When decorating, don’t neglect entry

Most home-design projects start with the master bedroom, living room and dining area. Attention is also paid to other high-use parts of the home such as the kitchen and bathrooms. This makes sense because these are indeed among the most important spaces in anyone’s home.

But what about the entrance hall? By definition, it’s the first place one sees, and it serves as an introduction to the style of the entire house. How unfortunate, then, that the entrance hall or foyer is typically treated as an afterthought — if that.

I admit that these spaces can be difficult to furnish. Most can accommodate little more than a small console and an umbrella stand. Maybe that’s why the typical entrance hall looks as though the homeowner just wished it would disappear and quickly funnel guests to a more welcoming room.

Q: The entrance hall in my house is small to begin with, and a staircase takes up one-third of its square footage. Can you suggest how to add some visual spark to what’s now a nondescript space? I prefer traditional design, but I’ve got no room for an important piece of furniture.

A: The secret to designing entrance halls, large or small, is to think not so much in terms of furniture but about color, texture and light. In a space the size of your own, that means giving emphasis to floor coverings, wallpaper and artwork.

When you choose a treatment for the walls, use it on all of them so as not to fragment the small space. I recommend a bold, colorful pattern that will make an intriguing statement. You can also install a richly colored carpet on the staircase, which is already a prominent feature of your entrance hall.

The accompanying photo may give you some ideas. It’s taken from “Decorating Ideas That Work,” a Taunton Press book by Heather Paper — a book that lives up to its title.

As you can probably infer from this model, an entrance hall is not the place for pale cottage colors — even if you happen to live in a cottage. Color choice, otherwise, is entirely a matter of personal preference.

If you’re lucky enough to have a metal railing like the one shown here, nothing needs to be done, except maybe to give it a good polish. A bland wooden balustrade, on the other hand, should be painted in a deep color that will contrast with whatever color you choose for the walls.

A decorative carpet runner with a colorful, large-scale pattern will help ignite the spark you’re seeking. You also should consider an interesting treatment for the staircase wall, as was achieved by means of the animal imagery seen here. A collection of framed paintings or photos of varying sizes can stop traffic on the way to the staircase and start conversations as soon as guests enter the home.

Rita St. Clair is a syndicated columnist with Tribune Media Services Inc. E-mail general interior design questions to her at rsca@ritastclair.com.