A Realtor will bring buyers through the front door. So, the foyer welcomes them gives them a glimpse of what's to come. It lets buyers have their first chance to judge the home's interior.
So, this is is no place for "good enough." This is a place for "wow." Do something impressive. Since the room is usually small (if it exists at all) you can afford to add some luxury touches.
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A fabric skirt is an easy way to hide the necessities in an entranceway. Photo: John'sJournal |
Tidy the space
You'll set the tone for your house by staging the area as a clean and organized space. If shoes are stored there, keep them in attractive baskets or tubs. Remove out-of-season clothing and accessories. Avoid dark colors on walls, and make sure there is plenty of light because bright spaces feel cleaner.
Dust, vacuum, polish, and add a natural scent to reassure buyers your home is cared-for. Don't use artificial fragrances and plugins, but add essential oils to a diffuser. Or, a clever place to hide your scent mechanism in a small room is to lay an incense stick on the ledge over the door trim. You know, that little ledge you never dust.
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| A mix of colors and textures makes a small room interesting. Photo: Lauren Leonard Inteiors |
Give it personality
You can make your home more memorable to buyers on tour if your entrance displays has something unique. Hang an oversized piece of colorful art. Or lay a gorgeous rug there. How about a strikingly lovely new lamp? Any of these decor items are usually available at second hand stores like ReStore, Salvation Army, or other charity shops.
Making something yourself is another way to inject personality. If you have a chair or bench in your entrance, add cushions or pillows that add a finishing touch. It's easy to make unique pillows from small amounts of fabric.
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| Even if the entrance to your home is just a hallway, it can be staged to be inviting. |
Lighting is important
If there are sidelights next to the door, be sure they let in all the
natural light they can. Use sheer instead of heavy curtains, or none at
all if privacy's not an issue.
The foyer is one place you could leave a light on all day even in your
absence and not have it look like you were trying to make you home look
brighter for a showing. It just makes sense, as in, "We'll leave on
light on for you."
Furniture's a must in the large foyer, and what fun you can have there. A
rustic bench... a mirrored cabinet... a large black table holding books
and flowers... whatever suits your house. If you use a rug, make it
generous, no matter what the size of the room.
No foyer, no problem
If you have no designated entryway, you can create a sense of entrance by placing an interesting chair or small table near the front door. A mirror is perfect piece to create an illusion of a larger space. The bigger the mirror, the better. Ideally it
will reflect from side to side, so no one is startled when he opens the
door.
If space is too tight for a table, a shelf functions just as well to hold a pretty lamp, a silk floral arrangement, a mirror, a simple sculpture, or a dish of peppermints.
Remember that the foyer can be the last room a house hunter sees (and tastes) as he goes on with his tour of homes.
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| Clean lines make this foyer's mood easy to duplicate. The red, black and white colors add drama, and the ornate mirror adds detail. Photo: DecorPad |
The word foyer is derived from the French word for fire because in the late 1800's the foyer was the room to which theater audiences went for warmth between the acts.
Is your foyer staged to be warm and welcoming?
Be sure to visit my Pinterest Board for foyers to get more ideas. And don't leave without downloading my eBook, DIY Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. You'll learn more ways to impress buyers and convince them that your home should be their home.
Top Photo: Room&Board