Inside Staging Area & Foyers
June 2025
Inside Staging Area and Foyers: The Soft Landing Zone.
Think of this space as a reset point—a comfortable, functional, and accessible welcome mat for life inside. This Foyer and Staging area is the final step in the process of entering a home! You made it.
UD Checklist for Optimum Inside Staging Area and Foyer
An object or piece of furniture inside that is sturdy and can handle weight placed on it.
Takes up minimal space in foyer area.
Decorative or Practical Item, brings aesthetic value.
Object is 6’ from front door.
Foyer has 6’ turning radius of clear space.
Lighting in foyer
Flooring using the same material for entire space, easy to maintain and clean.
The Inside Staging is like the Outside Staging with the same criteria. It is usually a piece of furniture, bench, cubbie, hall tree etc. where you place things as you enter the inside foyer space.
Ideally, this furniture should be close to the front door inside but not interfere with the 6’ radius of clear foyer space in front of the door.
The inside staging area should not take up much foyer space. The goal is for all people to move safely and easily, particularly those on crutches, walkers, wheelchairs or strollers in the foyer space.
Nice table with basket on bottom shelf. Turning radius is there and foyer is a large open space, Nice Lighting, Eliminate the Rug and you have the Best UD Option for Staging Inside & Foyer.
Think about what you grab as you are going out the door. Find “homes” for these frequently used items by having furniture such as a cabinet, sofa table, peg board, or hall tree for their storage.
Interesting bench that could be a staging area. No storage however.
A good UD rule is the top of any furniture or hanging storage should be 40” off the floor. This is basically waist level which is ergonomically better for lifting objects and putting them down.
Bottom line, get stuff off the floor and hang it up so the foyer is a clear space making it safe for all to enter.
If someone in your home is using a wheelchair, this 40” rule should allow them to access things without difficulty because objects are within reach. This encourages independence.
When small children are part of the family, getting things out of sight and in their place may help the routine.
This cabinet hardware is at waist level, which allows for easy opening of the cabinet doors, shelves and Storage inside for all types of essentials.
Hall trees are another option to store hats, scarves, coats, and umbrellas. Some have shelves for books, boots etc. The 40” rule is not applicable here.
Putting something down below waist level is always challenging for someone over 50 or someone in a wheelchair! For this reason , I love, love, drawers. A drawer allows an adult or child to find the object without difficulty. Just make sure it does not encroach in the foyer space.
Drawers and cabinet doors are at waist level so easy to use, simple design, intuitive, shelves at bottom for shoes perhaps. Best UD Option for Staging.
Lighting inside foyer- Lighting should be close to front door, easy to use, UD rocker switches, adequate light to see foyer space and floor.
UD Rocker Switch and Dimmer
Use your design sense in selecting colors or fabrics that bring life, culture and fun into the staging space.
Flooring in the Foyer: Continuous flooring through out the entire home allows greater safety and those with visual impairments will find it’s easier to navigate. It also is fun for little ones to race their fold & go first riders in the house!
Ready for More?
