When you open your front door, do you step into what looks like a lost-and-found? Here’s how to organize the jumble and avoid a bad trip.

If there’s one place in the home that cries out for organization, it’s the foyer. Navigating it can even become a safety hazard, not to mention other dire consequences. Lose your car keys, and you’re late for work. Homework goes missing, and your first grader has a tantrum. Can’t find the dog’s leash, and uh-oh, there’s a puddle on the floor.

Whatever the size of your entry — whether it’s a grand, two-story space with commodious closets or barely a space at all — here are essentials for a more functional foyer that’s also more fun.

Before you begin designing, consider the space you’re working with.

How Is Your Entry Set Up?

Even if your entryway is small, it’s possible to bring functionality together with your unique style for a classic but modern entryway design. Keep these three points in mind while updating your foyer.

Do You Have a Defined Entryway?

If your front door opens right into your living room, the foyer may be ambiguous. It can be helpful to define the area more clearly and designate floor space so the foyer feels like…a foyer! (Check out tip #3.)

Does Your Foyer Have Windows?

If you’ve got windows in the entryway, maximize their natural light by pulling drapes aside or opening the blinds during the day. If your entryway is dark, you’ll want to focus on adding features that boost lighting. (#11 can help with this.)

How Much Foyer Space Do You Have?

A modest foyer doesn’t have to feel cramped. If your square footage is limited, incorporate organization and storage solutions that maximize functionality while maintaining an elegant entryway design. (#10 could do just the trick.)

A Dozen Foyer Decorating Ideas

Updating the look and feel of your foyer can make a considerable difference for your space, since it sets the tone for the rest of your home. But making your foyer feel fabulous doesn’t require an entire renovation. Try these quick, easy, and affordable foyer ideas to transform your space.

#1 Wall Color

Conventional wisdom says white paint creates the illusion of larger space. But unless you have a really tiny vestibule, you can afford to go bold in a room you pass through quickly. So, go ahead and wow visitors with a pop of something fearless. Orange? Scarlet? Teal? Washable high-gloss paint makes short work of scuff marks and fingerprints. A gallon should do it. Average: $41.

Do keep the ceiling white, though, to head off claustrophobia.

#2 Easy-Clean Flooring

A foyer needs a floor that can handle the wear and tear of comings and goings. Sure, ceramic or marble are nice, but self-adhesive 12-inch-by-12-inch vinyl squares go down easy, can be laid on a diagonal for a diamond pattern, and cost an average of $1.05 per square foot. Black and white checkerboard is classic and graphic, but you can also create stripes, a contrasting border, and any color combo you like. Just make sure you choose something that works with the colors in the next room.

#3 Room Divider

Don’t have a dedicated foyer? Create one — or the illusion of one — with a room divider to ensure the foyer and all the stuff that ends up there doesn’t leak into the living area. It could be a bookshelf, a screen, or a couple of IKEA’s vertical three-pot plant stands for a welcome-home filled with greenery: $50.

#4 Boot Tray

Providing one or more trays for wet boots and shoes is a game changer if you’re used to a pile in the corner. You can find a boot tray for $5 and up or borrow a large aluminum baking sheet with a lip from your kitchen collection.

#5 Bench

You need something to sit on while taking off those muddy boots. If it’s built-in and hinged for inside storage (think soccer balls, ice skates), so much the better. But a less-expensive option is to gussy up an old blanket chest or old camp trunk with fresh paint. Find one on eBay or in a thrift store or flea market and you’re good to go.

Related: 4 Neat and Tidy DIY Storage Ideas

#6 Key Rack

Make it an ironclad family habit: When you come in, hang keys immediately on a dedicated key rack on the wall just inside the door. Various options are available made of different materials starting at $12. DIYing one with the kids makes it fun.

#7 Coat Hooks and Shelves

Be as generous with coat hooks as wall space allows, but don’t let things get out of hand. Stash anything not currently in season or in use in the nearest closet. If you need more entryway storage space for hats, bike helmets, and items only the grown-ups need access to, add a shelf. A continuous shelf running around the room just a foot or two short of the ceiling makes use of vertical space and keeps less frequently used items out of the way.

#8 Umbrella Stand

Another must: a spot for umbrellas in a corner near the door. Buy a pretty one or repurpose a tall wire wastebasket.

