In any house or building, the foyer is perhaps the most important area as it plays a huge part in shaping the first impression of the place. So, what is an entry foyer, anyway? Well, the foyer is a broad term that is used to refer to the area that leads to the entrance as well as the other areas of a house or a building.
From sky-high buildings and theaters to small apartments, any place can have a foyer. For houses and apartments, a foyer is best described as the place between the main entrance door and the other rooms of the house. It is the place where you greet your guests before guiding them to the common area, lounge, or drawing room.
It is interesting to note that the word “Foyer” was originally a French term, which was used to refer to the waiting area for actors and actresses. It was situated right next to or behind the performance area. This is where performers would wait before making their grand “entrance” on the stage.
Over the years, the term evolved and today foyer has a completely different meaning and a lot of other names. Some people call it entrance hallway while others refer to it as the lobby.
Since it is the area that separates the main building or a house from the outside, sometimes, it is also known as a vestibule. On the other hand, “reception” and “waiting area” are other commonly used names of the foyer.
While a foyer might be a cool place to hang out in for a few minutes before you head in or out of your house or a building, it is definitely not a place that is easy to decorate, especially if you are doing it for the first time.
Whether you moved into a house with a beautiful foyer or have been assigned the task to decorate the lobby at your workplace, it is important to know the kind of furniture that you can place in the entry foyer.
If you are decorating a foyer for the first time, you may be clueless about the kind of furniture that goes into a foyer. Scroll down to read about different types of entry foyer furniture that you can use to decorate your foyer and make it look warm and welcoming.
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1. Table
A foyer is incomplete with a table. This is because you require a surface where you can toss your keys, the mail, or anything else that you may want to pick up or drop off as you enter or leave your house. Furthermore, a table is a versatile piece of furniture.
It is not only functional but it can also increase the overall aesthetic appeal of your foyer. To make sure you make the most out your foyer table, it is advisable to decorate by putting an eye-catching piece of decoration. A lot of people go for candle stands when it comes to foyer tables.
It is also a great place to keep framed photographs of yourself and your family. Opting for family photographs will add a warm and welcoming touch to your house. If you don’t like the idea of putting your family photos on display, simple place a vase sporting fresh flowers to add a lovely touch!
FYI, there are many types of tables you can put in a foyer – small round center table or console tables are most popular.
2. Bench
Placing a bench in a foyer is a great idea. There are a number of ways in which you can utilize this bench to make your life a little easier. For example, this is a great place to put on your shoes before you head out.
Similarly, you can sit on this bench to take your shoes off before heading inside to make sure your floors remain dirt-free. Placing a bench in a foyer also provides you with a place to sit and relax every time your partner or family members take a few extra minutes to get ready for the night.
Do you ever get guests or interact with someone who you would rather not invite inside the house but still need to talk to for a few minutes. Instead of keeping them standing outside on the porch, a bench in the foyer allows you to offer them a place to sit and not look rude while also without really inviting them inside.
3. Hall Tree
I love hall trees because they offer hooks for outerwear as well as shoe storage below. They don’t take up much space and if you spend a few bucks, it can look great (like the one above would look fantastic in a more rustic house.
4. Coat Rack
While I prefer hooks or a hall tree, if you don’t have the space, a coat rack can do the job. We’re fortunate in that we have a full closet off our front hall, but if you don’t you need something to hang coats. A coat rack can do the job, but I think hooks are better.
5. Sofa
Turn your foyer into an interesting place to hang around in by placing a sofa set or even a single sofa in there. The idea is to create a place for sitting in your foyer. If you have a large enough foyer, decorating it with a sofa set may be a great idea for you.
After all, there’s no point in letting all that space go to waste. Moreover, it adds a chic stylish look to your house and will leave a great and long-lasting impression on your guests. Even if you have a lounge or a drawing room, placing a sofa in your foyer will do nothing but add an X-factor to your house.
Keep in mind that a sofa in a foyer is not only for increasing the aesthetic appeal but it is also extremely functional. It can be used the same way as a bench in a foyer.
You can use the place to simply chill and relax, call in a few friends without really inviting them in to your house, sit in the armchair to comfortably put on your shoes or take them off, and wait for a few minutes when you are the first one in the house to get ready for a night out!
6. Shoe Rack
A shoe rack is an essential part of every house foyer. Where else are you going to keep your shoes? Most people don’t like bringing shoes inside the house.
This does not come as a surprise because no one has the time to mop the floor over and over again only because it keeps getting dirty due to people walking around with soiled or dirty shoes! Moreover, if the mud or water on your shoes gets on the carpet, it can leave really unappealing marks, consequently, decreasing the aesthetics of your entire house.
An easy way to prevent this from happening is to place a shoe rack in your foyer. Contrary to popular belief, a shoe rack does not have to look unappealing.
In fact, they are usually available in a number of different sizes, styles, and colors. This allows you to choose the perfect fit for your foyer to make sure your shoe rack looks as good as it is functional in a foyer.
