Decorating Ideas For Small Hallways And Stairs
We're all familiar with the saying 'first impressions count', but why is it that when it comes to our homes, the hallway is often the most neglected area of the house?
To help you transform your entrance hall, we're sharing some great hallway ideas from interior designers and colour experts to help you make the most of this space. These hallway decor ideas will help you whether you have a dark hallway or a cluttered dumping ground.
But before we go any further, remember that your hall decoration will set the tone for the rest of the house. 'Hallways are the most important transitional spaces within our homes so whatever we choose to do decoration-wise has to work perfectly with the other rooms that lead off it,' says Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux. 'This decorating dilemma often results in us being super cautious with colour and using neutral pale shades which can flatten the atmosphere creating a space that is simply a functional corridor that no one really lingers in or remembers.
'You need to break down the visual boxiness of the space and add focal points of interest that make it a more dynamic part of your home to be in.'
Heal's
So on that note, we've taken the stress out of decorating with these hallway ideas. These expert tips and tricks are sure to solve your hallway decorating dilemmas.
Hallway ideas: paint and colour schemes
1. 'If you are craving more colour in your home, then hallways and stairwells are the perfect spots to do so. Hallways are typically smaller spaces, so we can afford to add more colour as we are merely passing through to our main living spaces. Are you looking for a more subtle and welcoming hallway in which to enter? You may want to consider the colours of the sun or candlelight. Who wouldn't welcome being surrounded by the warmth of a golden glow? It conjures up the feeling of home and contentment. Whether or not you are near a garden, you may want to consider bringing one in by using soft lettuce leaf shades. I would recommend a dull flat finish as this creates gentler shadows and softer reflections. However, if you wish to create a more dramatic environment, then by all means select colours that conjure up strong immediate emotional responses – deep aubergines and plums will do just that.' – Gillian C. Rose, colour scientist, interior designer and founder of The Science of Colour
2. 'Focus on the fun in the function of a hallway and use colour and painted details to draw the eye through the space and towards the places you want people to go. Paint a subtle harlequin design on a wooden floor and let the diamonds guide you towards the most interesting bits of your home. Strong blocks of colour used on doors will add personality without overwhelming a space plus you can make the choice of colours personal to the people who live behind them.' – Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux
3. 'Hallways, by nature, are typically dark. Brown, green, grey, telephone box red, and any of the primary colours in full hue, are all ones I would avoid. These are dark and very strong colours. Primary colours in small spaces give off too much vibration and stimulation for us to absorb, causing unwanted headaches, loss of attention span and in some cases, even feelings of nausea. When deciding on a palette, if you are seeking drama, consider the level of sheen as well as the colour. You may also want to consider what colours the other adjacent rooms your hallways are coming of off as well as leading towards.' – Gillian C. Rose
The Radiator Company
4. 'A small hallway doesn't have to mean a dull hallway, nor do you have to stick to white paint to make it feel brighter and bigger. Don't be afraid to experiment with colour, especially in a light-starved space; confident use of a bright colour such as yellow creates a welcoming and vibrant space. If you don't want to go all out and paint your walls bright yellow, try adding a few bold accessories such as hooks or benches to get a similar feel.' – Emily Dunstan, Home Accessories Buyer for Heal's
5. 'A horizontal band of colour at ground level which includes painting the same colour on the skirting board will look great and help to reduce the appearance of scuffs and wear.' – Marianne Shillingford
6. 'In this high traffic area, it's worth investing in a quality scrubbable or wipeable paint. This way, any muddy splashes or little fingerprints can be easily wiped away. Alternatively, wood panelling can help to keep your walls in good condition. Try to opt for panelling that suits the age and history of your property.' – Emily Dunstan
Hallway decor ideas: wallpaper design
7. 'Hallways normally lack natural light and therefore light reflective colours work a treat to make the space feel bigger and more welcoming. White or light grey are great options, or light patterned wallpaper.' – Danielle Parisi, wallpaper designer, The Room Alive
8. 'Often hallway space is limited, leaving little room for lots of accessories or other decorative items. Adding wallpaper is an ideal way to add a design feature and personality to the area without taking up valuable space or over cluttering. Stripes are a classic choice for homes and can be used to create the illusion of space in a hallway. Horizontal stripes will lead the eye upwards and vertical stripes will elongate the area. Choosing light and neutral colours or the ever-popular shades of grey will also add to the feeling of air and space.' – Alex Whitecroft, head of design at I Want Wallpaper
9. 'Make a feature of period wood panelling by adding patterned wallpaper inside the panels. This is a great option for maintaining and updating period features or if you're worried that wallpapering the entire wall could feel overbearing. Alternatively, add wallpaper to an alcove or underneath the stairs to draw attention to the space.' – Alex Whitecroft
Small and narrow hallways
10. 'Clever painting techniques can help make a narrow corridor or hallway seem bigger. Use a lighter colour at the top of the wall, and halfway down – where a traditional dado rail might have gone – change to another colour. But always with small rooms, use light coloured paints and furniture, to help give an illusion of more space.' – Cato Cooper, co-owner of The Emporium Somerset
