20 Ideas to Design a Grand and Gorgeous Foyer

Add a Rug or Runner

Every gorgeous foyer has something in common: a statement-making floor covering. Because your foyer is a high-traffic area, make sure it is resilient and can be cleaned easily.

Consider an Art Gallery

Create an eye-catching display on the first wall you see when you walk into your space, even if your space is an open cottage like this example. Even if you don't have a traditional foyer, first impressions are still possible.

Choose a Great Plant

The Sill Snake Plant Laurentii $57.00

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If we have learned anything in the last decade, it's that adding live greenery to any space is a no-brainer. You can’t go wrong with a snake plant or fiddle leaf fig. 

Incorporate a Bold Color

As the first place in the home people experience, don't be afraid to utilize bold or unexpected colors and patterns in the foyer. The chocolate walls of this foyer are eye-catching yet inviting, and the patterned throw pillow is a playful touch.

Go for Something Unexpected

Sure, there are lots of common things we often come across in a stylish foyer, but it is the unexpected that really make a lasting impression. "I think it's important to have something ‘weird’ in your foyer,” Seo says. “But you don't want to have bean bag chairs and clutter in the foyer, so I think an eclectic mix of formal and fun is nice.”

Seo's home, for example, features a midcentury modern statement light fixture from Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams that's hung above a glass foyer table. “On the tabletop, I have three weird things: A giant hornet's nest, a giant sea sponge (which the nest is laying on), and a humungous crystal I bought at a flea market. It gives a vibe of Anthropologie but without the frills."

Add a Sculptural Element

A sculptural element serves as an anchor to the foyer, especially if the rest of its décor is minimalistic. We loved the polished look of this oval, wood-framed mirror and rounded hooks.

Play With Graphics

"Create instant intrigue with a bold, graphic wallpaper that stops people in their tracks,” suggests Christiane Lemieux, co-founder and CEO of The Inside, a direct-to-consumer home furnishings company. Instead of making a long-term investment, Lemieux suggests the peel and stick version that can be easily swapped in and out without leaving a sticky residue. Or, take those prints elsewhere, like a runner for the staircase.

Create a Vignette

Another option to create a visually striking impression of your home in the foyer is to curate vignettes. They can be expressions of your unique tastes and background when combined with personal mementos and heirlooms.

Select a Beautiful Bench

If you have a large foyer, offering some sort of decorative seating can serve a multi-functional purpose. In addition to looking great, it can be a place for someone to place their belongings or sit while they remove their shoes. 

Showcase the Staircase

If your home features a staircase in or near the foyer, make it the centerpiece of your entryway. Utilize fun color combinations, add a plant or accent chairs in natural materials to add personality without overshadowing the staircase.

Add a Marvelous Mirror

Whether your aesthetic is modern, contemporary, farmhouse, traditional, or midcentury, finding a foyer mirror that fits your style will make a huge impact when your guests walk through the door.

Opt for a Center Table

Define the space and place a table at the center of the foyer. Add decorative options, and leave enough room for practical catch-all trays for keys, mail, and other loose items.

Style a Console

Almost every foyer has a console, which serves a functional as well as design-based purpose. Give guests the space to set down any personal items they may have, and set the tone for the rest of your home.

Get Creative in Smaller Spaces

For spaces without a traditional mudroom (such as those with smaller living arrangements), create a receiving area with a proportional bench, big round mirror, and welcoming plant. Store shoes beneath the bench, and opt for a hardy runner to prevent dirt and debris from tracking throughout the rest of your home.

Go Multi-Functional

Similarly, for smaller spaces and/or open floor plans, turn your receiving room into the entertaining room with lots of seating, and use area rugs to define the space. Add a vase of fresh flowers to accent the room.

Play With Patterned Floors

The floor of your foyer or entryway can be a décor element in itself. Play with patterned tile, matte or glossy finishes, or a stunning runner.

Express Your Personality

Prime everyone who walks through your door with a definitive statement of your personal style by expressing your personality through the foyer. For example, we think this casual yet brightly colored foyer belongs to fun and free-spirited inhabitants.

Add Texture

A layered vignette and contrasting yet complementary patterns add texture to this console. This look could be easily recreated in the foyer for a stimulating first impression.

Go Minamalist

Sometimes less is more, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. Here, a modern sculptural light fixture and framed art piece in a similar color palette greet you on arrival. Décor is sparse, yet welcoming.

Seek Natural Light

Natural light looks great in any room, and the foyer is no exception. Use the sun to your advantage to stream bright rays in and around the space and create a welcoming environment.