How to Design A Functional Foyer (or Mudroom) That Makes a Powerful First Impression

Usually small, and often overlooked in terms of design and decor, the foyer is a functional space with huge style potential.  

Meanwhile, a mudroom, set off an entrance to your home is likely a storage-first space and a catch all, but can also be a great place to showcase decor.  

What both spaces have in common is they set the tone for your home’s aesthetic in a unique way, offering a sneak peek at what awaits in your home. Here is how to design a foyer that is functional and stylish, and how to add magic to your mudroom.

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Should You Use Light or Dark Colors in the Foyer?
Color trends for 2025 lean heavily into dark and dramatic, with a maximalist vibe, but given the typically small, enclosed space in a foyer, should you use a light, dark or neutral color palette?

Since the foyer isn’t somewhere you linger, it can be the perfect place to experiment with some more dramatic decor, and to make a style statement straight away.

“When you are trying to make a first impression that lasts, I would dare to go bold and dark with your foyer. This is a landing pad that you come home to, and that guest walks into, but it isn’t a spot where you spend time to relax,” says Sidney Sheppard, design lead at SNFLWR

Coat the walls in a dark, saturated shade, create an eye-catching accent wall with a textured finish, or wallpaper, or use accents themselves to imbue the space with rich color. Wallpaper can help to protect against scuff marks, common in a high-traffic area.  

“There are so many options, between adding colorful cabinetry like blues or greens that are also exceptionally functional for hiding away shoes and jackets, or adding a striking patterned bench,” says Sheppard.

Storage Solutions
Trending in 2025 is going clutter free, and having the right storage in the right places (i.e. where you enter and exit your home) is an important part of keeping clutter contained and out of sight.

You need to have ample storage for coats, boots, hats, shoes and umbrellas, but it is just as important to have your storage located immediately upon entry, within easy access.

In a new construction home, modifying your foyer to maximize storage is a value-add.

“If the plans allow, add a larger coat closet or replace a decorative alcove space with a coat closet or shelving for extra storage,” says Suzanne Leopold, design consultant at Drees Homes.

Foyers are usually small in square footage but receive a lot of traffic. The key is to use every inch available, including vertical space too. Add hooks and shelving wherever there is a spot.

To really maximize storage space, scan your entryway for creative storage solution spots.  

“From an architectural standpoint, the best storage solution when short on space would be to utilize the area under a stair when available, for a closet or built in.  This helps take advantage of usable space that would otherwise be wasted,” say the design team at  Southern Land Company.

A built-in hallway bench creates a focal point in the entryway and offers seating to put on or remove footwear. Add extra storage space with under-seat bins, lift-top bench, and coat hooks.  

If you have a coat cupboard in the front hall, outfit it with a built-in closet system, with pull-outs and extra shelving, maximizing the available space.

Remove seasonal clothing or other items that are not going to be used for months, to make space for what you do need, and reduce overall clutter.

Foyer Lighting Tips
The foyer requires task-oriented lighting, to facilitate activities when entering and entering the home, but it is also a wonderful place to incorporate statement lighting as a wow-factor feature to make a stunning first impression.

The foyer is tailor-made for an oversize light fixture that creates a memorable focal point, and also accentuates the volume of tall ceilings, which is a common design feature in the space.

Use Decor and Accents Strategically
Decor and accents play a dual role in the foyer, so make sure your choices add to the aesthetic and contribute to functional value as well.  

“A console table can be decorated with candlesticks and plants and is aesthetically pleasing when you walk in, but also offers you a space to set your coffee as you are putting on your shoes or a special drawer to place your keys in, so you never have to go searching for them,” says Sheppard.

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“Doormats are a fun and cost-effective décor item that you can change depending on the season and do a great job of keeping dirt from tracking into the house,” she says.

Ceiling treatments draw the eye up and infuse subtle elegance in the space.  

For more drama, implement bespoke millwork in the foyer.

“Wood beams, stained tongue and groove ceilings, board-and batten-feature walls,” are all impactful choices, says the design team at Southern Land Company.

Remember the staircase, which is often a focal point in the foyer in many layouts, according to Leopold.

“Upgrade the stairs to oak or another wood instead of. carpet and add a dynamic newel post and balusters combination for a great family picture location,” she says.

Elevating the Mudroom
The mudroom is often the catch-all for the family’s outerwear, sports equipment and pet items. While storage is as important in a mudroom as it is in the foyer to contain clutter, there are often other features required in the mudroom to make it more functional.

“As people’s needs have changed over the years with many working from home, the mudroom is turning more into a home center that is multifunctional,” says the design team at Southern Land Company.

“We are now seeing this space finished out with cubbies and lockers as well.”

Mudroom material choices need to suit your style and be cohesive with the rest of your home’s aesthetic, but durability should be prioritized, to stand up to moisture, dirt and heavy foot traffic.

Stone, luxury vinyl plank or other easy-to-clean flooring choices are smart, with a washable throw rug and door mats to trap loose dirt easily.

Don’t forget about mudroom lighting, and the style opportunity.

“If possible, adding natural light with windows can make the room feel more inviting.  Otherwise, statement light fixtures help brighten up the space, while coordinating with the rest of the home’s aesthetic,” says the design team at Southern Land Company.

It’s a space to be playful as well, with light-hearted decor.

“A fun light fixture can also help warm up the space,” says Leopold.

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A mudroom might be combined with a laundry room. Having laundry right in the mudroom is a logical choice that makes the most of the space, as you can remove and wash dirty clothing, rather than tracking dirt through the house.

Pet owners will love having a dog wash with a deep sink, right in the mudroom. It’s also a good place to store pet food bags and other pet items. Mudroom design for pet owners is evolving to include features, such as built-in pet feeding stations.

Similarly, it is a good idea to make sure that there is proper ventilation in your mudroom, ideally that vents outside, especially if you have pets, to wick odors outside.

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Read the article in New Home Source here.