Your hallway is all about first impressions. As soon as any guests set foot in your home, this space should set the tone for the rest of your house. Dark and cramped really isn’t ideal, whereas bright, light and airy is always inviting. So, if you’re styling your hall ready for spring, here are eight great hallway décor ideas and small hallway ideas to get you started.
How to style your hallway: 8 fantastic hallway décor ideas
1. GO BOLD WITH YOUR FLOORING
Yes a carpet works in your hallway, but remember this is a high traffic area. People will be coming in wearing shoes and you’ll be up and down your hallway many times a day. Hardwearing and easy-to-clean tiles are a great option, and a stylish choice too. We love monochrome squares for an art deco look or Moroccan-inspired stars for a touch of extra detailing.
2. CHOOSE CLEVER STORAGE THAT WORKS AS SEATING
Hallways attract clutter, it’s a simple fact. So, if you’re sick of the sight of shoes it’s time to do something about it. Floor to ceiling storage can work well if you have the space, but we can’t get enough of stylish shoe storage boxes that double up as seating. There will be no shoes in view and you’ll have a handy seat to sit on to put on and take off your shoes.
3. OPT FOR DIFFERENT LAYERS OF LIGHTING
Here you can steal from the living room décor rules and install multiple light sources at different heights in your hallway. An overhead chandelier or pendant brings loads of light into your hallway making it an appealing space to step into from outside. It’s also a great style statement too. Having some lower level lighting on a table or sideboard offers more of an ambient glow for the evening when the hall becomes more of a background focus.
4. REMEMBER THE REFLECTIVE QUALITIES
One of the simplest and best narrow hallway ideas is a mirror. A large mirror instantly creates the feeling of space and opens up your hallway. It’s also ideal for a final check of your hair, make-up or outfit as you step out of the house. One big grand mirror is great, but you can also go for a few of different heights to help bounce the light around the room.
5. CREATE A WALL WITH A LITTLE INTEREST
Think of a blank hallway wall as an opportunity. Whether running up the stairs or into your ground floor, it’s the perfect canvas to inject some personality into your home. A family-tree wall with all your nearest and dearest on proud display brings a super-personalised feel to your hall. Alternatively you could opt for a mix and match gallery up your stairs – we’re talking pictures and prints of all different sizes in mix-matched frames and with clashing colours. If your guests linger on the stairs, you know you’ve done it right.
6. PICK YOUR COLOURS WISELY
Getting the right colours on your walls will go a long way to creating an inviting hallway. And you have a few options. Light paint, whether white, magnolia or a cool light blue, will help open up the space and make it feel bigger – neutral tones are definitely the way to go here. You can then accentuate this with pops of colour to bring a little brightness. We like an eye-catching blue or a warming orange hue to match with white. Lilac or light pink are also naturally relaxing and calming colours.
The hallway style rules usually say to avoid any dark and moody tones as these can close the space down and make it feel smaller. But that doesn’t mean they’re a complete no-no. If you do go for darker colours, just make sure you soften them up with warmer undertones.
7. UPCYCLE FURNITURE IN BOLD COLOURS
Hallway furniture is practical – think a sideboard for all your important docs or some hooks for your keys – but it doesn’t mean it can’t be fun too. If you’ve gone for a light and neutral colour scheme you can bring in some vivid and bright colours via your furniture. And what better way to do so with a piece of upcycled furniture you’ve painted yourself? It offers practicality and style, is environmentally-friendly and makes a unique talking point for any guests too.
8. CREATE SOME LENGTH WITH A RUNNER
Modern interior design is all about flow. You want rooms to seamlessly flow into one another, and a fantastic way of doing this in your hallway is with a runner. A runner in the corridor running from your hallway into your kitchen for example creates the illusion of an elongated space. If you opt for some bright colours too, an attractive runner can make a great focal point – it can also offer a hardwearing solution for a heavy traffic area of the home.
Whichever of our hallway ideas you like the most, why not bring some of them to life in your very own new home? If you’re interested in buying a new home, or want to talk to us about the process of buying a new build property, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.