Hallway ideas uk
74 hallway ideas to make a great first impression | House & Garden
“It is easy to forget that an entrance hall is a room,” says decorating maestro Rita Konig. “It often receives corridor status, but it is, in fact, an important space. As the place for arrivals and departures, it sets the tone for the rest of the house, so it needs to be welcoming.” For this reason, pay as much attention to the stuff in a hallway as you would in any other room, and don’t use it as dumping ground for furniture or art that has no home elsewhere.
Just because you’re moving through a space regularly to get to another room where you might spend longer, that doesn’t make it less important – if anything, it makes it more important. The hallway is nearly always the part of a house that you and your guests will encounter first, so make sure it leaves an impression, perhaps by hanging a statement piece of art in it or by introducing an unusual colour.
Hallway ideas: decoration
Since hallways, especially in city houses, tend to be narrow, the walls are an important feature. Opt for a warm paint colour, some elegant wall panelling, or a patterned wallpaper to lend the space character. Also consider adding wall lights, for a gentler glow than an overhead light. This is a great place to display art. We’ve seen some brilliant examples of statement pieces taking up practically an entire wall, but gallery walls are also a great option in a hallway, perhaps displaying a collection of photographs or botanical prints.
“Traffic is a consideration when you are decorating,” notes Rita. “The floor, for example, has to be practical while remaining in keeping with the style of the house.” We love a flagstone hallway, or the traditional tiles you can still find in Victorian houses, but sisal or jute can also be a great, hardwearing option for this space.
Don’t forget to take into account the other rooms you can see from a hallway – if you have easy views into lots of rooms or one particular room, try to keep the colours of the walls tonal, and think about positioning hallway mirrors to allow unexpected glimpses throughout the house.
Pocket or sliding doors can also work well for the rooms that lead off a hallway, especially if it is a dark or narrow space, allowing the doors to be open most of the time, letting light flood in.
Hallway ideas: furniture
“The furniture here should be good,” continues Rita. If you have enough space, consider a hall table, either a console table that can provide a space for keys, post, along with flowers, lamps and decorative objects, or something a bit grander to go in the centre of the hallway if you have a larger space. “The hall table can be quite magnificent – just as it is in many of Robert Kime’s projects, and in William Yeoward and Colin Orchard’s house in Gloucestershire.” A bench or pair of chairs can also be a great feature, allowing people to perch and take off their shoes, or providing a place to wait as you prepare to leave the house.
Hallway ideas: storage
Finally, hallway storage is absolutely key if you want to maintain tidiness. Hallways are always prone to get cluttered up with shoes, bags, umbrellas, coats and other paraphernalia.
A bench with storage built in underneath can be a great option, while wall-mounted storage or a simple row of hooks can work well in super small spaces. If you have a bit more room, a coat rack, wardrobe or built-in joinery can look rather distinguished.
Hallway Ideas - 31 Best Hallway Decor Ideas For Your Home
Little Greene, Carpetright, House Beautiful/Brent Darby
The hallway can often be the most neglected area of the home, overlooked when it comes to design and decoration in favour of those rooms we use most often. But everything from the colour on your walls to the materials underfoot can create a warm welcome for you and your guests.
'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.'
Whether you have a dark hallway or a cluttered dumping ground, take inspiration from these hallway decor ideas, and expert tips and tricks to help you make the most of your space.
House Beautiful/Brent Darby
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Hallway ideas: use art
Just because a hallway is a transitional space, doesn't mean it should be neglected when it comes to dressing with art or accessories.
'Always walk around the space and you will feel the natural spots for art to be,' says Camilla Clarke, Creative Director at interior design studio Albion Nord. 'This may be next to a window or at the end of a corridor. Remember art doesn’t always need to be hung on the centre of the wall it can rest on top of tables or layered next to sculptures or on bookshelves and joinery.'
Carpetright
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Hallway ideas: go for laminate
Your choice of flooring will have a bearing on how light your hallway feels.
