Home » Misc » Long hall decorating ideas

Long hall decorating ideas


13 Best Ways to Decorate a Long Entry Hallway

This post is going to show you how to decorate a long entry hallway without it feeling cluttered; a challenge we tackle all the time for clients in our work as interior designers.

We’ll pack the post with loads of visual inspiration for you too, and give you some tips on how to lay out the various ideas discussed below. Don’t worry, you’re in safe hands.

By the end of this post your long hallway is going to be a great place to pass through. From the moment you walk in the front door it’s going to be a warm welcome, with many a divine focal point and loads of visual interest. Let’s dive right in!

The hero image in this post comes via forbes.

via pottery barn

1. A Console Table Inside the Front Door

A sleek console table inside the front door is going to tick off both form and function. It’ll look great, but also allow you to dump your everyday essentials when you come home.

You want the depth of the console table to be as small as possible though if the space is narrow. I’m talking under 40cm or 16 inches in depth. If you have a wider hallway to play with, feel free to go larger.

A great idea if you can find one is to choose a console or hall table with rounded edges, not sharp corners. This will prevent you from knocking yourself on it all the time, plus it’ll appear less dominant.

Another fab option in a narrow space would be to wall-mount a table top (rectangle, but curved is even better) inside the door, so there are no legs to contend with at all. This will free up much-needed floor space.

2. A Large Mirror Above the Console

Many long entry hallways are not blessed with natural light. Some might have a little peeking through glass in or next to the front door, and so you have to find ways to combat the darkness. A mirror is an easy way to do this.

Mirrors bounce light around any room and create a sense of space, and in a cramped entrance hall they’re a godsend. Install one above your console table, but ensure it has a thin frame. You don’t want embellishments here (steer clear of ornate frames). It’s all about reducing the visual bulk.

Again, if the hallway is long but not actually narrow, you can go for a mirror with some more detail to it. But in a cosier entry zone, minimal profiles are always more successful.

via temple & webster

3. Entryway Decor

You definitely want to deck out your console table with decorative items. After all, it’s the first thing guests see when they come over, so have some fun here.

That said, you want to (once again) approach this with a less-is-more mentality. It’s the perfect spot to pack in as much personality as you wish to, but make sure it’s in smaller doses. I like to include a dish for keys, a photo frame, a bunch of flowers and a candle.

Basically you want pieces that give a nice first impression of your home. And of course they should speak to the design style of the rest of your home. But they shouldn’t be so big they branch outside the edges of your console table.

a great idea via umbra

4. Hooks for Coats and Jackets

Be it a large or small entryway, a coat rack is a nice practical solution, you just need to be careful where you mount it. You want to break up the hallway into sections; you’re essentially zoning a really long walkway. So don’t put it directly next to your console table.

Ideally you’ll install your coat rack on a wall opposite the console table, but further down the hall. You want it to have a logical relationship to the console table in the entry, but not be on top of it.

Think of it like a journey. You come in your front door, pop down keys on the console table, and then take a some more steps to where your coat rack is. Then your jacket and scarf comes off.

Storage units that hold shoes might work here too, but I would do one or the other. A storage unit and a coat rack in the one long entry hallway is overkill.

via chris loves julia

5. Pendant Lights Down The Hall

I don’t recommend a table lamp on a console table inside the front door when it’s a smaller space you’re working with. You can do it in a wide entry, but in a smaller hallway area where there’s not much space, I’m all about overhead light fixtures.

A table lamp in a small area like this creates too much visual chaos with the chord running the the powerpoint, and the lampshade protruding into the zone.

You’re better off illuminating a dark hallway with one pendant light inside the front door, and then a number of other pendants running down the hallway as you move toward the back of the home.

Not only is it the best way to reduce the dark feel in the long hallway, but it’s the perfect opportunity to play with some eclectic style; choose lights with some personality instead of just a boring flush mount.

via real stone and tile

6. Statement Piece of Art

There’s no better way to decorate a long entry hallway than with a great piece of art. It gives you a reason to stop and admire something as you walk through it. A hallway is often just thought of as a high traffic thoroughfare, but it doesn’t have to be.

