Practical and Stylish Foyer Decorating Tips

Help with getting a practical and stylish hall and stair area. Ideas for color, storage, decor and safety...

Your hallway is useful and practical - but there's every reason to make it stylish and beautiful too!

Take a look how you can create a light and welcoming space in your hallway here...

Creating a spacious, light and bright hallway or foyer is an excellent style choice for decorating a hall - but you can also choose something a bit stronger...

...bright colors, and bold patterns and designs are actually a very viable alternative for decorating a foyer.

• You don't spend long in a hallway, so strong colors aren't so overwhelming.
• The space is usually quite small, so colors aren't too intense, and a nice wallpaper won't be so expensive!









• Using several colors in patterned wallpaper in a central hall can give lots of color options for adjoining rooms, whilst still keeping to that one, unified feel, for the whole house.









• Going from the intense color in a hallway, into a lighter and larger room, gives that room an instant uplift and a lighter, brighter and more spacious feel, in contrast.
• This idea works best for decorating foyers and hallways that are already quite large and well-lit.
• Also be careful of choosing something too shocking or overwhelming in entry foyers - remember, first impressions count!

As well as considering the color in your foyer decorating ideas, take a look at some essential furniture, accessories, storage and layout tips:

• Try to keep your foyer and hallway free of clutter. Look out for clever and space-saving storage solutions, such as:
  • Bench seating with storage underneath - great for somewhere to sit when taking shoes off, or putting them on
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  • Coat hooks, with high level shelving and storage above (above the eye-line so you notice it less)
  • Lots of individual hooks on walls at all different heights - great for kids!
  • Custom built shelving, or cupboards, under stairs, or in alcoves and corners.
  • Slimline console tables
  • Wall-mounted shelving
  • Umbrella stand
  • Hat stand or hooks
  • Stackable shoe racks
• A radiator cover can help to hide ugly radiators, but can also be used instead of a console table, or shelf, as a very slimline option. Great for:
  • a few pretty accessories
  • key hooks or a letter rack
• A large mirror (usually hung horizontally) is an excellent accessory choice for most hallways - it helps to bring essential light in, to make the hall feel larger and brighter...

  ...it's also very useful for that final check, that you've got nothing stuck between your teeth, right before you leave the house!

• Artwork on walls really helps to personalise your hall, stairs and foyer decorating, and make it feel more welcoming.

  Choose light colors, and light wood, white, or silver frames, to keep the looks spacious, clutter free and streamlined.

• A dado rail (or chair rail) perhaps with wood paneling below, is another good way to add interest to a hallway, stairs or foyer decorating scheme...

  You could try wallpaper, above or below the dado rail - keeping brighter and darker colors on the lower part of the wall will help with the light and airy feel.

  You could also go for a more subtle look with an embossed wallpaper, or these great 'wall-flats' - embossed tiles, which are ideal for fitting over existing wallpaper, or bumpy walls...

  They also have a very modern range of designs - which I love!

Inhabit Wall Flats. Embossed Wall Tiles. Interior Design Magazine’s Eco-Friendly Product of the Year. Simple, modern, versatile!

Get Wall Flat Samples and try them out for yourself at home, first...

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Take a look...

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• Use frosted glass, or a frosted transfer, on windows and glass doors, to keep your hallway and home private from anyone who happens to turn up on your front door-step.
• Think safety first and always have a bannister on at least one side of your staircase. A really simple solution is a bannister rope, or a single rail.
• Make sure all doors, and doorknobs, coming off your hallway match.
• A thick inter-lined curtain across the door will help your home to stay warm in Winter. It can also help to keep your hallway private, and add a touch of color, too.
• Never use an uplighter on a lower landing or hallway near stairs - you don't want the glare to affect the safety and footing of anyone coming downstairs...

  ...but do fit a light to the top and bottom of stairs - and also fit a 2 way switch, so that you can turn the light on from the top or bottom of the stairs, and you never need negotiate the stairs in darkness.










• You can also fit low-level lighting, for safety, and as an attractive feature for your home...
• There's more about safety and style when choosing your flooring for your stair and foyer designs, later...

Always remember to aim for a co-ordinated and uncluttered look for your hall, stairs and foyer decorating.

This is an integral part of your home, and a central hub for all your rooms, so it's worth getting right...

You can't go wrong in keeping it light and spacious, but welcoming!

Hope these ideas help you with your hall, stairs and foyer decorating inspiration.

Some Reader Hallway and Foyer Decorating Inspiration

Elise's wainscoting in her hallway...

Karen's creative hallway...

Maria's traditional hallway...

Mary's long, narrow hallway...

Ask your own hallway question

For more ideas about using the space in your hallway wisely, take a look at this page on useful hallway and foyer designs... What will you use your hallway space for?

To start your design, take a look at the main 'How to Design' page...



Return to the main Foyer Decorating page for more ideas for your hall and stairs

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