Opting for pale wooden planks will create the illusion of more light and space, but go for a wood-effect laminate instead of the real thing– anything sealed will make a high-traffic area a little more resilient, and effectively reflect light into a darker space.
Pictured: House Beautiful Portobello Wool Carpet (on stairs,) and Corinthan Laminate Flooring, both at Carpetright
John Lewis & Partners
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Hallway ideas: feature storage
When it comes to hallway storage, so many of us will look to narrow consoles, low benches, or wall-mounted cubbies – but with these pieces, functionality often supersedes form. Provided your hallway is wide enough, there is no reason why you shouldn't go for more feature furniture, like a beautifully designed chest of drawers.
Pictured: Bobbin 3 Drawer Chest at John Lewis & Partners
Little Greene
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Hallway ideas: pops of colour
A small hallway doesn't have to mean a dull hallway, says Emily Dunstan, Buyer at Heal's, 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.'
Pictured: Walls painted in Re:Mix Livid at Little Greene
Cult Furniture
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Hallway ideas: rethink your design approach
When tackling a hallway redesign, think of your space as you would any other room. It's not simply a transitional area to hang your coat – hallways will benefit from a considered use of paint, softening rugs and runners, wall art and accessories as much as any other room.
Pictured: Small Osterley Indoor Plant Pot at Cult Furniture
Heal's
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Hallway ideas: the illusion of space
'Create the illusion of space by adding mirrors,' says Emily. '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.
'
Pictured: Orta Round Mirror at Heal’s
DFS
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Hallway ideas: extra seating
If space allows, 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,' says Emily.
Pictured: Cath Kidston Stargazer Chaise Longue at DFS
House Beautiful
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Hallway ideas: try adding colour
'Hallways are typically smaller spaces, so we can afford to add more colour as we are merely passing through to our main living spaces,' says Gillian C. Rose, colour scientist, interior designer and founder of The Science of Colour. This warm sunshine shade is a particularly good choice for an uplifting welcome.
Pictured: House Beautiful Earth Notes EN.06 Paint at Homebase
Mylands London
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Hallway ideas: creating a palette
The size and length of a hallway should always be a key consideration when selecting a colour palette.
'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),' says Gillian.
Pictured: Door painted in Copper Green No.36 at Mylands London
John Lewis & Partners
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Hallway ideas: WFH space
Under stair space can be more than just a cupboard for household debris. Forgoing the extra storage and opening it up can create new opportunities, such as a seating area to relax in or a modest desk and chair to provide a compact work from home space.
Pictured: ANYDAY collection at John Lewis & Partners
Jon Day Photography
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Hallway ideas: conscious styling
'As a transitional space within the home, it’s important that the hallway is clutter- free, well-lit, and consciously styled in-keeping with the rest of the interiors,' says Shelley Cochrane, Accessories Buyer at Furniture Village.
'The key to striking the perfect balance is to choose furnishings and décor that are both beautiful and functional – think slim-line consoles and storage benches to tidy away essentials, and handy wall mirrors for last-minute touch ups.'
Pictured: Hewitt Large Sideboard at Furniture Village
Sweetpea & Willow
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Hallway ideas: layering lighting
Transform a dark hallway with carefully positioned lighting, says Emily. '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.'
Pictured: Eos Up Feather Wall Lamp at Sweetpea & Willow
Carpetright
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Hallway ideas: try scandi-inspired
'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,' says Gillian.
Instead, try a subtle scandi-inspired palette with a spectrum of clean whites and pale woods.
Pictured: House Beautiful Corinthian Doric Laminate at Carpetright
Heal's
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Hallway ideas: add a runner
Whilst tiles or wooden floors are the easy-to-clean option in a high-traffic hallway, slipping your shoes off onto a cold floor isn't terribly welcoming.
'A hallway runner can offer comfort as well as being the final touch that brings the design elements of your hallway together,' says Emily. '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, a more muted rug, such as natural jute, might work better. Don't forget to add an anti-slip mat underneath.'
