder with your styling choices. This area is the first spot guests will see when they walk through your front door, so pick something that aligns with your style that may feel too overwhelming when applied elsewhere. An intricate piece of art, boldly printed wallpaper, and vibrant paint shades are all great options, though choosing something that still relates to the rest of your residence is important so everything feels cohesive. Consider a large floral print if you tend to lean into a more feminine aesthetic, or incorporate some moody jewel tones to create depth and interest.
If you don't own your home, there are also plenty of renter-friendly DIYs that can be done to ensure you move out with your security deposit in hand. Try out some peel-and-stick tiles and wallpaper, or simply get more adventurous with the color and style of the furniture and artwork you choose. Despite being a small space, the entrance to your home can create some major impact and set the tone for the rest of the house.
Visually define the space
In many houses and apartments, the front door leads directly into a living space rather than a separate foyer area. If this is your situation, it's easy to allow the decor and functionality of this area to blend into the rest of the room's footprint. To combat this, try creating some visual separation between the two areas.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by laying down area rugs. Say, for example, your front door leads into the living room. Try laying down a small rug or runner by the door, then placing another rug under your living room furniture to visually imply that these are two separate spaces. This is also fairly easy to accomplish with the layout of your furniture. Place the backs of your furniture towards the entrance of your room to create the feeling of a more private and sectioned-off area. If you're willing to pull out the paintbrush, you could also paint your entryway area a different color, creating an accent wall or corner that makes it stand out.
Go all in on lighting
Foyers are a great area to experiment with statement lighting. Chandeliers are helpful if you have taller ceilings and want to create some more balance in an entryway, but shorter ceiling-mounted lighting can still bring some interest to an otherwise-drab lighting setup if you don't have the space. When choosing a piece of statement lighting, try to cater it to the shape of your space. Tall and narrow entrances look best with a long and slim chandelier, while wider spaces can handle something more bulky.
If you'd rather avoid ceiling installation, you could also consider incorporating wall sconces along the length of your space as a fun way to highlight the decor, paint, or wallpaper you've chosen. For renters that can't do much to alter wiring or drill into the wall, try bringing in some statement lamps that you can easily unplug and remove once you move out.
Have some fun with flooring
If you're already preparing to make some bolder decisions with your wall space and lighting, why not bring that same energy to the floors? The size of your foyer typically allows you to experiment with more intricate flooring styles, like wooden herringbone patterns and marble mosaic tiling, without having to shell out a ton of money to cover hundreds of square feet of space. While this gives you more freedom, it's still a good idea to stick with something that will hint at the design of the rest of your space, like checkerboard tiling that complements a similar backsplash in your kitchen, or the same tone of wood you have laid out throughout your living room.
Foyers are one of the most overlooked areas of the home because you don't spend much of your time there, but they can provide plenty of opportunities to get more experimental with your décor choices, pack in some additional functionality, and maximize the space you have.