How to Decorate a Shoe Bench in a Foyer

Decorate a bench so it enhances the room.

A foyer is the room just inside the front door. A shoe bench in this area serves as a place to sit down to take on and off your shoes. Some shoe benches also lift up and have storage underneath. Besides it being a functional piece of furniture, you can decorate a shoe bench so it adds to and enhances the overall design of the foyer.

Things You'll Need

• Cushion
• Pillow
• Wainscoting
• Wood trim
• Paint
• Coat rack
• Mirror
• Shelf
• Knickknacks
• Pictures

Instructions

1. Make or buy a cushion to put on top of the bench. A 1- to 2-inch-thick foam cushion covered with a fabric works well. Select striped, plaid or floral patterns to coordinate with the entryway. A removable cover that is washable is ideal. The cushion should be light enough so you can easily lift up the top of a bench if it has storage space in the base.

2. Prop a long, cylinder- or rectangular-shape pillow in the center of the bench against the back or wall. If there is a cushion on top of the bench, the pillow should complement it. The pillow does not need to be the length of the bench, but it’ll look nice if it’s about one-third to one-half of its length.

3. Add wainscoting or 1/4-inch wood trim to make squares or rectangles on the bottom front and sides of the bench if it is made from a solid piece of wood. This can add interest to bench that doesn't have decorative woodwork. Paint the wainscoting off-white or another color. If you add trim, you can paint it a different color than the bench. You can paint the inside of the boxes a different color, too.

4. Decorate the area above the bench as well. Coat hooks, a mirror or a shelf with your favorite knickknacks works well. You can also hang a collection of pictures of varying sizes above a bench. These items should be at eye-level, if possible, but should not pose a hazard as people sit down and get up from the bench.