Some say their foyer is so small, why bother with it at all? I have had others explain that their foyer is so grand that it feels cold and uninviting, no matter what they do to it. Whatever size of your foyer, you should make most of it! There is no reason in world, why your foyer shouldn’t be stylish. The tiniest of foyers can be made to feel grand. Likewise, grandest of foyers can have a sophisticated coziness.

Follow your heart! You can be as adventurous with pattern and color as you desire in this room. You can get away with it in foyer, because remember you are only in this room for brief periods of time. You’ll want room to have impact and make a statement. Of course, keeping in mind spaces your entry foyer may be linked to. This after all, is space where your guest will get a preview of rooms to come. The goal is to create a continuous flow, room to room, each space complimenting other.

Where do I start? What about walls? What kind of furniture should I use in entry foyer? How should I accessorize my foyer?

· Wall color should never be chosen strictly according to latest trends or home fashions. Instead, choose colors that suit character of your home.

· You should select a color that makes you feel comfortable and happy.

· Choose a color that will give you a lift when you come through door after a long day.

· Textured, glazed or marbleizing walls are an excellent choice. It’s virtually impossible to see dirty marks or fingerprints.

· Give your walls a kind of strie’ effect of three or four different shades by glazing any darker color with a lighter one.

· Pastel or softer colors look better in flat paint.

· Chocolate brown or very dark colors, I think look better with a little shine to them. The satin or semi finish will keep them from looking dreary by reflecting light around room.

· Painting is most cost effective way to give your room lots of impact.

· You may want to select a striking wallpaper pattern in keeping with color scheme of rest of home. Stripes are great for adding volume and height.

· If you choose wallpaper with lots of pattern, you will have very little need for pictures or artwork

· When choosing wallpaper, don’t assume that a small foyer should be papered with an equally small printed design. Some of prettiest foyers I’ve been in, were small ones, where paper chosen was large scale and very bold. The effect was wonderful!

· The entry is perfect spot for tromp l’oeil. Possibly a mural of a Grecian urn or a large topiary.

· If your foyer lacks architectural interest, secure an oversized decorative wall shelf or bracket on wall directly facing you as you walk through door. I like to place them on wall at least five feet high or higher depending on ceiling height. This is a great place to display an elegant antique vase or urn. In a less formal setting you may want to display a simple pot of trailing ivy to add softness. This is also a great idea because it keeps your floor space free of clutter.

· In a small foyer maximize light and make a tight area feel less cramped with a floor to ceiling mirror.

· Your foyer may be a tiny space with only a coat closet and no place to hang a mirror. So why not mirror closet door! This will make your space appear larger. Depending on how your closet door is positioned, it may double a gorgeous view of outdoors.

There are various contraptions designed to return more of a wood or gas fireplace’s heat into room and stanch flow of that precious heat from escaping up chimney. Many of them involve fans and vents and considerable expense. But one of most time-honored, hassle-free, and least expensive methods of increasing a fire’s heat output is making a comeback: fireback.

A fireback is a sheet of metal, sized in proportion to fireplace, that’s placed against your back fireplace wall. Firebacks can be set on hearth’s floor and just leaned against back fireplace wall, but often they are secured by placing them in supporting braces which keep fireback from sliding. Firebacks come in two main styles: cast iron fireback and stainless steel fireback.

The traditional cast iron fireback, popular in earlier times and making a revival now, is a sheet of heavy, black, cast iron. Often they are cast with a design, such as a fleur de lis or eagle, to add a decorative touch to this functional fireplace accessory.