It seems odd that while the first space visitors (and viewers) see when they enter your home is the hallway, it’s often a neglected passage, full of piles of shoes, junk mail and uninspiring décor. If this sounds like your hallway, then you’re missing a trick because you could wow viewers in a split second with a striking, well-thought out entrance hall.
Make the most of a small space
Most often, if your hallway is small, you’ll use pale neutrals to create a feeling of openness and light, but dark colours can also work if you use them carefully. Try teal or plum, for example.
Keeping clutter to a minimum is vital, too, so make the effort with some storage solutions like a long, thin bench with built-in storage, or a console table or two. Don’t forget about the coatrack, either – if you have a lot of things to hang up, don’t crowd them on just one rack, use another alongside it. Any furniture that you bring into the hall should be slimline.
Let the light in
Most hallways don’t have windows, so mirrors are a good way to bring in some natural light and also to make the space seem and feel bigger. When it comes to artificial light, go to town on it – make it a big feature – a hanging lamp, LED strips, skirting board lights; the choice is yours.
You can be bolder in the hallway
Your hall is a passage, so people don’t spend hours in there; it’s also a smaller space, which means that you can get a bit more experimental with your colours and patterns. If it’s a bit of a disaster, it’s not a huge area to have to do all over again.
You have stairs
They’re already interesting because they’re stairs. Yes, they are a feature in themselves if you know what to do with them. Rip out old carpets and replace them with colourful runners, or do away with carpet altogether and paint each step a different colour or shade.
