Since the foyer area of your home is what guests see first, it is important to make it a very inviting and attractive area. Most people's expectations of what the rest of your home will look like are set by what they see in the foyer. Although you can certainly create an inviting foyer to complement any style of home decor, the country-styled foyer often has an especially welcoming appearance. If you have your home decorated in a country, cottage or rustic style, here are some ideas you can use to add a beautiful and inviting touch to your home's foyer area.
Assessing the Foyer
Because foyer size and location can vary so much from home to home, it is important to first assess your space before planning your decorating ideas. Although you may love the look of a beautifully decorated spacious area, you may in fact have only a small foyer with which to work. Fortunately, regardless of its size and shape, there are many things you can do to create an appealing country foyer that will make your guests as well as your own family feel welcome. Even if your foyer is small, you can often create the illusion of spaciousness, simply by using some creative decorating techniques.
Decorating
The Small Country Foyer
Small country foyers often look best with minimal furniture items. For example, instead of taking up floor space with a larger table, a simple storage bench or small chair and shelf could be sufficient. Utilizing your wall space can be especially important when you have a small foyer. For beautiful country styling, add a peg or hook rack to the wall. Not only will it add a touch of country charm, but you'll also have a convenient place to hang jackets, bags, and personal accessories such as hats, umbrellas and pet leashes. If you only have room for a small table, make the most of it by displaying something beautiful. A basket of seasonal flowers, pine cones or seashells can add a simple decorative touch that will add to the beauty of your country decor. Wooden storage benches often have a rustic look that works nicely with country styling. Not only will these useful pieces of furniture provide you with a handy place to sit when putting on your boots, but they can also provide plenty of hidden storage. Paint the foyer walls in a light warm shade, or use wallpaper with a small pattern such as pin dots to add country charm.
Decorating the Larger Foyer
If you are lucky enough to have a larger foyer, you'll be able to expand a bit on your decorating style. A long narrow table can be a great addition to the foyer, providing you with plenty of space to hold books, a basket of flowers, or as a convenient spot to place your purse or gloves as you get ready to leave the home. An umbrella stand or a small cabinet can also be handy foyer additions. Larger foyers can also be painted with darker warm shades without fear of making them look too small. Add a wall shelf or a mirror flanked with candle sconces for the perfect finishing touch.
Online contributing editor for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, Jessica Ackerman has extensive design experience in master bedroom decorating and remodeling.