Blink and you miss it...

So I am now onto reading something to enrich my mind and have started Blink by Malcolm Gladwell; the same guy that wrote Tipping Point. So far what I have figured out is that this book is about first impressions- or more specifically about a phenomenon called Thin-Slicing where in that very first impression we make snap decisions and judgments. Thin-slicing can by corrupted by likes, dislikes, prejudices or stereotypes both conscious and unconscious but it can also be extremely accurate.

It has gotten me thinking about first impressions with houses...While I really think (and tell my clients) that your first impression really begins at the drive way with the mailbox, landscaping, exterior lighting and front door- I don't feel like talking about that because you don't have as much of an opportunity to put your stamp on the exterior of your home as you do in your entry way. For the record- please please please stay true to your house with your exterior, sleek modern lights look out of place and contrived on a traditional colonial and traditional English gardens don't fit with with a minimal concrete house. But once you open that front door, you have your first real opportunity to make your statement that is 100% you.

The entry way sets the tone so don't leave it beige! You do want to consider the functional aspects of your entryway, a place to set your keys, a place to pull on your shoes, a place to get that last glance in the mirror or a place to remind you of your priorities as you run out the door...

Like powder rooms, I think, Foyers are a great place to try a bold wall paper or paint treatment because there are typically so few things to conflict with it. 

Not everyone has a tried and true foyer, so consider what the first glance is when you open your door...for many people it is actually a staircase. No reason to leave it boring- let the stairs do the talking!

Maybe you only have one entrance and the entry way plays double duty for storage- get organized! no reason coats and boots have to be unsightly!

And don't forget to look down...it might be the floor that makes the statement in your entryway

And don't forget it is also a great place to bring a little outside in...and I don't mean dirt and grime off your shoes- add some fresh flowers or plants 

or a whole tree!

So dear friends, go stand at your front door, thin-slice it! If you don't like what you see then it is time to do something about it- the visiting season is fast approaching! Foyers are one of my favorite things- let me know if you need some help!

photos:DecorPad, ApratmentTherapy, YourHomeOnlyBetter, CocoCozy, HausofStaging, Harmony Interiors, Veranda, House and Home, HGTV, Inhabit, MaterialGirls