Your entry way is the first thing you, your guests and potential buyers see when entering your home. Starting from the ground up, consider your flooring because entryways are high-traffic areas you'll want something durable and easy to clean. Like laminate, hardwood, or tile. For the "wow" factor, go for natural stone, slate, marble or granite - pricey, but a foyer is a great place to spurge since it's usually relatively small area to cover. Consider area rugs too as they help protect the floor, stifle noise and lend warmth to hard surfaces.
A place to set down things like keys, mail and cell phones as soon as you walk in is a must. If your foyer is large enough, a table right in the middle looks impressive. For those with smaller entryways, a proportional table or even a narrow wall mounted shelf will provide enough space to stow such items.
If your entryway doesn't have a closet, where you can stow coats and footwear? Large foyers can accomodate an armoire or hall tree. Smaller spaces can be outfitted with a small mat or an attractive shoe rack so guest know where to put the footwear and items like coats, hats and umbrellas can be hung from a free standing coat rack or wall mounted hooks.
Seating is another essential element of a fabulous functional foyer as many people like to sit when putting on or removing footwear. Where space allows, bench style seating is great especially when it incorporates underseat storage keeping things like gloves, leashes, helmets handy but hidden. In small tight fitiing entryways, a slim armless chair will do the trick.
A mirror in every entryway is a must have! In small entryways mirrors create an illusion of more space and in dark entries they help brighten up. They're also handy for giving yourself the once over before go
ing out. Consider installing a floor-to-ceiling mirror on one wall of a small entryway to open it up.
Last but not least, your entryway should be well lit. Overhead lighting with a dimmer switch is ideal so you can switch between mood and functional lighting.