Foyer

OFTEN OVERLOOKED, the foyer or entry hallway is not only an introduction to your home but to your style and taste as well. It presents a wonderful opportunity to create an atmosphere that sets the tone for the rest of your home. Like a musical prelude to a concerto or an enticing appetizer before a great meal, the foyer serves a practical function as well as a decorative one. A well-appointed foyer should serve as a welcoming entrance and as an organized point of departure. Good lighting, a mirror, a clock and storage space for daily necessities like keys, mail, notepad and umbrellas are just a few foyer essentials.

Wall art, family photographs and accessories add personality. So whether you are choosing a lamp or a bombe chest, or even a small accessory, allow your creativity and imagination to flow and your personal taste to shine.

A small server, buffet or other dining piece can work well in a foyer, providing a surface for the service mentioned above. Also, traditionally, demilune chests are often placed in foyers because they provide surface space while allowing passage through a narrow area, but bedroom chests, sofa tables or even something as unusual as a potting stand can be a foyer’s friend.

A foyer is a good place to experiment. A showy display piece that might not blend in other areas – such as an ornately carved or painted console – or a curio cabinet to showcase a collection, will work well.

Come home to the light. Connect your lamp to a digital timer which can be set to turn on and off at scheduled times. Choose a three-way lamp or individual lamp dimmer and soft, pastel-colored bulbs like peach or pink to create a soothing entryway atmosphere.


Small area rugs are an affordable and easy way to set the tone in a foyer, also adding color and texture. You will want to pay attention to the size of the rug, keeping it in scale with the space.