Home Staging: Foyers

Staging a foyer in a townhouse can be challenging due to the small size and a lack of usable wall space.

Traditionally, a mirror or picture and a console or a bench are placed in front of the entrance door.

Townhouses, however, present a challenge because there might not enough space or seemingly no space at all, like in my friends' house:

To stage this foyer, I'd suggest first to change the color. Right now the existing color has a pink undertone which makes this north-side part of the house feel cold and dated.To brighten up and warm up the space, I'd suggest to paint the foyer with warm beige color like Benjamin Moore Lighthouse Landing or similar warm colors.

Here's the example of the foyer painted with BM's Lighthouse Landing:

Notice how the white trims and doors pop-up against this darker yet warmer color?

Secondly, I'd recommend to place a darker and smaller accent rug which will help define the foyer area and bring out gorgeous wood floors.

Lastly, the accessories. Since the largest wall available cannot be used for a console (the door opens full swing to the right) then an artful mirror(s) or something playful can be hang here, to add interest.
The wall to the left from the entrance door would be an ideal place for a ledge and an art painting on canvas or black frame. It would help to define foyer's wall space and provide visual interest and even some practical purpose as a space for keys.

Lastly, scale and color of the accessories should tie to the existing space and the rest of the house. I suggested hints of black and red because this color can be found in the rest of the house in furniture, frames and accessories. Red and black also look modern and fresh against the suggested wall paint color, appealing to the larger number of buyers.

One last thing: foyer, as any other room, should have a focal point, and small as it is, there should not be 2 focal points competing with each other for attention. This may be fine for decorating but not staging. After all, we are not selling the decor but the house!