Pictured: Ferm Living Square Runner at Heal's
Rose & Grey
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Hallway ideas: vertical storage
'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,' says Emily.
You can get a bit creative with storage in small spaces, employing a narrow locker like this Mustard Made design.
Pictured: Mustard Made Locker at Rose & Grey
Hillarys
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Hallway ideas: window dressing
'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,' says Mike Stephen of Apollo Blinds.
Pictured: House Beautiful Breeze Russet Blinds at Hillarys
Farrow & Ball
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Hallway ideas: indoor/outdoor connection
'Whether or not you are near a garden, you may want to consider bringing one in by using soft lettuce leaf shades,' says Gillian. '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.'
Pictured: Walls painted in Bancha at Farrow & Ball
Lol Johnson/House Beautiful
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Hallway ideas: protecting against scuffs and scrapes
Regardless of the paint colour you choose, it's advisable to invest in washable paint for a hallway. '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,' says Emily.
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London Tile Co
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Hallway ideas: playful tiling
Whilst narrow hallways benefit from large format floor tiles in highly polished and light-reflecting finishes, large or open-plan hallways allow more freedom.
'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,' Topps Tiles explain.
Pictured: Retromix Star Large Patterned Tiles at London Tile Co
The Stem
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Hallway ideas: the ultimate hallway plant
'The Fiddle Leaf pops up on our feed as the ultimate statement piece for a hallway – what a welcome! The large, beautiful violin-shaped leaves are thick and leathery, the stem is substantial and robust. It prefers the indirect sun so by a door is often the perfect place,' says Maddie Porritt, Head Buyer at The Stem.
Pictured: Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree at The Stem
Little Greene
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Hallway ideas: paint tricks
Clever painting techniques can help make a narrow 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,' says Cato Cooper of The Emporium Somerset.
Pictured: Walls painted in Acorn and Hopper, both at Little Greene
Mylands London
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Hallway ideas: don't fight with the layout
Hallways can frequently be a bit of an architectural nightmare, with cramped proportions, uneven flooring and an absence of natural light, but trying to alter the structure of a hallway can pose more problems than it solves. The most we would suggest is dispensing with unnecessary partitioning to create a more expansive space, and using panes of glass in a front door to encourage natural light.
Pictured: Door painted in Pink House Pink at Mylands London
Carpetright
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Hallway ideas: introduce fragrance
Use fresh flowers in a hallway to introduce a welcoming fragrance. Lisa Lewis, a Home Staging Consultant at Stylize, says: 'Having plenty of natural light in the hallway signifies a warm and happy home.
Continue this happy state by keeping the entranceway clear and add a beautiful vase of real flowers to represent life and growth.'
Pictured: Kingston Saxony Carpet in Citrine at Carpetright
Hyperion Tiles
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Hallway ideas: balance walls and floors
If you use a feature floor tile with abundant pattern and intricate design, consider a fresh white palette for the rest of the room. This can be particularly effective in long and narrow hallways where busy floor tiles can guide the eye to the rooms beyond.
Pictured: Quintessential Porcelain Salisbury Tiles at Hyperion Tiles
Little Greene
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Hallway ideas: making the most of space
Kelly Collins, head of creative and in-house interior designer at Swyft Home, suggests reconsidering the traditional uses of a hallway. 'Transitional spaces are those parts of the home that we use to get from one to another, such as hallways, corridors and landings. Often there is quite a lot of wasted space here which could easily be big enough for a reading area.
Recessed reading nooks, such as under the stairs or by transforming a built-in cupboard area can also be a great idea,' says Kelly.
Pictured: Wallpaper and paint at Little Greene
Topps Tiles
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Hallway ideas: hard-wearing floors
'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,' advise Topps Tiles. '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.'
Pictured: Victorian Flooring™ Newbury Black Tile at Tops Tiles
Mark Scott/House Beautiful
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Hallway ideas: painted murals
Botanical wallpaper or painted detailing is a playful way to bring the great outdoors into your home – the perfect choice for a hallway to create a seamless transition from the outside in.