#9 Table or Console

If you have room, go for a narrow table or console for library books that need returning, outgoing mail, a lamp. Many are available online for around $100 or find a spruce-up at a flea market or thrift store.

#10 Lockers or Cubbies

Really squeezed for space? You can still give each kid their own little cubby for books, homework, gym gear. Cubbies are available at all price points.

#11 Mirror

A wall mirror for last-minute hair check and tie-straightening is vital. Bonus: It reflects additional light into the room.

#12 Good Lighting

The all-important entry area needs ample illumination. Did you know that outdoor lanterns tend to be much less expensive? Nowhere is it written you can’t use one indoors. Styles vary from rustic to traditional to Arts and Crafts, and prices range by style and material.

Foyer Decorating Ideas on a Budget

Whether you’re looking for modern entryway ideas to upgrade your foyer or it’s just time to amp up a forgotten space, these simple, budget-friendly tips can help you achieve it.

When I moved here in 1991, I was an innocent teenager from a small town in Kansas. The first day of school was awful, and I didn’t think I’d make it a month! I had never seen purple hair or Birkenstocks, and everyone smoked in the bathrooms in between classes. Talk about culture shock!

I made some really great friends. I drove a green mail jeep (shown above) that was barely street legal!  I graduated from Arizona State University and never had the urge to leave after. Over the years, I fell in love with Arizona, and I cannot imagine living anywhere else. I mean, have you seen our sunsets!?

I started my real estate career in 2003. The corporate world wasn’t for me, and neither was the rat race of driving down the 101 every day. I knew there had to be more out there.

I will never forget my first transaction! I was working with a family of six and at the time their needs and wants list was almost impossible. The day they moved into their new home was such a relief; an extremely gratifying and humbling experience, and I knew from that moment on I had found my niche.  Several years and a few brokerages later, I wanted to take my career to the next level.

I started The Arrow Agency in 2020, and now we are a  team of six! Each one of us brings a unique asset to the table. Each one of us is driven. Each one of us balances professional life and family life, second careers, and the list goes on. We work in sales so every day we all wake up without a job, yet we are extremely grateful to be able to have this amazing opportunity of sharing and selling our beautiful state.

I am so happy that I made the decision to branch out and start my own brokerage. I absolutely love sharing my 20 years of experience in this industry with our team. Good and bad, I have some stories to tell!

 

Stay tuned for more!

-Heidi

You’re always on the lookout for smart ideas and hacks to manage your home (and save money!) — whether that means listening to the wisdom of your parents, who’ve owned a home longer than you’ve been alive, or scouring every corner of the internet for savvy tips.

But just because a tip has been pinned, shared, and Instagrammed thousands of times doesn’t make it smart. Here are eight tips (myths, really) that most people believe are good advice, but instead will cost you cash you don’t need to spend.

Myth #1: Lemons Are Great for Cleaning Garbage Disposals

What it could cost you: A plumber’s visit (and maybe a new disposal)

Proceed with caution with this well-circulated DIY fix. Citric acid is a natural deodorizer, but plumbing experts say it can corrode the metal in your disposal. That tough lemon peel can also damage the grinding components and clog your pipes. Next thing you know you’re Googling reviews for plumbers.

The better way: Turn on the disposal and, while running cold water, dump in two or more trays of ice cubes. Despite the clamor, this will safely dislodge buildup on the walls and the impellers, which grind up the food.

Myth #2: Use Duct Tape to Seal Ductwork

What it could cost you: Pricier energy bills

Despite its name, don’t rely on duct tape to seal leaks in your HVAC’s ductwork. Testing by the U.S. Department of Energy found the tape deteriorates over just a few years (hot air from the HVAC system degrades the glue), letting conditioned air escape without doing its job.

The better way: Use duct mastic (a gooey substance kind of like caulk, which dries after it’s applied) to seal metal and flexible ductwork. Use it along with a layer of fiberglass mesh for gaps larger than 1/16 of an inch wide. Use gloves with metal ducts because the edges can be sharp, and mastic is messy stuff.