You don’t even have to stop at just one piece of art. You could, instead, purchase a trio of artworks and create an art gallery feel as you travel down the hall.

Artworks without thick frames is a good idea if the hall is narrow. You always want minimal profiles on anything you’re bringing into the space. It doesn’t matter if the artworks feature lighter colours or darker ones, they’ll look great as long as the frame is thin.

Heres a list of the best places to get affordable art online from.

via bless’er house

7. Wall Sconces

If you’re not keen on the idea of decorative overhead lights running down your hallway, you could instead place some wall sconces above artworks you hang on the wall.

You just want to ensure you choose wall sconces with a small depth so they don’t protrude out into the hallway too much. The last thing you want is the feeling that you have to move aside to dodge large lights as you walk down the hallway.

Of course, if it’s a wide hallway you’re working with the sconces can be larger as there’s enough space to accommodate them. The image above features a large sconce but it works because it’s at the end of the ball.

In a smaller, narrow hallway, always go for a light that sits fairly close to the wall.

8. A Gallery Wall of Family Photos

A long entry hallway is the first space people see when they come to your house. And so I always tell my design clients to ensure it’s a zone that reflects who lives in the home. With that in mind, a gallery wall of photos is a really nice idea.

This will not only, once again, give you a reason to stop as you walk through the hallway, but it also allows you to cherish some family memories.

Showcasing family members on your walls like this can take your hallway from a neglected space to a fantastic place to experience, so don’t be afraid to install a neat nine-grid of photos (as seen above) that celebrate your life.

Here’s our top tips on creating a gallery wall at home.

via miss amara

9. A Long Runner

Hallways are high traffic areas that can get real noisy real quick. If you have wood floors it’s a nice idea to roll out a long runner. It’ll make a huge difference in reducing noise but it’ll also make your small space hallway feel warm and inviting. 

Choose a runner in a durable material, in a bold colour or something more subdued (it doesn’t matter – the choice is yours!), and enjoy the personality it brings to your floors.

If you can’t find a runner the exact length of your hallway, don’t worry. You can buy a larger one and have it cut down. It doesn’t take too much time to organise something like this. And if you’re on a budget, there’s no reason why you couldn’t place a few smaller runners in the hall side-by-side.

via the spruce

10. A Seating Area

It’s fair to say that you’d need a pretty massive hallway to fit every single idea presented in this post into. So you want to pick just a few to make your hallway the perfect place to be in.

One idea that’ll make the space feel cosy, if you can fit it in, is a bench seat. You can build it into the wall of your hallway if you have the room, or just place in a freestanding bench seat.

Here’s our roundup of amazing bench seats for your hallway.

You could even incorporate some smart storage solutions by purchasing a bench seat with a lift-lid. This is sure to get some serious use if you have young kids who need somewhere to throw their school bags and shoes.

via homes and gardens

11. Wallpaper, Paint, Wainscoting

I’m not a big advocate for covering small spaces in bold wallpaper unless it’s a zone like a powder room where you’re leaning into the dark moody vibe. 

You can do wallpaper or a paint colour in your entryway or hallway, or course, but I’d recommend you take it a few shades darker than the living spaces in your home so you create a cohesive look.

For example, if you have one wall that starts in your entryway space and runs all the way down to the back of the home, you could do just that wall in a textured wallpaper to add warmth and depth.

I’d keep it in a fairly neutral colour though so that it doesn’t feel like the wall is yelling at you.

Wainscoting is also a great way to add impact to a long narrow hallway without encroaching on the footprint of the space.

via houzz

12. Glass Internal Doors

Another amazing way to decorate a long entry hallway is the glass internal door. 

This idea is great for more expansive hallways that feel like they go on forever. Adding in a transparent door at some point along the journey down the hallway breaks up the long walk and can also help with sound proofing certain zones.

