Setting the Boundaries for Your Foyer

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Thursday, November 9, 2006

Designer Simon Temprell says that a slightly darker wall color near the entrance can suggest a separation of space, while a wall-mounted shelf near the door can serve to corral keys and mail without taking up any floor area.

Folding screens and tall plants can create visual divisions, Temprell adds.

Curtains hung on either side of the door -- restaurants sometimes do this -- can divide space and help a room stay warm, says Washington interior designer Lisa Adams.

Robert Cole, principal of Washington architect and design firm Cole Prevost, says building in closets, dropped ceilings and secondary doors can define the space.

Built-in cabinets above a radiator near the door can provide drawer and shelf space while blending with the surrounding room, Adams says.

A classic crescent-shaped table -- called a demi-lune -- is perfect for an entry because it can fit snugly against a wall without taking much space, says Sharon Hayden of Fabulous Finds.