Unforgettable Entryways

This week’s issue of Light+Breezy explores the elements that make for grand entrances – your foyer. Small or large, you can easily add elements that will wow your guests while hinting of the treasures beyond.

Wow Them at the Door:

How to Create an Unforgettable Foyer

You can’t make a second first impression. At least, not where the foyer is concerned. For it is that moment, hand on door handle or doorknob, foot poised across the threshold, that your home makes its very first impression on you. And anyone who’s ever lingered there, hanging up coats and kicking off shoes – perhaps rushing back out with apologies and then later, looking forward to coming home to that very same feeling at day’s end.

All too easy. The foyer gets overlooked. It gets ushered in, then ushered on through.

But with a little thought, attention and attention to detail – by taking this space and looking at it, really looking at it – you can make it the perfect portal for your entire abode. You can set a perfect tone for a home. And, most importantly, you can wow your guests the instant they walk in yours. Here’s how, and why, to turn a functional foyer into your unforgettable, personality-packed front door.

Find Your Foyer’s Focus

In every great room is a ‘hero piece,’ where the eye goes right away. In the foyer, this might be an enormous lighting fixture, a large piece of art, or an accent wall, either in a bold colour or eye-catching pattern. Something oversize is a good way to start establishing drama. A sputnik chandelier, for example, or an abstract work of art, or a graphic wallpaper.

But if you’re working with a dramatic foyer, let the space soar; pendant lights hung at different heights or a massive, dangling chandelier are both showstoppers, which can all help make a large, open space feel even more voluminous. Wall sconces flanking a mirror or a piece of art can also highlight the height.

If your foyer has architectural interest such as an arched doorway, columns or a monumental staircase, make these the focus and keep the rest of the decor simple so they really stand out. Accent lighting can be used to draw attention to the features.

Set a Stylish Scene

Establish a point of focus when you enter the house, then balance the rest of the foyer décor to support it. The furnishings and finishes should give a hint of what the interior holds.

It tends to be easier to create drama from color than from neutrals. Mix two or three colors and vary the scale of your pattersn to keep things from looking too crazy.

If your aesthetic runs more minimal, lean heavily on high-end materials and finishes. Shiny hardwood floor, a honed marble table, brass hardware and a crystal chandelier can imbue a foyer with elegance and polish.

Incorporate Functionality

Aside from being pretty, a foyer has to work to be a fluid transition from exterior to interior. Entries act as a foreshadowing or prelude to a house. ‘But they also need to accommodate everything you take off when you enter.’

A coat closet is a great way to keep out-of-season items and everyday coats out of sight and organised in order. But if your foyer isn’t so lucky, just use a convenient hooks or a coat rack to hold a few items. Pair a skinny console with drawers or a decorative bowl on tiptop of it for keys, mail and other little pieces.

If you have the room, a little bench or pair of stools makes a handy spot to put on shoes. Select one with storage under the lid to keep totes, hats and scarves out of sight.

Reflect the Light

Fill the foyer with light, both natural and artificial. The mirror reflects everything in the space, the patterns, the daylight. And it’s the last opportunity for people to see their reflection before they leave the house.

Besides bouncing light around, a big mirror can make a small foyer feel bigger. At the very least, choose an overscale round mirror (even if it’s not that large) – any big mirror is great at packing a punch, while a detailed frame can double as art.

If you are fortunate enough to have large windows on either side of your front door or sidelights on each side, accentuate these to bring in as much light as possible. Sheer curtain panels hung in a soft neutral tone filter the light without blocking it. If privacy is a concern, top-down bottom-up shades are an option where the light enters from above while the street is hidden from view.

When it comes to artificial light, you’ll want ambient lighting, in the form of a bold central element such as a large pendant or chandelier, to provide general illumination across a room. In this way, the statement piece casts a welcoming glow.

A table lamp atop a console and wall sconces will bolster the light level while adding an element of decorative interest. A dramatic chandelier can really quickly update a foyer. Having something with more of a kinetic shape or an interesting arm, or something that isn’t such a basic form.

Bring the Outdoors In

If your entry has a serious interior/exterior transition, you can soften the two spaces by adding some greenery to the entry. Since it’s such a large space with really high ceilings, bringing nature into an oversized scale – with real plants and greenery.

It fills up the space and makes it seem more inviting, but still grand and luxurious.

A potted fiddle leaf fig or palm is a noble addition to an airier corner, while a vase of fresh-cut branches or flowers at a console table is organic.

Add Layers and Levels

Moving your eye around the foyer is easier when decor comes in a variety of shapes, heights and sizes. start with the artwork and weave in the variety of shapes, like straight lines based on the mirror, softened by the curves of the chairs and the table.

Add layers to accessories on a console, such as stacking books and then topping them with a lamp, a vase or a bowl. Each thing adds its voice and has a layering effect.

And lastly, the floor – patterned tile laid in the entry makes an instant design statement underfoot. Or if your home is furnished with hardwood throughout, define the entry with an area rug in a colour and style that sets the stage for the rest of the home.

A traditional Oriental rug brings formal elegance, a hide rug introduces rustic texture, and a highly patterned flat weave keeps things casual.

Rather than a narrow corridor you dash through to get to the kitchen, framing your foyer as a separate, highlightable space allows you to craft a narrative for your home. Consider a commanding feature such as a lighting fixture or a work of art as the basis for your foyer, and bring in furnishings and finishes that preview your look. Then add layers of function and natural elements. A well-designed foyer will allow for an elegant and efficient arrival home as well as a signature entrance that impresses all who knock.