Above is a great example of a metal frame glass door that looks great from a decorative perspective, but also works to zone the hallway. I’d not recommend a solid timber door for a long narrow hallway, but something you can see through is a winning idea.

13. Skylights

Last but not least on our roundup is to transform your long narrow entry hallway into a much brighter zone thanks to the installation of one or more skylights.

This is obviously less decorative (more construction-based) and is going to cost you a few thousand dollars to incorporate into your hallway, but it could be well worth the investment.

Install one, two, three or even more if the hallway allows for it. You’ll have to get a professional out of course, and this will only work for single storey homes for the most part. But boy do they make a big difference.

Do you feel you now know how to decorate a long entry hallway at your place? Or perhaps you’ve already tried a few. Shout out in the comments below and let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

26 Beautiful Hallway Decor Ideas for a Prettier Passage

By

Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon is a freelance writer and home decor enthusiast, who enjoys sharing good finds on home items. Since 2018, she has contributed to a variety of lifestyle publications, including Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/09/22

Mel Bean Interiors

Hallways come in all shapes and sizes: some are quite long, others are narrow, and some wind around the house. If you've neglected dealing with yours because you just aren't quite sure how to decorate a hallway, now is the time to get inspired. The 26 hallway decor ideas below prove that paint, artwork, wallpaper, and so much more can work wonders in making any ordinary hallway feel special.

Narrow living room design (65 photos)

Many owners of apartments built in modern and Soviet high-rise buildings encounter narrow living rooms. Compared to a square, an elongated rectangular shape creates more conventions and nuances that should be taken into account when organizing the interior decoration of a room. However, if you successfully cope with this task, you will get a harmonious area that does not create the illusion of a tunnel.

Design highlights

Quite often, pencil cases are found in Soviet "Khrushchev" and other typical panel buildings. Such houses have an inconvenient layout, poor lighting, small room sizes. Typical "wagon" spaces are only 2.2 meters wide, and the ceiling rises only 2.5-2.7 meters. An explosive combination gives a lot of trouble to the owners.

Nevertheless, it is possible and even necessary to overcome these difficulties. Various tricks and tricks are used - from a well-chosen color palette to organic zoning. The most important thing is to rationally use the entire available area and visually embody square proportions.

According to its main functional purpose, the living room is a space for gathering the family and receiving guests, and therefore the most spacious part of the house is allocated for it. If this role needs to be performed by a long narrow room, you should take care of the correct delimitation of space. In fact, you have to break it into several small zones for separate needs. But we will talk about this a little later, but first we will figure out which stylistic and color solutions are most appropriate in this case.

Style choice for a narrow living room

As a rule, the living room is an excellent basis for any stylistic content. Here you can unleash your inner artist and enjoy the act of creativity to the fullest. However, in the case when an oversized narrow space is at your disposal, you have to compromise and work within the framework of modern styles that stand up for space and freedom in the room.

First of all, pay attention to minimalism. Discreet monochrome colors do not hide the space and do not weigh down the space. Straight lines create the correct geometry and add expressiveness to the overall look. In addition, principles such as the absence of unnecessary details or the ultimate functionality of objects actively contribute to the achievement of the task.

You can also try loft-room techniques:

1. Get rid of partitions. For example, combine the hall with the kitchen. Subject to proper zoning, such a move will add real meters to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room and create a free atmosphere.

2. Finish the ceiling in white. This will visually increase the height of the walls.

3. Use space-saving furniture. There were simply no walls in the huge industrial premises, and therefore the space had to be delimited in other ways, including with the help of furniture.

4. To complete the factory interior, add characteristic details - brickwork, rough plaster, exposed pipes, as well as bold decor elements.

Scandinavian style suggests an abundance of white, which visually expands the space and partially compensates for the lack of natural light. To achieve the latter goal also contributes to a large number of artificial light sources. Accessories typical of the Scandinavian style in the form of bright textiles, rugs and pillows will help to dilute the white.