We love this painted hallway mural of trailing plants.
Read: 31 living room wallpaper ideas
Vitra
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Hallway ideas: statement storage
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,' says Emily.
If floor space is of a premium, consider wall-mounted hooks. '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,' she adds.
Pictured: Hang It All Coat Rack at Heal's
Original BTC
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Hallway ideas: use lighting purposefully
'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,' says Sally Storey, creative director of John Cullen Lighting. '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.'
Pictured: Original BTC Hector Globe Pendant at Holloways of Ludlow
Little Greene
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Hallway ideas: choose the right door
One of the best ways to brighten a dark hallway is to buy a new front door. Creating new windows is a structural challenge, but choosing a door with glass panes is the easiest solution. If you have a dark hallway to the rear of your property, you can use glass panels to the half shown here, or in a front door, simply choose a frosted or reeded glass for privacy.
Pictured: Walls painted in Citrine at Little Greene
Photo hunting: 17 practical ideas for the hallway
Cleanliness and order in the hallway is quite easy to maintain, if you approach its arrangement wisely.
Here is what designers offer for their clients: watch, get inspired, add to bookmarks!
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IN YOUR CITY…
► Houzz can hire a designer or architect in any city and country. Start looking for a specialist
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Katerina_l
1. Brass overlay
can be opened or hold the door with your foot even in street boots
Where: Russia
Interior Design: Katerina_l
► DRIENT PHOTO PROTEMENT INTERESTERY PROGRAM INTERESTIONS?
Let's select an artist according to your criteria
Mia Mortensen Photography
2. Shoe rack for any shoe size
A pair of size 45 will not fit into standard racks. And here is another matter!
Where: Wiltshire, Great Britain
Shooting: MIA Mortensen PhotoGraphy for Houzz
► Fright photos in this project
Wickenden Hutley
3.
Device for drying washed shoes
Actually, if you live in a city or you live by or take regular walks with your children
Where: London, UK
Interior design: Wickenden Hutley
►More photos in this project
Yana Ivanchenko
4. Drying
You can dry your mittens in the net over the radiator. It's even good if this radiator is under the window sill in a room where the grid will not be visible
Where : Moscow Region
Design : architect Yuri Troshev
OWN / Doors / Furniture / Interior
5. Wardrobes in two directions
For little things like a dog leash or umbrellas that you need to have on hand (but visually clutter up the space).
Where : Moscow, Russia
Shooting : for SVOYO catalogue,
Three-leaf cabinet with enamel front, Sheffield model in NSC S6005-Y20R.
►More photos in this project
Andrey Sukhotsky's workshop
6. Corner closet for wet clothes
Tiny so as not to turn into a "lump of jackets"
Andrey Sukhotsky
►Other photos in this project
Circle Design Studio
7. Dirt from the boot goes into the sewer
Pay attention to shower tram in the area of shelves
Where: Washington, USA
Circle Design 9000 Wright Photography
►More photos in this project
Korina Balanovskaya
Jeff Wilkinson, RA
Alla Senicheva
Wooden crate “holds” solid weight-feel free to add new hooks
where : St. Petersburg
Interior Design : Alla Senicheva
► DRIENT PHOTOS IN THIS PROGRACT
Where : Kaliningrad, Russia
Interior design: Line Design Studio
Shooting : Sergey Melnikov
►More photos in this project
Akhmadiev Marat
Russia
Interior designer: Marat Akhmadiev
►More photos in this project
0003
Where is : Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Interior Designer: 4ROOM
► BRIEN PHOTOS IN THIS Project
Masha Eltysheva
14.
Niche next to the entrance door
per shoe width and hooks for wet outerwear.
Where : Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Interior design: Masha Eltysheva
►Other photos in this project
Eurodale Developments Inc
Technical project
0000 Just a photo: Hello, wood - in the hallway
Laths, panels, plywood and precious wood - wooden walls are increasingly found in Russian hallway projects. We look at the implemented examples and try them on for our conditions.
