FOYER IDEAS

“If the nest is truly empty, who owns all this junk.”

–Erma Bombeck

When my kids were little our foyer was a catch-all for backpacks, dropped coats and muddy shoes. Now that my children are both in college I have found that most of the "junk" belongs to my husband—and maybe me.

My name is Stacey, owner of Morgantown Market, seller and collector of antiques, finder of extraordinary home décor, and one who tries to uncover the humor in my daily life. Welcome to my first blog of the new year.

The entryway or foyer sets the tone for the entire home. This space is what makes the first impression on guests and can be purely decorative. You can use color, fabrics and art to create a unified look from room to room. A couple of basic rules to help your foyer achieve its full potential; first, define the entryway with a rug. A console table is a good choice for a small entry. The narrow dimensions give a more spacious feel. The foyer is a great place to store a pair of side chairs until additional setting is needed. Feel free to mix antique and vintage furnishings or an antique basket to catch mail and keys. Antique artwork, wrought iron or architectural salvage gives an unexpected punch to your decorating. Keep accents to a minimum and don’t forget the lighting. A small foyer can be large on personality with the right accents.

If your children are still little use a larger foyer table with beautiful matching baskets to house hats, scarves and mittens. Use your coat closet and add hooks inside the closet so the children can reach them. If you do not have a coat closet, purchase a vintage coat rack for added storage. If all else fails, enjoy the little piles in the foyer. Believe me, you will miss it one day.