7. Book Shelf
If you are looking for a way to bring an X-factor to our house, you always have this trick up your sleeve – simply place a stylish bookshelf in your foyer and fill it up with books! While books are not a decoration piece by any means, they can look just as good as any other piece of decoration to take your foyer to the next level.
The idea of placing a bookshelf in the foyer will be most appealing to those who love to read. Imagine all your books at one place – that too right in your foyer! It is the perfect way to allow your guests and visitors to take a look at your book collection.
You can rest assured that placing a bookshelf in your foyer will leave a long lasting impression on all the visitors and they will remember your house for a long time.
8. Bench with Storage Drawers
Are you always struggling to get rid of the clutter in your house? Do you ever run short of storage space? It’s time you utilize your foyer to create some additional storage space.
An easy way to do that is to opt for a bench with storage drawers. You are already aware of the advantages of placing a bench in your foyer.
However, why not take it a step further and make your bench more functional by finding one with storage drawers! From blankets and bed sheets to shoes and coats, there’s a lot you can store in these drawers.
9. Leather Armchair
A leather armchair is the ultimate piece of furniture when it comes to decorating a foyer. It will add a posh look to not only the overall appearance of your foyer but your house! As more and more people are adopting the minimalist style, even a single leather chair is enough to give your foyer a complete and balanced look.
Just like a bench or a sofa, when placed in the foyer, an armchair can also be employed in a number of ways. It creates a perfect cozy corner in your house to enjoy a cup of coffee in solitude or read a book wrapped in a bed throw!
Furthermore, it can be used to sit a visitor for a few minutes or you can also sit in your relaxing leather chair as you wait a few minutes before leaving the house. To make the most out your leather chair in a foyer, make sure you place a plant or a small table beside it to complete the look.
10. Grandfather Clock
Placing a full-length grandfather clock in your foyer is perhaps the easiest way to make it more intriguing. It is that one piece of furniture that will mesmerize your guests, especially if you have an antique grandfather clock. Like most other items in the foyer, this clock is not just a piece of decoration.
It will make sure that no matter where you are going, you are always on time! With this grandfather clock right in your foyer, you won’t need to bring out your phone to check the time every time you leave your house. Similarly, placing a grandfather clock in your foyer means you can always keep a tab on when you reached home.
11. Chest of Drawers
Another piece of furniture that is fit for a foyer is a drawer chest. It offers everything that you may need in a foyer. For example, the top of the chest provides you with a surface to keep decoration pieces, flower vase, lamps, candle stand, or anything else that you may want to place.
Moreover, it offers you a lot of storage space that can be used in multiple ways. Whether you use it to store books, magazines, hats and mufflers, keys and wallet, or even blankets – it sure is a great way to de-clutter your house and keep all the important stuff that you usually need while leaving the house!
The best thing about having a chest of drawers in your foyer is that is not only useful but can also look quite adorable. Based on the type of the chest you choose, it can add a vintage touch to your foyer, make it look chic and stylish, or add a warm tint to it.
12. Stylish Chairs
If sofa, armchair, or a bench is not your cup of tea, simply go for a minimalist, contemporary chair. One of the main reasons why a lot of people prefer to keep such chairs in their foyer over all the other alternatives is that they look rather compact. While a chair may still take an adequate amount of space in the foyer, it will not make your space feel over-stuffed.
For this reason, if you have a small foyer, a chair might be the best option for you! Furthermore, it is extremely versatile and can be used in multiple ways. To give your foyer a complete look, you can place a small table on the side of the chair.
Throw in a lamp in the equation to create a perfect, small and cozy corner to relax every time you feel like enjoying some quality me-time.
13. Rocking Chair
Want to give your guests the perfect solution to kill time as they wait in the foyer? Bring in a rocking chair! A rocking chair can make an ultimate addition to a foyer.
It is functional, providing you with a place to sit and relax. It looks beautiful and adds an X-factor to your foyer. And lastly, it makes it easy to pass the time! W
hen you have a rocking chair in your foyer, you can rest assured that your visitors will remember your house for a long time!
14. Sculpture
While not technically furniture, if you have the space and are into three dimensional art like sculptures, you can easily add such a piece to your foyer – whether stand-alone or placed on a table.
15. Umbrella Stand
I live in Vancouver, BC where it rains a lot. An umbrella stand isn’t a bad idea in our neck of the woods. Most people use umbrellas when it rains (which is a lot) and so it’s nice to offer a place for guests to place their umbrella.
It’s also super useful for storing umbrellas … which get lost all the time.
So, are you ready to revamp your foyer to create a strong and impactful first impression of your house? Keep in mind that while furniture plays an important role in the overall appearance of your house, other things like accessories, color combination, and wall hangings can also make a lasting impact.
So make sure that you choose the right accessories to complement the furniture in your foyer in order to create a look that will leave your guests in awe and wonder!
Related: Should a Foyer Table be in the Center of the Foyer or Against the Wall? Both?