11. 'Zoning the areas works a treat to make hallways look bigger. Having a seating area, an organising corner and a welcome home area filled with things that you love, be it one of your favourite pictures, your favourite candle, perhaps some plants – whatever it is that makes you instantly feel at home.' – Danielle Parisi
12. 'If the entrance to your home is quite compact, in terms of flooring, avoid using intricate patterns and look at large format tiles in a highly polished, light neutral shade. This will create the illusion of a larger space and make the most of the natural light available. In larger, more open-plan spaces, you have the freedom to experiment with both pattern and print. Play around with designs that draw the eye from the door and into the heart of the home. A beautiful parquet herringbone pattern is perfect for fooling the eye into seeing never-ending depth, while still keeping a traditional, warm and homely feel to the overall look.' – Sian O'Neill, head of marketing at Topps Tiles
13. 'It's important to consider the size and length of your hallway when selecting a colour palette. If the ceiling is low, you can make it appear taller by selecting colours that will create an optical illusion. In this case, avoid making the ceiling the same colour as the walls.' – Gillian C. Rose
14. 'If your hallway is on the small side, it can quickly feel cramped and cluttered. Instead, create the illusion of space by adding mirrors. They reflect light, making the space seem wider and brighter, as well as giving you the chance to double-check your appearance before you walk out the door.' – Emily Dunstan
Your hallway doesn't feel warm or welcoming
15. 'Think about how you wish to feel in your home. This will inform you of the colour and the direction you will go towards. For example, for a warm glow, the skirting could be a clotted cream colour (high gloss finish); the walls could be in a soft butter yellow (flat finish), and the ceiling could be a hint of peaches and cream (flat finish). For a fresh, cool bask, the skirting could be a crisp light grey (high gloss finish); the walls in a pale minty colour (flat finish), and the ceiling the palest of azure (flat finish).' – Gillian C. Rose
Rachel Whiting
'Imagine entering a bordeaux red high gloss hallway? You are certainly going to remember that. Mostly what you will remember is how it made you feel walking through it. You will remember your experience more than the actual colours in many cases.'– Gillian C. Rose
Lighting: transform a dark hallway
16. 'Transform a dark and dingy hallway with carefully positioned lighting. Directional wall lights can highlight a beautiful ceiling, and pendant lighting can be really effective in making a small space feel much bigger. A single pendant light can have the opposite effect, leaving too many shadows and patches of darkness. Instead, opt for multiple pendant lights running the length of your hall. This will draw the eye into the space and feel much warmer and inviting.' – Emily Dunstan
17. 'Lighting plays just as important a role as colour does when creating a mood. After all there is no colour without light. If your hallways are simply designated points from A to B, then you want to make sure that your walkway is clearly lit. If you are interested in creating a specific mood, than you may want lights that will wash over your wall colours. Alternatively, you could illuminate your ceilings with uplights that bounce light off of the ceiling and then reflect down into the entire hallway.' – Gillian C. Rose
18. 'There are various lighting tricks in order to make the space appear more exciting and feel far more spacious. Layering of light is key when it comes to creating the impression of space in your hallway. LED step lights can help by creating drama. A useful trick is to use 1W LED uplights to light a feature at the end of the hallway. This will draw ones eye down the hallway, creating the impression of space. Combine this with directional recessed downlights, to wash light down the walls, illuminating every inch of your hallway.' – Sally Storey, creative director of John Cullen Lighting
Hallway clutter
19. 'If you've got a corridor, hallway or narrow space you want to make better use of then it is worth spending an hour or so getting it organised, and suddenly that poorly utilised space will become a dream area. By running lengths of peg rails along the walls you can create clever storage solutions and can hang not just coats and hats but bags and gardening equipment such as watering cans, brushes and trowels. Add a run of overhead shelving above or around head height to store boxes and baskets and keep shoes and bits and bobs off the floor. Keep the clutter under control as all too often a corridor or hallway can become a dumping ground. Make sure there's a home for everything and everything has a home.' – Cato Cooper
20. 'Not only are unorganised shoes unsightly, they can also be a trip hazard. Ensure you have enough storage for everyone in the home to have a couple of pairs of shoes in the hallway, plus room for guests to leave theirs when they arrive. Add bench seating as a further incentive for shoes to be left at the door. Why not opt for an option where the bench is also the storage?' – Emily Dunstan
Hallway storage ideas
– Emily Dunstan shares the best hallway storage solutions
Carolyn Barber
21. Coat stands and hooks: 'Unless you have a separate porch it's likely you will still need somewhere to hang your coat and other accessories. Modern coat stands can bring a funky element to contemporary hallways and may better resemble a modern sculpture piece than a traditional coat stand giving you an interesting new talking point for visitors. No room for a coat stand but still need somewhere to hang your outdoor gear? Colourful coat hooks can offer a playful alternative that will be less obtrusive than a coat stand but still offer the same functionality. Plus, they make a great wall feature too.'
