Gooneratne says the foyer in her family's rowhouse is "impersonal and institutional." The 18-by-4-foot space is the primary entryway for her family of three and a downstairs tenant. But instead of welcoming people, it "feels blah" and is not very functional. "I jokingly call it our decompression chamber," she says. She'd like to warm up the space using principles from feng shui, the ancient Chinese approach to arranging a space to promote harmony. The house is short on storage, so she also hopes to make room for coats, shoes, small gardening tools and a stroller without making the space feel cramped.
» Use natural wood and color to warm up the area.
PHOTOS: Mary Lou Foy - The Washington Post; EDITED BY: Kathleen Hom - The Washington Post; WEB PRODUCER: Janet Bennett Kelly - washingtonpost.com; INTERACTIVE: washingtonpost.com
