The entrance hall in my house is small to begin with, and a staircase takes up one-third of its square footage. Can you suggest how to add some visual spark to what's now a nondescript space? I prefer traditional design, but I've got no room for an important piece of furniture.

The secret to designing entrance halls, large or small, is to think not so much in terms of furniture but about color, texture and light. In a space the size of your own, that means giving emphasis to floor coverings, wallpaper and artwork.

When you choose a treatment for the walls, use it on all of them so as not to fragment the small space. I recommend a bold, colorful pattern that will make an intriguing statement. You can also install a richly colored carpet on the staircase, which is already a prominent feature of your entrance hall.

The accompanying photo may give you some ideas. It's taken from Decorating Ideas That Work, a Taunton Press book by Heather Paper -- a book that lives up to its title.

An entrance hall is not the place for pale cottage colors -- even if you happen to live in a cottage. Color choice, otherwise, is entirely a matter of personal preference.

If you're lucky enough to have a metal railing like the one shown here, nothing needs to be done, except maybe to give it a good polish. A bland wooden balustrade, on the other hand, should be painted in a deep color that will contrast with whatever color you choose for the walls.

A decorative carpet runner with a colorful, large-scale pattern will help ignite the spark you're seeking. You should also consider an interesting treatment for the staircase wall, as was achieved by means of the animal imagery seen here. A collection of framed paintings or photos of varying sizes can stop traffic on the way to the staircase and start conversations as soon as guests enter the home.

Rita St. Clair is a Baltimore-based interior designer. Readers with general interior design questions can e-mail her at rsca@ritastclair.com.