People are usually excited and pumped about decorating bedrooms, living rooms, dining areas and the other basic parts of the house. But how often do they think of the hallways? These places are always neglected, decoration-wise. This transitional area of the house also deserves to be stunning, because after all, it’s usually the first thing people see in your house. Make a great first impression by decorating your hallway. Here are some tips and ideas for a great hallway decoration:
1. Put some color to the walls
If you are craving for some color for your home but you’re hesitant to try it on for larger areas and main rooms, then the hallways and stairways are the perfect spots to add some color. Paint your walls with colors and patterns you like. If you want a warm and welcoming hallway, then consider light and warm colors. If you want to add a more dramatic effect, pair whites, and creams with black. If you have to walk through your landscaped yard or garden before reaching your doorstep, then continue giving the calm, natural vibe by bringing in the shades of soft leaves or the sky. Always go for the aura you want to achieve.
You may also choose bold colors like plum and deep aubergines to spark strong emotions. Go for funky geometric patterns or even add floral or stencil wallpapers to give your hallways a personality of its own. However, avoid coloring hallways with dark green, grey, brown, red and the other primary colors in full hue, especially on the hallways that lead to rooms. These colors are too strong, and some are too dark to be on walkways, giving excess stimulation for the eyes that can cause headaches.
2. Showcase art
Turn your halls into a mini art gallery by displaying your personal collection of paintings, wall art, and photos on them. In this way, you will see these more often, but guests would appreciate your personal touch, making a great conversation starter. How and what to hang and the exhibit is up to you. Also, keep the walls toned down. The best option is to keep the backdrop white to avoid visual clutter.
3. Add a statement piece
Make your hallways more interesting by adding a statement piece that will serve as the focal point in the area. You may feature a huge painting, a framed portrait, a large feather wall hanging, a statement wall clock, a faux animal head you got from a country you traveled from, a neon “welcome” sign, or anything that suits your fancy and matches the theme of your home. Besides wall hangings, you may feature a unique, statement lighting that can wow your guests, or an eye-catching table or big vase that people would never see anywhere.
4. Use furniture
Make your front door hallway more welcoming with a narrow couch or a bench. Add a basket near it as a place to put on hats, umbrella, mittens or bags for your guests. Or better yet, choose dual-purpose seating furniture that also serves as storage, like an upholstered ottoman. Add a beautiful table to showcase decorations like flowers and figurines, and to serve as a surface where you can casually place your keys just after entering your door. You may also choose tables with storage compartments for shoes or even mail, daily newspapers or magazine subscriptions.
5. Add wainscoting
Create an architectural interest to your hallway or stairways by treating your walls with wainscoting. It’s a beautiful way to keep your hallways feel like truly a part of the home. It’s also great if you don’t want to add a shelf or hang decorations on the wall to save space. There are many different styles, and it doesn’t always have to be white. If wainscoting is too much for you, you may simply paint the walls in two tones, preferable white or cream then pair it with a darker color. There are also wallpapers available on the market that gives the illusion of wainscots.
6. Hang a mirror
A mirror adds brightness to any dark hallway and creates an illusion of extra space for narrow ones. If you add another mirror opposite the other, you can double the effect of extra light and space. Also, it’s great to have a mirror in the hallway so you can take one last look at yourself before going out.
7. Install bookshelves
Maximize a wide hallway by installing a bookcase, making the space feel less like a hall and more like a part of the house that makes you feel, well, at home. To preserve a light aura, avoid using dark woods as shelves – install spotlights and pale wood flooring instead. If you’re a bookworm, it can serve as the perfect area to showcase your collection that easily introduces your likes and interests
8. Make it functional
Make your entry hallways functional by adding some utility. Install a mudroom or simple shelving system to keep all clutter away from the floor. If a mudroom is too much, then you can simply hang a key holder and some hooks for hanging coats and hats. If you’re the type of household with different work and school schedules, leave your messages on the hall by hanging a chalkboard or a whiteboard. If you like pinning paper up so you won’t forget, get a corkboard.
9. Transform your floor
You can liven up a dull floor or stairway by doing something for the floor. You may lay some new tiles (but avoid those with big patterns) or use a material different from the rest of the floor. A narrow hall or staircase can liven up by a bright runner. If you want to make a statement, place some Moroccan rugs or ornate mats. If you want a more natural look, get those weave ones made from native materials like bamboo and rattan.
10. Install eye-catching light fixtures
Create your desired visual effect for the hall by installing light fixtures, rather than just leaving some few light bulbs attached in there. For narrow hallways, wall sconces with uplighting would do a great job to make it look wider. To elongate walls, you can choose a sconce with an up and down lighting effect. If you want to create a statement, use pendant lighting. This type of lighting comes in many different shapes, colors, and forms and you can surely find one that can suit your home’s architectural design. However, if you have a low ceiling, you can opt for recessed lights instead.