No it’s not a foyer! It is just a pad big enough to open the door. In fact it is so small about 3×5 if two people are standing in the space it is just too close. You literally have to back up onto the stairs to let someone in the door. So what can you do with a space like this?

I have gone vertical, and tried to make the most of this very awkward entry. A skinny apothecary chest and a wall cabinet just fits in this space. These were pieces I brought over from my parents home. My dad had built these for my mom and her smallish foyer. Of course it was about 3X the size of mine! I kept the decorating relatively simple. On the wall shelf I worked with my black and white transferware pattern Corian. I’ve never had these pieces here before, but I like the high contrast they create. Some antique leather books which are always parked here, a ribbon on the swan, a small wreath and I called it good. On the base of the apothecary I just added a hand carved Santa to the lamp and books that are always there, but the biggest impact to the entire space is in the light bulbs. I have always had very low wattage bulbs in this little lamp. The space is always so dark because it gets no direct sunlight. I boosted the bulbs to 2@25W bulbs and it just seemed to open the space up.

Next I added my small feather Christmas tree. I placed it on an old yellow bucket, and put the tree in a band box with a wreath on top. I just love the ornaments on this little tree. My grandmothers candle clips, a few small Radko ornaments for sparkle, but mostly small hand made felt ornaments. A paper star that I made years ago adorn the top of this little tree, with a paper chain made with my granddaughter when she was 5. I’ve never thought to use this tree here and I absolutely love it. It makes me smile every time I walk past. The Spicher Vinyl floor cloth https://spicherandco.com is a practical and fun way to cover ugly tile.

On the railing, I twisted together 2 different garlands, added a metal wreath in the middle, some velvet bows, fairy lights and called it done. I can’t use elaborate garland on this railing because it just gets in the way, so this Charlie Brown garland suits me just fine.

One of my favorite things to always decorate is my Dad’s ship. I always envision it moored and stuck. I do the same thing to it about every year but you know what it just works. Last spring I found a faux mossy twig, I fell in love with and have had so much fun finding uses for it. I wish I had more. I utilized it here and absolutely love the look.

And of course there is my Tavern Sign. The Queens Head. Well she is just one of my favorite things, amongst many. With her disapproving look, and overseeing her domain. I like to shake her up every Christmas. This year she got a different silk ribbon and some slightly different greens.

Split entry foyers are generally overlooked because they are hard to work with. They end up blank spaces because, how do you hang art? Do you hang it low at eye level where you think it is supposed to be? Do you hang it high so you can see it from other rooms? Frankly confronted with this space years ago it was daunting. But then I visualized a picture over the door. Then I found the Map print while working at Ethan Allen a lifetime ago. It has hung on that wall high like that ever since. I do dust it off once in a while! Then I added a different wall shelf under. It is now in my bathroom. That wall shelf went a long way in anchoring everything and making the space cohesive. When I was able to bring over the apothecary with its companion shelf it all worked. Getting this entry to where it is now has been a 35 year process. It starts with a vision. I have always looked at it as part of my living room and I found once I did that, not only did it improve the look of the foyer but also enhanced the living room and makes it live larger than it really is.

I hope this helps you get the most of your small spaces. Oh and a few holiday decorating ideas as well. Are you done decorating or still at it?

Thanks for stopping

Shelley