► We remind you: to see all shooting angles from the project or ask the designer a clarifying question - click on the photo you like
Andrey Stube Architectural Bureau
1. Where: Moscow
Project architects: Andrey Stube Architectural Bureau
What I like: general veneer shade for the entrance area, wall and furniture in the hallway.
Alexander Tischler
2. Where: Yekaterinburg
Project architect: Alexander Tischler
Likes: panels with asymmetric inserts, including a mirror one.
PROforma project team
3. Where: Moscow
Project designers: PROforma project team
What I like: how they played with plywood panels, tinted in two shades - natural wood and deep blue. You can change the configuration of the storage system in the hallway at least every day: hang shelves and mirrors, move the pins to different heights depending on the length of the clothes.
TATAROVA.PRO interior design workshop
4. Where: Moscow region
Project designers: SO-BYTIE design workshop
Likes: veneered panels on both the wall and the door.
Architectural workshop 2Yu
5. Where: Moscow
Project architects: "Nina Prudnikova's architectural workshop"
Likes: access to the wall next to the counters hidden by a single panel (look closely).
VM Project
6. Where: Vladimir
Project Designer: VM Project
What I like: panels behind which doors are hidden, and lamellas of the same light tone.
Kirill Egorov House of Architecture and Design
7. Where: Samara
Project architect: Kirill Egorov , Kirill Egorov House of Architecture and Design
kitchen set, participate in the composition of the hallway. With this technique, the architect creates a sense of the integrity of the space.
Geometrium - Interior design studio
Alexandra Afanaseva
and cabinet doors.
Maria Rodionovskaya | Architectural bureau "ON Plane"
10. Where: Moscow
Project designer: Maria Rodionovskaya, architectural bureau ON Plane
Liked: American walnut veneer wall panels in matching pattern and material tone.
Gikalo Kuptsov Architects
and doors.
Design Bureau of Tatiana Alenina
12. Where: Moscow
Designers of the project: Tatyana Alenina and Vladimir Krasilnikov, Tatyana Alenina Design Bureau
Likes: how to increase the height of the front door with the help of a desudeport with veneer of the same shade.
ARCHPOINT
13. Where: Moscow
Project architects: Ekaterina Ageeva, Yury Kolesnikov, Valery Lizunov, ARCHPOINT
What I like: combination of leather and American walnut veneer in hallways.
Make Interiors
14. Where: Svetlogorsk
Project Designers: Vladislava Peterson, Natalia Zabanova, Make Interiors
What we like: combination of panels with green walls.
OH, BOY! Interiors with modern character
15. Where: Moscow
Project designer: “OH, BOY! Interiors with a masculine character»
What we like: slatted partition separating the hallway area in a small apartment.
Daria Elnikova
16. Where: Moscow
Project Designer: Daria Elnikova
Likes: is a general shade for slats, chest of drawers, banquettes and veneer on the door in the hallway.
Viktoriya Skorobogatko
17.
Where: Moscow
Project designer: Viktoriya Skorobogatko
Likes: rich and deep tone of wood on the panels.
Architectural Bureau Sretenka
18. Where: London, UK
Project architects: Megabudka architectural bureau, project manager Daria Listopad, architects Alexandra Semykina and Kirill Gubernatorov with the participation of Andrey Samonaev, Sretenka architectural bureau
Likes: 9000 in a small corridor it was necessary to visually reduce the number of doors. To do this, the walls were decorated with wooden panels made of tinted oak. Two panels are hidden doors to the bathrooms, the walls between them are deaf.
ShubertDesign
19. Where: Moscow
Project designers: ShubertDesign
Yura Grigoryev / Classicacentiva Moscow
Project designer: Yura Grigoriev, Classicacreativa
Likes: finishing of the side facades of the cabinets and the bottom of the mezzanine framing the entrance
JUICY FLAT
21.
