What Can You Do With an Open Foyer?

The entrance into any home is an opportunity to make a lasting first impression. An open foyer sets the tone for the rest of the house in terms of style, color, and as a reflection of your personal taste. You can decorate an open foyer using furniture, by making a focal point and by creating the home atmosphere that will warmly welcome you and your guests. Does this Spark an idea?

Reflect Your Style

Your ideas should keep your overall decorating style in mind. If you have a traditional home, design your foyer with traditional furniture pieces and wall art. A chandelier in the entrance way would complement a Victorian or Georgian home, for example, while a house decorated with a modern, contemporary theme would suit modern art on the foyer wall. Coordinate your foyer to match a theme in the rest of your house such as Mediterranean, Asian or Italian.

Mirrors

A small or medium-size foyer mirror will add a sense of depth and space. Hang it in front of or beside a light fixture in the entranceway and it will reflect more light in the foyer as well. Scale the mirror to the size of the room. If you have a large open wall space, it can accommodate a larger mirror. A mirror with an ornately decorated frame would work well in a traditional or Victorian-style home, while a mirror with a simple frame would suit a more contemporary-themed home.

Furniture

Depending on the size and shape of your foyer, many pieces of furniture may be appropriate for that room. For practical purposes, place a bench or chair near the door for putting shoes off and on. If there is no closet in the foyer, hang a rack with hooks for clothing items and scarves, hats and gloves during the winter. A round table with a vase and flowers is a classic piece of foyer furniture. Change the flowers according to the season or whenever you feel the need for a change.

Decorating Letter Transfers

Letter transfers for wall decor quotes are easy to use and come in different fonts. Rub pre-pasted letters on to a foyer wall or above a doorway into the rest of the home. For inspiration, try a quote such as, "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson" or "Don't dream your life, live your dreams". Alternatively, use one word that has personal meaning like "Family", "Love", "Hope" or "Believe".