Do you have a budget for 'cost effective'? Since it's what prompted this maybe we need to see your kitchen? Presently your staircase matches your home. Currently trends in interior design are changing drastically at a rate no average homeowner could keep up. Meaning if you aren't cautious your choice will be dated and OUT within five years. Is it better to be dated when it's original and matches most of the home or is it better to have this feature updated, then the next which maybe doesn't go with the new_____ or the rest of the home but shows you tried new?? If you are going to bother find an entrance you LOVE and cannot live without and go for it. It's all the return on your investment you will get so make sure it makes your heart flutter.

The banister is just fine, and so's the stair runner. Think about making the entry more inviting--really nice round mirror--and adding large art you love on the staircase instead of the small photos. Add another large art work on the landing wall that faces the front door.

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Change out the entry rug with something complementary to your stair runner. This palette. Choose a larger pattern than what you have.

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@arcy_gw thank you for your input. The stairway is in decent shape so I definitely don't want to do something that is going to look like I tried but missed the mark. We received bids for refinishing the banister, which were all around 5K. We don't want to spend that much as we aren't sure we will get the return on that investment. I am attaching a photo of our new kitchen. The door to the deck we are going to have stained darker to coordinate with the kitchen. I am wondering if there is a way to add some of the darker wood elements to the foyer (console table, darker frames in upstairs hallway) without having to redo the bannister and if that would help make it look more cohesive. I don't dislike our entry. Just trying to have it flow with the other updates in the house, even if that just is simple styling changes or updated carpet on stairs, etc. Thank you for your help!

I was going to recommend a lighter paint color than what you picked.

Is there finished hardwood under the carpet stairs? If there is, I would consider a newer/modern runner design and do a narrower runner so the edges of the hardwood are exposed.

Replace the "frilly" sidelite glass at the front door with plain glass or a simpler design. There are companies that specialize in that type of work.

Without knowing your budget, here are some ideas (the bannister is lovely with the floors.)

Spindles: replacing would update, if budget allowed.

Paint color: know you are cutting by 50%, but thought this could help re undertone consideration. https://housekeepingbay.com/winds-breath-981-by-benjamin-moore

Hopefully you are painting the entire space/upstairs/lower half so it’s not as broken and consider removing the chair rail.

I’d add a runner on the stairs and coordinate with a larger rug in the foyer. Consider painting the interior of the front door, changing the pictures on staircase to something larger and add art on the large wall upstairs.

@crispa, thank you for your suggestions. Unfortunately there is not hardwood under the carpet on the stairs so we are either looking at keeping the current stair carpet or replacing that with something like a herringbone pattern carpet. The paint color in the upstairs hallway is winds breath 50% darker. The other color that is yellow/camelback, is the color that is being replaced. We have a painter coming to do that in December. I had initially used winds breath at normal strength but hubby requested more contrast. It is a hard space to pick a color as it has a large window that gets a lot of sun, so the color changes throughout the day. Winds Breath in this space doesn't pull pink or too yellow. I really appreciate your help!

@housegal200 Thank you so much for the suggestions and for the photos. The foyer is about 11 ft x 11ft if that helps any. I am adding a photo of the other large wall in that space and wondering if you have any suggestions for how to decorate that area...console table, etc? All of the foyer is being painted in BM winds breath 50% darker so it will all be the same color. Thanks again!

Maybe remove the elongated knobs on the wood posts for a more updated look. Also agree that a smaller piece of furniture against the staircase wall would help. Some color in that spot through art and/or a colored piece of furniture would add some interest.

@ BeverlyFLADeziner Oooh, I love the renderings you provided! Those look so nice! I actually looked at that exact pattern of carpet as a possibility for updating our current stairway carpet. Would you put a piece of furniture on the other wall (the one where you placed the large mirror)? The foyer is approximately 11x11. I had considered a console table there, but wasn't sure.

@Maureen, thank you for the suggestions. The whole space will be painted BM winds breath darkened by 50% (which is the color in the upstairs hallway). I hired someone to paint the two story foyer walls, but I painted the hallway myself, thus the two tone look. What other suggestions would you have for the chair rail? I had considered doing picture frame molding under it.

You could remove, which will feel less broken up. If you like the idea though, see below and note the width used. Suggest painting the door’s interior for a more streamline look.

In regards to a runner, accessorizing, etc. there are so many ideas on line. Search two story foyers and you can also zero in on a specific item by adding it in the search. Here’s a nice combo I thought you might like.

The rounded mirror should be hung vertically. You could switch the dresser and bench, put the dresser under the mirror and the bench facing the door.

No mirror under the stairs facing the door...bad Feng Shui. An oil painting or watercolor would be nice as the first impression.

You could try some chalk paint for the bench...it's very dark. Perhaps a blue shade to go with the new wall color.

I would remove the gallery wall. Let the painting be the focal point.

Could be really cool to color wash the entire foyer. Paint everything the same color - chair rail and wall above and below it, closet door, back of stairs and hall above. Would be less choppy and a bit dramatic , bold and beautiful.

@Maureen, thank you for the photos! I am afraid of taking off the chair rail and the damage it might cause to the walls. The chair rail also continues into our mainfloor hallway so it is a lot of chair rail. Any other ideas with the chair rail to help the walls not look so broken up? I really appreciate your help!