Myth #3: Bleach Will Banish Mold

What it could cost you: A threat to your health, plus hundreds (even thousands) of $s

Although bleach can kill mold on nonporous surfaces, it isn’t effective on absorbent or porous materials — you know, the places it loves to lurk, like grout, caulk, drywall, insulation, and carpet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead, it just bleaches it so you can’t see it. And diluted bleach can feed future mold growth (yikes!), because only the water will be absorbed, which mold just loves.

The better way: Use a commercial anti-fungal product to remove mold at its roots. And tackle mold removal yourself only if the area is less than 10 square feet and you use protective gear, such as a respirator and chemical-resistant gloves. Otherwise, call in a mold remediation specialist who’ll know how to remove it without spreading its yucky (and potentially harmful) spores.

Related:  How to Get Rid of Mold Forever

Myth #4: Change Your HVAC Filter Every Month

What it could cost you: Around $100 a year

Although the air filter should be changed regularly to keep your home’s HVAC system operating efficiently, this piece of advice is more of a convenient general rule that could cause you to throw away perfectly good filters (and money!).

“The harsh truth is that it’s easier to say, ‘Do it every month’ and know that means people might do it every three or four months,” says homeowner advocate Tina Gleisner of Home Tips for Women.

The better way: The Department of Energy recommends checking, but not necessarily changing, your air filter every month. Change it if it looks dirty, replacing it at least once every three months.

Myth #5: Buy a Rinse Aid for Spot-Free Dishes

What it could cost you: Dollars instead of cents

Most dishwashers now come with a built-in dispenser for commercial rinse aids, plus a free sample to get you started. So now you’re hooked (spot-free glasses every time!), and it has become a regular item on your shopping list, even if it does cost almost $4 for 8 ounces.

The better way: If you’ve never tried, run your dishwasher without a rinse aid. If your water is soft, your dishwasher may deliver spot-free sparkle without any help. But if you’re still seeing spots, fill the rinse-aid dispenser with plain white vinegar (less than 50 cents for 8 ounces).

Money Tip: Rinse aid does help dishes dry faster, which stops those annoying wet drips from top rack to bottom when you unload. But instead of spending money, unload the bottom rack first while letting the top rack air dry.

Related: Which Homemade Dishwashing Detergent Is Best?

Myth #6: Home Improvement Is Always a Good Investment

What it could cost you: Thousands of dollars in disappointment

Dreaming of diving into your own pool or adding a second bath to end to those morning squabbles? That’s the beauty of owning your own home: You can renovate to make all your dreams come true. And you’ll get money back on almost any improvement you do, but don’t expect it for all improvements. FYI: A new bath returns 52% of its cost.

The better way: First off, your own happiness matters, so by all means, follow your remodeling bliss if you’re financially able. But if payback is important, do some research and talk to a REALTOR®, who knows what buyers are seeking in your market. The Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of REALTORS® (the sponsor of HouseLogic) is a fantastic resource to get the scoop on which projects will boost your equity the most.

Related: Find Out What Projects Have the Best Return on Investment

Myth #7: Put Dryer Sheets in Air Vents for a Sweet Smell

What it could cost you: Higher energy bills and a potential fire hazard

Social media PSA: Thousands of pins and shares do not mean a remedy is smart or safe. If you follow this popular hack, you’ll block the flow of air in your vents, making your HVAC system work harder and increasing your energy costs. The blockage can even pose a fire risk when the furnace is pumping out hot air.

The better way: If fragrant air is what you’re after, plenty of options are available that won’t burn your house down. Give each room — or each day — a signature scent with all-natural scented candles, sprays, oils, or aromatherapy devices. If you’re seeking a scent to mask an offensive odor, however, it’s important to find and remove the source. Some stinky suspects — like mold, mildew, sewage, and gas leaks — can carry health risks.

Myth #8: Product Warranties Will Save on Repair Costs

What it could cost you: $50 to $100 or more

The last time you bought a major appliance or even a hand mixer, you were probably offered a warranty or service plan. While marketed to cover repair costs, these contracts typically cost more than you would ever spend to fix an item. And keep in mind that most manufacturers offer at least a 90-day warranty anyway.

The better way: Maintain the appliance as recommended by the manufacturer and instead smartly stash the dollars you would spend on a warranty into a repair fund. Also, buy with a major credit card, such as AmEx or Visa. Many credit card companies extend product warranties (for free!) up to a year or so. It might be worth checking to see if yours does.