How high is the ceiling? I would hang a semi-flush fixture centered in the roughly square area that is the foyer and then have two recessed fixtures next to the stairs in the hall leading to the back of the house. You might want another recessed can in front of the closet. If you center the fixture in the square it won't be centered on the front door, but as long as it isn't a two story foyer with a window over the front door that is OK. It is a somewhat difficult space.

I think that would work for sure and make the really eye catching fixture the one in the LR ideally over the coffee table

What about simply downlights in the foyer?

THANK YOU all for your helpful answers! In light of these thoughts from each of your, we are now debating if we should change the direction of the staircase/add a wall to make the entryway look more symmetrical... our builder said it could easily done. As far as aesthetics, do you like this better, or like it better being open (see original photos at top). Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

This is the first option- looking straight in from the front door. The front door will have a transom above, so I don’t think we could get away with the lights not being centered to it?

I like the new rendition. Stairs are more of a welcoming feature than a wall and it solves your lighting problem. In the living room, I would center the fireplace on its wall, slide the sofa so the coffee table centers on the fireplace and the French doors, and add a great chandelier above the coffee table to draw the eye to a focal point at the end of the hall. Don't angle the TV but put it on an articulated wall mount so it can be adjusted, and mount it left or right of the fireplace.

@adecoenthusiaste thank you for your thoughts!! To clarify, do you like this option better, or the one where the stairs are fully open?

how tall are the ceilings and how long is the hallway? I disagree with hanging lights altogether, id rather have a hanging fixture in the living room the drew you in

Thank you for your comment RL Relocations! Ceilings are 10’ and hallway is 14’ 6” long. If we do hanging lights, I think they need to be small.

Yes you can only get a 2 foot total drop before they feel low, so semi flush would be the way to go here, im still on the train of let the living light draw you in. Also I like the stairs closed off gives you a lot more room for an entry. to me for some reason the open stairs feel like, dont fall down here.