Entryway
Don’t forget sound! Chimes tinkling in the wind on a front porch or the gong of a grandfather clock in a foyer adds depth and a sense of wholeness to your home. Make sure you try out the piece first to ensure that you find the sound pleasing. For example, some wind chimes sound earthy and comforting, while others can be loud, metallic and irritating.
Keep it neat. If your foyer lacks a closet — or if closet space is limited — bags, umbrellas and the like will likely pile up and make a muck of your foyer. A free-standing storage bench, like the one shown here, will do double duty by not only organizing your small stuff, but also providing a seat to pull on boots. While this one has pullout drawers for items like gloves and hats, many others have storage under a hinged seat. Install some beefy wall hooks for hanging scarves, hats, umbrellas and bags.
Show off your personality. Your foyer is the perfect place to showcase your interests. A favorite collection, like this homeowner’s assemblage of hand planes, is more memorable for guests than a conventional table and lamp. Above all, your foyer should be welcoming and personable. In our case - wine bottles?
Festively colored doors have long been an exterior staple, but they usually pale on the interior to match neutral woodwork in the rest of the home. Painting the door’s interior side a splashy color brings pizazz and is an easy way to add hue in double-height foyers, whose walls are challenging to paint without the aid of a cherry picker.
Rectangular. A handsome rectangular wood-framed mirror complements the rustic finish on this entry’s storage console.
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