Guest Author - Donna Coogan

Okay – we all know that the entrance to your home needs to be inviting and welcoming. It is the first impression everyone has of your home. But, how do you keep your foyer looking nice when it’s rainy or snowy outside and mud and water are being tracked inside? How do you keep your umbrellas, gloves, hats and boots easily accessible for going back and forth, without detracting from your home’s decor? No one wants a big pile of shoes and coats mucking up the entrance, but these are usually overflowing during inclement weather.

Of course, it helps if you have a nearby coat closet where you can store all the coats and shoes. You can keep a bucket in there for wet shoes to dry out of sight. But, what if you don’t have a coat closet? The key when you are decorating on a budget is to meet challenges such as these in a way that keeps your home both efficient and attractive without spending a lot of money.

Decorative storage to the rescue! To solve the shoe problem, you need a pretty container that will keep them organized. Try using a large kitty litter box or a large narrow baking pan to store shoes. Spray paint these with indoor/outdoor paint in the colors of your choice and then they won’t look ugly sitting in plain site. When you don’t need them, tuck them away in a closet somewhere else in your house. These look nice outside on a front porch or stoop, too. If you are into vintage or flea-market style decor, use something like a dresser drawer to hold your shoes. Just screw some large pretty knobs on the bottom for feet and it can stand up in your foyer. Line it with a waterproof container and it will stay protected from moisture.

Baskets are a long time favorite for storing things and fortunately they come in every size, shape and color imaginable. They are cheap and easy to find in arts & craft stores or home and garden centers. Store mittens, scarves and hats in a lidded basket that sits decoratively on a foyer table or tucked under a foyer bench. In fact a bench is a wonderful idea for a foyer to provide guests a place to sit. No one likes to feel like they are dripping all over the floor. And if you can find one with built-in shelving or a lift-up top, this provides more space for winter or rainy day apparel.

Be sure to include a mirror where guests can check how they look before they dart out the door, again. You can often find large beautiful mirrors that are leftover from a used dresser set at a very cheap price. If you install pegs below the mirror, then you’ve created more decorative storage. Pegs or coat trees are ideal for holding hats, rain jackets or even snow pants without interfering with traffic. When they are deliberately part of the decor, they won’t upset the appeal of your entrance.

If your foyer is spacious enough, you can always use a dresser, buffet or armoire for extra storage. Stain it, distress it or paint it a colorful color. These pieces add wonderful character and style to any entrance.

And, don’t forget an umbrella stand if you live in areas where it frequently rains. Having quick access to an umbrella to greet guests or to protect your family from the weather is very convenient. If you don’t already own one, then use something in your home that can work. You can also create one very inexpensively. Do you have a tall clay pot? An unfinished one can be painted, decoupaged or mosaiced very prettily and then set out in your foyer. Make sure you use one with a wide mouth to hold several umbrellas. You can find these at garden supply centers for a very cheap price. Try ceramic or even plastic pots, too. If you weigh down the bottom of the plastic ones with small stones, they won’t tip when you set the umbrellas inside.

Using baskets, pots, furniture pieces and other decorative items to keep things organized helps maintain a sense of order without hurting your decor. Your foyer will stay pretty and inviting without any real effort at all. Simple solutions like these don’t require a lot of money. Figure out one that works with your decorating budget and go for it. Your foyer doesn’t have to become a disaster when bad weather hits. Keep it organized by using pretty things and your home will retain its inviting appeal.