What paint holds up in a high-traffic entryway?

Washable eggshell or better on the walls, and a hard enamel on trim, doors, and railings. Flat paint in a foyer will show every scuff and cannot be wiped clean. On our Beaches entry job we ran near-black Onyx trim partly because dark trim hides contact marks that white trim shows.

How much does it cost to paint a foyer and stairwell in Toronto?

Our interior cost guide lists a hallway plus stairwell at $900–$1,800 over two days — tall ceilings need staging. A flat single-storey entry is less; a two-storey foyer costs more per square foot because of the staging. Every quote is written after a walkthrough and fixed once you sign.

Why do two-storey foyers cost more?

Staging. Walls above roughly ten feet cannot be cut and rolled safely from a step ladder, so we set up proper staging to reach the upper walls and the stairwell ceiling line. That setup time is the difference, not the paint.

Can you paint the front door at the same time?

Yes, and it is worth bundling. Our cost guide lists a front and garage door refresh at $600–$1,400 as a one-day job. Interior doors and trim in the entry are quoted as part of the foyer scope.

How do I deal with winter scuffs and salt marks after the repaint?

Choose a washable finish and wipe marks with a damp cloth before they set. Scuffs that go through the finish can be spot-touched — keep your leftover labelled paint from the job for exact-match touch-ups.

Rooms · Foyer & entryway

Foyer & Entryway Painting in Toronto

The entry takes more abuse than any other wall in the house: boots, bags, strollers, winter salt. We spec finishes that can be wiped down, and we bring the staging for tall stairwell walls.

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The job

Foyer painting is a durability problem first. The wall beside the door gets touched, kicked, and scraped daily, so the paint has to be washable — an eggshell or better on the walls, and a hard enamel finish on the trim, doors, and railings that take direct hits.

We painted a Beaches entry in Simply White with Onyx statement trim. Crisp white walls plus near-black trim is a high-contrast spec, which means the cut lines have to be dead straight — that part is hand work, not tape work.

Two-storey foyers and stairwells are a different job than a flat-ceiling hallway: the high walls need staging, and that is reflected in the price. We flag it at the walkthrough, not on the invoice.

What’s included

Prep and repair

We patch nail holes and cracks, sand repairs smooth, and spot-prime patches and stains so they do not flash through the finish coat.

Protection

Floors and stair treads covered, railings and light fixtures masked, console tables and mirrors moved clear before sanding starts.

Paint, trim, and staging

Benjamin Moore Regal Select or Aura on walls, a harder enamel on trim and doors. Tall stairwell walls get proper staging, not an overreached ladder.

Cleanup and walkthrough

Same-day cleanup, plates and hardware back on, and a final walkthrough of every wall with you before you pay.

Colour suggestions

Colours we have used in this room

Colours below come from entry, storefront, and trim jobs we have already painted in Toronto.

Simply White
Matte on walls
The wall colour on our Beaches entry refresh. A clean white that does not go yellow beside natural oak.
Onyx
2133-10
Trim enamel
The statement trim on the same Beaches foyer. Near-black trim that hides scuffs a white trim would show.
Chantilly Lace
Semi-gloss
The crisp white we used on a florist shopfront. Semi-gloss is the practical choice for entry trim and doors that get wiped down.

How long it takes

A single-storey foyer with trim is typically a one- to two-day job.

Add a stairwell and the work changes: our cost guide lists a hallway plus stairwell at two days, because tall ceilings require staging. Two-storey foyers cost more per square foot for the same reason.

What it costs

Our Toronto interior painting cost guide lists a hallway plus stairwell at $900–$1,800 over two days — tall ceilings, staging required. Two-storey foyers and vaulted ceilings cost more per square foot due to staging. Your written quote is fixed once you sign.

See the full Toronto cost guide

Foyer and entryway painting FAQs

What paint holds up in a high-traffic entryway?: Washable eggshell or better on the walls, and a hard enamel on trim, doors, and railings. Flat paint in a foyer will show every scuff and cannot be wiped clean. On our Beaches entry job we ran near-black Onyx trim partly because dark trim hides contact marks that white trim shows.
How much does it cost to paint a foyer and stairwell in Toronto?: Our interior cost guide lists a hallway plus stairwell at $900–$1,800 over two days — tall ceilings need staging. A flat single-storey entry is less; a two-storey foyer costs more per square foot because of the staging. Every quote is written after a walkthrough and fixed once you sign.
Why do two-storey foyers cost more?: Staging. Walls above roughly ten feet cannot be cut and rolled safely from a step ladder, so we set up proper staging to reach the upper walls and the stairwell ceiling line. That setup time is the difference, not the paint.
Can you paint the front door at the same time?: Yes, and it is worth bundling. Our cost guide lists a front and garage door refresh at $600–$1,400 as a one-day job. Interior doors and trim in the entry are quoted as part of the foyer scope.
How do I deal with winter scuffs and salt marks after the repaint?: Choose a washable finish and wipe marks with a damp cloth before they set. Scuffs that go through the finish can be spot-touched — keep your leftover labelled paint from the job for exact-match touch-ups.