22. Wall storage: 'Always looking for your keys on the way out or wanting to grab some change for parking? Wall storage can offer the perfect home for your knick knacks in the hallway without compromising on space, meaning that it's easier to find those last-minute items as you rush out the door.' – Emily Dunstan
23. Seating: 'If space allows, then seating can be a useful addition to a hallway. It could be the perfect spot to escape to relax and read, somewhere to chat on the phone or simply a space to wait for others to put their shoes on. You could choose a statement chair and table to create a proper seating area or use a bench option instead.' – Emily Dunstan
24. Under stair cupboards: 'Under stair space can be about more than just a cupboard full of junk. Opening it up could allow you to create new uses, such as a seating area to relax in. Alternatively, you could position a desk and chair there to provide extra work from home space. If you're working from home at the moment, then now could be the time to reimagine your under stairs as the perfect home office.'
Hallway ideas: flooring in a high traffic area
25. 'Seeing some of the highest footfall in the entire house, the entrance to a home will always suffer from wear and tear. Make sure you opt for a smart choice of flooring and something that's hardwearing. A porcelain tile will help to minimise any deterioration while still allowing homeowners to maintain something stylish and design-led, thanks to the choice in prints and patterns that they come in. Porcelain or ceramic tiles offer practical solutions and are available in a range of styles and colours to suit any design scheme. Wood-effect porcelain tiles are an excellent alternative to real wood, visually identical but unaffected by everyday use and much easier to maintain.' – Sian O'Neill
26. 'Normally a hallway tile is an extension of any tiling on the ground floor. For instance, a tile used in a kitchen/dining area is followed through into the hallway to give a consistent feel to the flooring and will make the area feel larger. This can be a variety of aesthetics to suit the property. Alternatively, the hallway can be made a feature, such as encaustic or a traditional Victorian chequerboard. Wood is often used in living areas and by using wood effect porcelain tiles throughout areas including hallways, you can achieve the warmth and depth of wood with the practicality of porcelain.' – James Arkell, founder of tile specialists Techtile
27. 'The days of a carpeted hallway are largely gone, with tiles or wooden flooring the easy-to-clean option in such a high-traffic area, but slipping your shoes off onto a cold floor isn't very welcoming for you or your guests. A hallway runner can offer comfort as well as being the final touch that brings the design elements of your hallway together. Choose from a variety of colourways, patterns and textures. Think about whether you want to make a statement with your runner or whether your flooring is the centrepiece. If it's the latter then a more muted rug, such as natural jute, might work better. Don't forget to add an anti-slip mat underneath.' –Emily Dunstan
Heal's
You want your window dressing to tie in with the scheme
28. 'Blinds can be used to add a pop of colour and visual interest in the hallway where there is less wall space for other decorative elements. Introduce a window blind with an on-trend botanical design to bring the scheme right up to date. You can introduce texture to a neutral hallway with digitally printed window blinds. The result is a simply stunning showpiece for windows.' – Mike Stephen of Apollo Blinds
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Decorating Ideas For Small Hallways And Stairs
Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/decorate/hallway/a2283/hallway-decorating-ideas-tips/
Posted by: burkethentom.blogspot.com
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