Roll Out the Welcome Mat

First impressions last forever, so give your houseguests an introduction to your home that they can appreciate, enjoy and may even try to emulate

By Carley Ribet
CTW Features

Image courtesy J. Josephson, Inc.

The entryway is the gateway into a home, and helps to set the tone for the rest of the household. As a result, it's important to think about what you should and should not have in this area of the home.

"It's important to maintain the flow; invite people in with a certain look and continue that look throughout the house," says Michelle Jennings, ASID interior designer of MJ Designs, St. Petersburg, Fla. Here's how to differentiate your entryway and make it stand out as an unique prelude to the rest of your home.

This little light of mine

A light fixture can go a long way in the foyer because it is such a small area. Changing the lighting scheme in such a small space can impact the area, and help you add dimension to the space.

"You could reselect the lighting fixture and it can really help. Sometimes foyers have small lanterns that don't give up much light," says James Rixner, ASID and owner of James Rixner, Inc., New York City.

"You can put in semi-flushed mounted fixtures, which can give the space better light. No matter what you have in there, it will look better." Depending on the style, Jennings recommends smaller light fixtures. "For a traditional or contemporary home, pendant lighting would be appropriate," she says.

Color codes

As long as it coincides with the design of the rest of your home, a warmer color palette in the foyer is a must. Because the entryway is not a "living area," according to Rixner, you have the ability to use bolder colors.

"If your foyer is a separate entity in terms of its walls, you can paint a rich accent color. Those kind of rich colors are used best in a passageway where you don't have to live in the room," he says.

No more last-minute scrambles

Make practical use of the entryway by giving yourself consistent spots for everyday essentials that need to stay in the foyer.

"If you can come in and set your keys down, put your purse away, and have a place to put an umbrella, everything can be in its place and you don't have to drag everything into the home," says Jennings.

Use an accent table with a dish on top for keys, loose change, and assorted other items that pile up in the foyer.

Keep it in perspective

Making sure that the design you have in the foyer fits the space might be the most important of all.

"You want to avoid it being physically crowded. You want to be able to circulate, move around, let people come in," says Rixner.

"You need to be careful of scale. You can't pack these rooms too tight with furniture." Give people a chance to walk in and see the rest of the home.

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