The entrance to your home, commonly known as the foyer, is the first impression visitors have of your home’s interior. This is the area where hellos and good-byes are spoken, where people find themselves waiting and often is also the area that provides views to the rest of the house.

Besides visitors, though, your foyer is also the first “welcome home” you receive after being away all day at work or when you’ve been gone on vacation. That's why it's so important to enter your home and be greeted by a space that ultimately reflects your tastes.

Many foyers lead not only to other rooms, but also to stairwells that lead to other levels. In essence it’s an area that makes a repeated impression upon you because you walk through it many times a day. In that regard, it deserves as much attention as any other area of your home when it comes to decorating.

To decorate your foyer in a budget-friendly way, paint the walls for minimum expense and maximum impact, possibly adding a glaze to provide texture and depth. If you are really daring, create a mural or decorative harlequin pattern. This is an area where it’s fun to do something really creative.

If space allows, provide furniture to make your foyer more functional. Search through your home for appropriate pieces; it’s not necessary to buy brand new things. Borrow a chair from the dining room to provide seating. Include a table you found at a flea market to set down car keys or packages. Add warmth and comfort with a beautiful throw rug that you inherited from a relative.

Lastly include special touches through your accessories. Oftentimes the only place to display them in a foyer is on the wall. If you aren’t sure what to include, look to your hobbies, travels and collections for ideas. For example, a golfer could showcase photos of their favorite courses in coordinating frames. Someone who loves china could display a grouping of colorful plates. If nothing unique comes to mind, a beautiful mirror is always a welcoming touch.

As you can see, it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money or time to transform your foyer. Painting your walls, using things you already own, featuring your hobbies and tapping into your creativity can create a new space very quickly. The results will provide you and your guests a personable and inviting entrance to enjoy every day.