QA Dear Nisha

My family and I are about to shift into our new home. It would be amazing if you could help with some wall decor ideas for the entryway.

— Shreya Deora, via email

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A What is it they say about first impressions? The foyer is the entry of the home, and indeed it sets the tone for the entire house. I’ve noticed that common areas flummox the best of us and design decisions for impactful areas must make an impression but also be timeless, not busy and short term trendy. Common areas can be a challenge and end up just being an afterthought. I’m happy you’re addressing these areas as a priority because it is these telltale areas that giveaway the design of a house and its attention to detail. So, let’s give some ingenuity to the design treatment of your foyer wall as well as the entire foyer.

When treated with ingenuity — a repertoire of columns, entablatures, brackets, pendulum lamps, swathes of drapery and surrealistically exaggerated wallpaper murals, complementing fanciful foliage, throw rugs and long runner rugs – foyers, nooks, stairwells, vestibules and otherwise ignored areas transform into fanciful focal points that amplify a good-looking home. They also lend character to the rest of the house.