Painting the same color as wall will do the trick and will also make painting much easier. Test in one area and see what you think.

If interested, there are on line tutorials on removing and may help with your decision.

Most of, if not all, your trim and doors are white. Except the foyer door and stair bottom trim. What is odd is the brown door. Not match or complement anything. Paint it same white color and change to plain glass. If you look at Beverly’s pictures, white front doors and white bottom stair trim and 2nd floor trim. Cohesive. All in keeping with your chair rail and the traditional bones of your house. The stairs posts and natural wood railings can stay the same as are also traditional and complement the floors.. You might think of painting the larger posts same white color as the small posts for an unbroken line. White pasts the timeless test. A low cost effective change no where near $5K.The above suggestions for furniture, pictures, etc. give you excellent ideas to enhance the foyer furnishings..

Paint the chair rail the same color as the walls and it will visually disappear. Much easier than removing. Paint the walls above and below the chair rails and the chair wall all the same color.

The carpeting is in the color family of the wood, which I wouldn't want to emphasize. Sticks to greys and creams for the stairway carpeting.

Paint first, add furniture, then see if you feel that stain is necessary for the railing and whether you want to change the door color.

Avoid wood tone furniture in here. Get black instead to match the light fixture. I'd have a small bench or nothing but a floor plant where the dresser is currently located. Behind the door where the settee is currently located, add a black consoler or dresser. Do you find the storage of a dresser useful in this area?

@Kendrah, thank you for the suggestions! If I paint the chair rail the same color as the wall, is it okay to leave the baseboard and crown molding white? Does it look at all like you are trying to hide the chair rail (or is that kind of the point)? The wall where the settee is currently is 7 feet long. How long of a console would you recommend? What are your thoughts on either of these consoles? The black one is 64" long and the the white washed one is 71" long (I would paint in a different color I think). I like the herringbone carpet that BeverlyFLADeziner recommended. We have kind of goldish carpet upstairs that we can't replace at this time.

I really like Beverly’s idea. Change the steps to a herringbone carpet, leave the staircase banister as is and add a colorful piece of furniture on the right side. What you have now is not working, and the green one in Beverly’s photo gives that area a good focal point.

I agree with those that say to paint all the walls one color, including the lower section. Leave the molding - it’ll be fine. Color drenching the area will perk it up.

The small bench and mirror area can be changed to a long, narrow console and one large painting. Again, use a color that will work with the new wall color.

Your staircase will look better. Don’t underestimate what a headache is can be to restain the bannister. Not necessary. Redesigning the whole entryway will make it welcoming and beautiful.

You can upload your photos to Benjamin Moore website and "paint" them using their colors.

You have white trim everywhere so you could leave the chair rails white and paint the space between them and the baseboards the wb...it would me more consistant than having the chair rails a different color than the rest of the trim. You can always paint them at a later date if you want.

https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/personal-color-viewer

@RedRyder, thank you for your suggestions. Are you recommending painting the chair rail WB as well or keeping it the same color as the rest of the trim/crown molding (SW pure white)? I had actually looked at a herringbone carpet so I love that idea. What are your thoughts on either of these consoles? The black one is 64" long and the the white washed one is 71" long (I would paint in a different color I think). The wall where the settee is currently is 7 feet long.

Paint the walls first.
Choose a different piece for next to the staircase.
THEN pick a console for the right hand wall. I like the last one the best because it’s open and a light wood, but maybe something else will be better after you decide the piece next to the staircase. The green one Beverly suggested is really pretty. The console has to look good with that piece.

I’d paint the trim and the walls the same colour. That would modernize the space greatly. I’d go with the pure white throughout.

Paint first then move to the furniture and rugs. I wouldn’t spend 5k on the railings.

Paint everything the same color. Your current molding will add interest.

Google ‘color drench’ and you’ll see examples of the beauty of a space painted from top to bottom in one color. It would transform your foyer!

Paint the chair rail and lower wall the same color as the walls.

I wouldn't trim the stair posts, would consider changing the spindles out for square or something less busy.

Definitely add a console table and lamp along with small chair or stool to create a welcoming space.

Color drench including the railings

Here they kept the wood handrail and newel post.

I think this example is nice for you... keeping your wood trim would work and painting the spindles the wall color helps them fade into the background.

Can you remove the knobs on top? I agree on simplifying the posts with no knobs or toppers.

@Red Door South, thank you for your suggestions. Would you add any picture frame molding under the chair rail or leave as is? (we have picture frame molding and chair rail in our dining room). How would you style to small wall by the stairs (where the dresser is currently) and the bigger wall (where the bench is currently)? Any thoughts on art work for up the stairs and in the upstairs hallway? Would you recommend painting the entry door? Thank you

The first thing that struck me is the dresser you are currently using seems oversized for the width of space that you have. Will suggest a smaller size piece or replace it with a table that has a lighter and more airy look.

Adding or not adding picture frame molding would depend on budget. I might bring mold up to second story height on all of the foyer walls, paint them the same color as upstairs walls for continuity. You could add wall paper in the same color as walls within the picture frame molding for added texture and visual interest.

A bench on the right wall, a smaller scale foyer table with mirror above it and a lamp beside the stairs and you'll have adequate furnishings for the space.

I love the dark wood door and dark wood banister for an organic element..