With summer in full swing, you’re likely welcoming friends and family for gatherings and having neighbors pop by to say hello. We all know that a foyer is where first impressions are made, but the irony of this space is that it’s also where you spend the least amount of time (and therefore it’s easy to neglect). To help you get the most out of your space and send a welcoming message to your guests, I’ve put together the do’s and don’ts of a fabulous foyer.

Do: use statement pieces to make a dramatic impression. A foyer is not a place to play it safe. Go big and bold – focus on art, light fixture(s) and furniture such a bench or console to anchor the space. The most common mistake I see in foyers is inaccurate scale and items that are too small. If you don’t have one piece of art that is big enough to fill your main wall, consider a gallery wall. Mirrors are also a great option for an entryway as they help add light through reflectivity. In terms of style, an entryway is the perfect opportunity to let your personality and style sing. Don’t hold back!

Do: connect your foyer’s style to the rest of your home. Keep both the style and color palette consistent with the rest of your house. If your house is traditional in décor, don’t use exclusively mid-century furniture in your entry, for example. If there is no blue visible anywhere else in your main living spaces, avoid making blue the main color in your foyer. To really elevate your entry, consider wallpaper in a color and pattern that compliments the rest of your main floor spaces. Wallpaper has the added bonus of being easier to clean than regular drywall, and entryway walls can take quite a beating!

Do: make sure the lighting is at its best. Bridle Trails is notorious for its shade. This means that natural light alone may not be sufficient for a well-lit entry space. Take a moment to consider your entry lights. Whether you have a chandelier or scones, consider whether the fixture itself is maximizing the light output. Lights with frosted shades (especially those with yellow undertones) are often underperforming in this aspect. Explore whether you can upgrade to clear glass shades, brighter bulbs, or consider simply updating the fixtures themselves. Next, consider adding a table or floor lamp. In my own home, besides an overhead chandelier, I have a taller-height lamp on a console table. The taller height of the lamp ensures that a bare bulb isn’t visible to someone passing by the space (which can be blinding). If you don’t have a console, consider a floor lamp – lamps with 3 legs can fill out a space nicely while providing an additional layer of lighting.

Don’t: let any clutter accumulate. Many of us have busy families and clutter is simply a normal part of daily life. If you consistently have clutter near your front door, consider examining your daily routine and see if there is an opportunity to re-route the normal flow of items to the garage or another area that is further out of sight. Many Bridle Trails homes don’t have traditional mud rooms, including mine. I solved for this by installing shoe racks, a bench and rugs inside my garage right by the door leading into the house.

Do: be intentional about function. Think about everything your guests might need to transition comfortably into and out of your home. Seating (such as a bench) for taking shoes on and off, a dedicated location for shoe placement/storage, and ample closet and hanger availability. The closet by the front door should appear to be a space dedicated to your guests and not overrun with personal items.

Don’t: have no rug if you have tile or hardwood floors. A rug is a powerhouse in a foyer. First of all, it’s essentially a piece of art laid on a horizontal plane. If you’re concerned about cleanability or have a low door sweep (not much distance between the bottom of the door and the floor), consider a brand such as Ruggable for thinner options that are also washable. Second, it’s a good place to catch dirt, debris and moisture and prevent it from being tracked into the rest of your home. Third, as a high traffic area, a rug helps protect the longevity of the material underfoot. The most important thing to get right about a rug is the size – make sure it isn’t too small! If your foyer is square or rectangular, aim to leave a minimum of 12” of flooring visible around the outside edges. 14-16” often feels just right. It’s ok to have the rug be close along the side where the door is – only a 3-5” gap of flooring showing.

I hope you found this guide to designing a fabulous foyer helpful! Remember to send me a photo to show me how it all turned out at christina@interiorharmony.design.