Not the best solution is to decorate a narrow living room in such styles as shabby chic and empire, as they are characterized by excesses in decor and furniture design. In a small room, there is simply no room for such excesses. Although individual elements of style can still be applied, but in very limited quantities.

Colors

An effective way to correct the shape of a narrow living room with color is to cover the oblong walls with a light shade, and the short ones with a rich deep one. A pair of black and white will come in handy here. In addition, this combination can make the design interesting and expressive, and it will also fit perfectly into any modern design direction.

Shades of beige create a bright, spacious and soft interior. If you decide to combine the hall with the kitchen, then warm undertones in coffee, milk, cream variations will promote appetite, but at the same time act relaxing and unobtrusive.

Southern and eastern rooms that do not lack natural light can be decorated in cool blues, grays and whites. This range creates an incredibly fresh and stylish room. At the same time, it would not be superfluous to dilute the restrained colors a little with warm beige, woody notes.

A light background can be left without adding bright colors, but it is quite appropriate to decorate the monochrome with beautiful pink, red, green, or the same blue or blue accents.

Finishing a narrow living room

As we have already found out, minimalism and simplicity are the principles that will help organize a narrow space harmoniously. The interior decoration is no exception. It is important not to overdo it and do everything with taste.

Floor

The floor covering also has an impact on the overall impression of the room. In the living room, it would be advisable to put parquet, laminate, linoleum with a pattern perpendicular or diagonal to the oblong side, so the contrast between the length of the walls will not be so noticeable. It is generally possible to lay laminate with a pattern parallel to a long wall, but in this case it is worth making sure that the flooring has a light shade.

For the same reasons, refrain from elongated rugs along the larger wall. Stop for a small version of the oval or original asymmetrical look. It can be decorated with a strip parallel to the small sides.

Walls

For walls it is reasonable to use neutral light colors of paint or plain wallpaper. A short part of the room can be painted in an active dark or bright color using wall covering or curtains. If you have a lot of windows and lots of light fixtures, it's a good idea to finish with a washed-out variation of an unobtrusive bright color like light blue.

Perspective wall murals will also visually expand the space of a narrow living room. By placing them on a long wall, you level the difference in the size of the sides.

Ceiling

The best way to finish is in white. Painting, a matte or glossy stretch ceiling, or very small plasterboard structures in white or beige variations will not burden the atmosphere and create the illusion of height.

Furniture and layout options

Finishing an elongated room is the first step in the transformation. But in order not to spoil the impression of a proper repair, it is necessary to correctly arrange the furniture. A long space, by definition, does not withstand the standard arrangement and requires a special approach. Even a small detail out of place can enhance the effect of the tunnel, and the proper impression cannot be achieved.

It is best to place the sofa at an angle. However, this method is only suitable if the size of the room allows it. So we will create an original broken geometry that takes the eye away from the “carriage” shape. You can enhance the impression by using round elements: a coffee table, chairs, pouffes.

But still, we often meet conditions when it is more rational to place the main pieces of furniture along the walls. In this case, try to pick up low and oversized modifications of beautiful shapes and original textures. At the same time, be sure to use small tables, stands for a decorated tape recorder or lamps, flowers, beautiful floor lamps, unusual chairs located in the “wrong” places, somewhat chaotically. In this way, we can also form a slight asymmetry, which does not play by the rules of the shape of the room, but creates its own atmosphere.

In general, conditions of limited space require careful selection of furniture. Therefore, a good solution would be custom-made or do-it-yourself production. So you get exactly what you want and what your interior requires.

Decor and lighting

Most of the apartments in the post-Soviet space do not have high ceilings, and therefore it is important not to overload the space. It is better not to use chandeliers at all or to focus on the most light and “light”, airy options. Place small spotlights on the ceiling or floor. Also add additional light sources to the interior, which, by the way, do a good job of zoning. These can be: a variety of floor lamps, including curved ones, sconces, table lamps - at the same time they can play the role of decoration for the living room.

