The entry or foyer is the first space visitors see upon entering your home. If you believe first impressions are critical, you must give more than a passing thought to your entryway decor choices. Blue is a color that induces calm and serenity. You can make soothing decor choices to align with the mood created by blue walls. Alternatively, you can add energy to the space by choosing livelier colors in furniture, floor coverings and wall hangings.
1 Choose a theme or flavor. Consider your decorating style and what you want your entryway to express. You can strike a homey and comfortable, stark and modern or elegant but casual note. Or let the wall color itself be your guide. Certain blue shades suggest to you a farmhouse or beach aura. Take your time deciding, because adding design elements to an entry could require a bit of an investment.
2 Add a table that aligns with your entry theme or mood. A table, typically placed against a wall of the entry, provides a focal point, as well as a place to settle keys, hats, gloves, scarves and other essentials as you and your guests enter and leave the house. Nearly any common table material suits blue walls. Lucite, blonde and dark hardwood, glass and metal will all blend well. For the more adventuresome, even orange and fuchsia painted or molded tables can work.
3 Place floor coverings to accommodate your theme. Again, most colors of rugs and runners go well with blue walls. Use sisal or bamboo for a natural, beach feel, an Oriental rug to add plush elegance or a low-nap chocolate-brown runner for practicality's sake.
4 Arrange decorative wall elements. Once the furniture and flooring are in place, turn your attention to adorning the blue walls. Adding a framed mirror, wall hangings, sconces and other decorative elements gives your entryway a polished look. A mirror, (often centered on the wall over the table) can be framed in gilt, ornately carved wood or not at all. It makes a practical choice because guests can monitor their appearance upon entering and leaving. Wall hangings, such as framed textiles, watercolors and oil paintings of nearly any color, add life to the foyer, while softly glowing lighted sconces in muted tones enhance the ambiance.
5 Add seating to the space. Nothing says "Welcome Home" like a comfortable place to sit. In wintry climes, seating is especially appreciated when guests need to don or remove boots near the entrance. Comfy seating also helps when one family member has to wait for others to go on an outing. As to wall color suitability, choose a simple, narrow bench of authoritative mahogany or spritely oak. Or find an older table and whitewash it for a casual feel. For an entryway dedicated to elegant soirees, an ornate Louis XIV-style chair contributes an air of Old World nobility.
