Ideas for Decorating a Long Narrow Cottage-Style Foyer

The foyer is the first space that guests see upon entering the home, and decorating this area in a welcoming way is vital when striving to impress. It can be especially inviting when decorating with charming cottage style, but if the space is very narrow and long it can seem small and inadequate. Use a few style tips and decorating tricks when trying to visually widen a long narrow foyer with charming cottage style. Try these decor ideas for your entryway, and visually enlarge the space without spending a lot of money or completely remodeling.

Paint the Foyer a Light, Crisp Hue

When a long narrow foyer is dark or dingy in appearance, it is anything but welcoming. Dark or drab paint will make it appear narrower than ever. It can look as if the walls are literally closing in. Wall decor alone will not solve this problem.

My last home had a long narrow foyer, and when I began decorating it with cottage-style decor I painted it a crisp shade of lily white. The transformation was amazing. Not only did the entryway look far more inviting, but it looked wider and considerably more spacious. Cottage-style artwork added to the style and charm of my long narrow entryway.

Visually Widen a Long Narrow Cottage-Style Foyer with Mirrors

When a space is long and narrow it can be visually widened with mirrors. Consider decorating with a large rustic wood-framed mirror. Use wall-mounted dried flower arrangements when decorating around it. They will lend natural beauty and color to a cottage-style foyer.

I hung a window frame mirror in my cottage-style foyer. At first glance it looked like a real window. It helped to visually enlarge the long narrow space, and was a charming addition. I ended up decorating above it with a dried floral swag, and I mounted a wooden window box below it. I filled the window box with florist foam, and I topped the foam with dried moss. I also added a handful of pretty polished pebbles, and I filled the box with beautiful blue sprigs of high-quality faux baby's breath. They embellished the foyer beautifully, and I received many compliments.

Strategically Position a Rug with Horizontal Stripes in a Narrow Foyer

When a foyer is particularly long and narrow, decorating the floor can make as much of a difference as decorating the walls. I purchased a rag rug that was handmade with soft pastel fabrics, and I since my cottage-style foyer was long and not nearly as wide as I would have preferred, I placed the rug with the stripes running crossways. Horizontal stripes will make a space appear wider than it actually is, and a rug will add warmth, protection, color and style.

In addition to the aforementioned cottage-style decorating techniques, avoid lining your long narrow foyer with furnishings. A short rustic wooden bench for sitting and storing footwear can be placed at the end near the door, if space allows. Avoid anything unnecessary when decorating your entryway, and use it as a functional, welcoming space. Even the narrowest foyer can look wider, and it can become an impressive part of a cottage-style home.

Source: Personal and Professional Decorating and Design Experience