Complete the finished interior with decorations:

- The most successful decor is fresh flowers. Plants dilute the urban environment and help bring relaxation and comfort to the interior;

- Another good attribute for small narrow living rooms are mirrors that expand the boundaries of space;

- Beautiful bright textiles are able to create laconic colorful accents;

- The walls will be beautifully decorated with paintings and framed photos;

- Use open shelves or small cabinets with glass or mirror inserts to store small and medium decorative items and books.

Narrow living room design - photo

You have already learned the basics of organizing a narrow hall. Now we invite you to get acquainted with interesting examples of the design of such rooms to see how easy it is to play with the given parameters of the room and create a harmonious and beautiful interior. Enjoy watching!

Video: Narrow Living Room - Interior Ideas

interior ideas for a long room with a window and a sofa

In this article I will tell you how best to decorate a narrow living room, which design is better to choose and what nuances should be taken into account.

A narrow living room is a headache for many apartment owners. Unfortunately, both in the Soviet past and now, the layout of residential facilities according to the standard scheme implies saving space in the living room. But, regardless of the size, everyone wants to make this room cozy and stylish, because it is the hallmark of the house.

The main trends in the design of a narrow living room

The long rectangular shape of the room creates inconvenience when decorating the interior of the room. But if you approach the issue of design rationally and thoughtfully, you can achieve an excellent result in the design of the hall.

To make a narrow elongated room as attractive and cozy as possible, you should look at some design techniques

The traditional living room is a "carriage" space of small size and poor lighting. To visually make the room more spacious and bright, as well as give it a more square shape, we will have to resort to tricks and tricks. This is a well-chosen color scheme, and zoning of the area. But, regardless of the chosen method of making the room attractive, the main thing is to rationally use every corner of a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room and arrange the furniture correctly.

To give the hall a visually more attractive square shape, it is necessary to successfully delimit the space. To do this, it is best to divide the room into zones.

The color scheme of narrow rooms is very important. By playing with colors, you can achieve a visual increase in space and give the room a lighter and more comfortable perception.

To hide the long shape of the space, it is necessary to cover the elongated walls with a light tone, and the shorter walls with a rich deep palette. For these purposes, the contrast of black and white is perfect. Against this background, you can experiment with many design styles.

Opposite walls of the room in different shades visually expand the room

Various shades of beige will make the room lighter and softer. This color scheme has a relaxing and pacifying effect on a person.

Light colors are diluted with bright accents - red, blue, green, pink, blue.

If the room is well lit, it is decorated in noble blues, whites and grays. Such tones will give the room style and freshness.

Style and interior

The living room uses a variety of style options. Thinking through the design of the interior space of the room, give free rein to your "inner artist" and enjoy the result of your own creativity.

As for the design style, pay attention to minimalism. Such a fashionable modern trend will fully justify itself in the living room. Minimalism implies discreet monochrome shades, they do not make the space heavier and do not hide the already insufficient square meters. The absence of unnecessary details in the interior will visually increase the space.

Discreet monochrome colors do not obscure space and do not weigh down the space

Modern loft options are also suitable. You can remove the partitions and combine the living room with the next room.

Zone your space with furniture. It will also give the room a visual dimension.

Add trendy modern details to your room. It can be brickwork, plaster. For bold and extravagant natures, you can even try to open the pipes. These are super trendy decorative elements for people who love to break with tradition and are well-received by trendy design trends.

The Scandinavian style will suit the successful decoration of the hall. It involves the use of light white shades that are in harmony with bright colorful details: pillows, rugs, textiles.

Living room design in Scandinavian style

But the Empire style and shabby chic, experienced designers do not recommend using in a narrow living room. It involves the use of a large number of scenery, which can further overload the modest footage.

Lighting

Volumetric chandelier - not the best option for narrow rooms

Floor lamps, table lamps and sconces can be used as additional light sources.

As for lighting such a room, it is important not to overload it with bulky chandeliers.

Learn more