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Narrow hall decor


24 Ideas How to Decorate a Narrow Hallway

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A compact hallway can be a tricky space to style. Most people would leave it empty, thinking that adding décor would make it feel cramped and dark. You’ll be excited to know that there are several ways to decorate a narrow hallway. Be it for practical, aesthetic, or combined purposes, you can give this often-ignored area more character that you can tie into the rest of your home’s interior.

A gallery wall, for example, can add a splash of color and give your hallway some personality. It doesn’t have to be filled with pictures either. You can opt for paintings, wall décor, or mirrors to brighten it up instead. When using frames for your gallery wall, you might want to consider using the same finishes and border design to minimize any visual overwhelm, since you’ll already be working with a restrictive space.

Hooks and racks, on the other hand, are your best bet if you want to add some functionality to this area. Aside from hanging bags, hats, and other items, these hooks are also great for seasonal décor. You can drape or adorn them with garlands, baskets, and any seasonal décor, depending on the occasion.

Lastly, installing beautiful lights in a narrow hallway will not only brighten up the space, they also add an eye-catching element compared to standard recessed pin lights.

01 of Hallway Bench Styling

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Make your entryway bench more welcoming by adding a few plants and plush pillows to it. You can also style it with cut-out signage, wall décor, and other farmhouse décor for a fuller and cozier look.

02 of Garland Gallery

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03 of Spring Fling

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Updating your narrow hallway with foliage and flowers is a great way to usher in a new season. A few wreaths and baskets of florals, which you can replace regularly, can be combined with everyday décor to create a calming yet inviting entryway.

04 of Shelves with Farmhouse Decor

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Turn your hallway into a dreamy space to look at by decorating your shelves with vintage and farmhouse décor. This charming area is filled with books, busts, lanterns, and baskets that add texture and pops of colors to contrast against the white walls. The mirror and window frame on the wall bring an added dimension to the space.

05 of White Gallery Wall Frames and Console Table

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06 of Hall of Frames

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A floor-to-ceiling gallery wall is a perfect way to display all of your family photos in a hallway. Combine small, medium, and large frames for an interesting composition. Opt for the frames with the same color and border design to give your arrangement a coherent look.

07 of Stool and Mirror Styling

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08 of Create a Destination

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Draw the eyes to the end of the hallway by creating a console vignette with a mirror, plant, and small pendant light. Leaving the walls empty save for some board and batten paneling is a great strategy— especially if you have a very narrow corridor.

09 of Frames above Board and Batten

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10 of Hallway Halloween

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How should you decorate a narrow hallway for Halloween? Take some inspiration from this one, which features some quirky skeleton hallway décor. The board and batten hooks serve as a hanging rack for this floral basket with a crow as well as the besoms. Meanwhile, the ceiling is also decorated with witch hats that tie up the entire look.

11 of Antique Mirror Gallery

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Moody and dramatic, this wall filled with antique mirrors is a dream to look at. The intricate carvings and various metal finish beautifully contrast against the dark wall while the mirrors themselves brighten and open up the space. The vintage crystal lights above add a romantic touch to the entire space.

12 of Black and White Hall

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Incorporating black frames with white borders brings a timeless touch to this hallway. The use of a clean, linear grid for the gallery wall also resonates with the door design, giving the space a visual coherence that is both elegant and serene.

13 of Coastal Corridor

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Combine function and style to decorate a semi-narrow hallway. This one features a gallery wall and vintage sconces on one wall, and a hallway bench topped with a mirror on the other. The ceiling is dressed with a beaded light while the floor showcases a combination of rug over carpet. Beige and black accent colors provide a stunning contrast to the shale gray walls, giving this space a calming coastal look.

14 of Black and White Gallery Wall

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15 of Gorgeous Gallery

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Hanging a set of paintings in a narrow hallway gives it a pop of color, especially if you have a neutral palette. The use of white borders, similar frames, and linear grid patterns creates consistency and coherence. This is important especially if the artworks have variations in style and colorways.

16 of Transitional Touch

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Elegant and calming, this hallway of arches exudes a consistent aesthetic with its careful use of patterns. The walls are adorned with serene paintings in pale wood frames while the ceiling features vintage pendant lights. While the arches bring architectural framing for each area, the use of similar elements gives it a coherent look and guides the eye to the end of the hall.

17 of Vintage Cottage

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The combination of farmhouse signage, pastel florals, antique mirror, and foliage garlands creates a cheerful hallway that leads to the kitchen.

18 of Picture Perfect

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Family pictures give your hallway a personal touch that your loved ones will adore. Here, this compact corridor is styled with alternating framed photos with pictures on hanging panels. The rustic ceiling light is a great addition, lending a cozy, farmhouse vibe to the space.

19 of Festive Foyer

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Welcome friends and loved ones to your adorable abode for the holidays with a holiday-inspired hallway. This foyer features cheerful red and green Christmas décor, such as wreaths in various sizes and a Christmas chalkboard along with splashes of holiday colors.

20 of Combine Textures

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Decorate a narrow hallway with a combination of two and three-dimensional elements to give this space an interesting character. Here, the corridor wall is styled with raised wood letters, cut-out signage, and arrows along with a photo canvas. At the end of the hallway is a console table filled with Christmas and everyday décor.

21 of Curate Your Space Over Time

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Slow and steady styling of your hallway is a great way to stick within your budget and aesthetic. Instead of doing it all in one go, take the time to hunt for pieces that you like. This particular hallway only costs less than $200, which includes the board and batten wall, six wooden frames, wall sconce, and puck light.

22 of Let There Be Light

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Replace builder-grade bulbs and recessed lighting and opt for an interesting surface-mounted fixture in your hallway instead. This will not only brighten a narrow corridor, but it will also give the space an aesthetic character, especially if you don’t have a lot of décor in this area of your home.

23 of Hall Racks and Hooks

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24 of Functional Installations

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Hooks can easily turn a blank hallway into a practical space. This is a great choice for narrow areas near utility spaces such as laundry rooms and mudrooms. These black metal hooks not only provide the perfect amount of hanging space, but also lend a charming vintage vibe to the corridor.

10 essential design rules for making a long space seem wider |

(Image credit: Paul Raeside / Future)

If you have ever had to look for narrow hallway ideas, then you’ll be more than aware of the tricky task of making it a long hallway look wider than it actually is, while desperately searching for interior designer tricks to make your entryway appear warm and welcoming. 

You’ve probably spent hours trying out different hallway ideas, rearranging furniture, choosing paint colors and deliberating on rug styles in a frenzied attempt to make your small hallway look more spacious, light and airy.

Do not panic – with some clever tricks of the trade, there are in fact multiple small hallway ideas that wall help turn that awkward hall layout into something stylish and sophisticated, so don’t give up just yet.

Narrow hallway ideas 

Give your narrow hallway a much-need update with our curated selection of interior design-approved layouts, hallway paint ideas, lighting inspiration and more.

1. Be fussy with furniture in a narrow hallway

(Image credit: Paul Raeside / Future)

Hallway storage ideas and furniture can be a cumbersome business, especially in a narrow room, so it pays to invest in the best possible solutions. 

One great way to make the most of a smaller hallway is by using multi-functional furniture, like a bench that can be used as a storage unit, console tables with drawers and folding chairs that can be tucked away when you don’t need them. 

Another important pointer is to place large pieces of furniture against walls so the open space in the middle is not broken up. Scale the furniture to fit the size of the room and don’t block walking pathways.

2. Light up a small space

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

Light will help to brighten up a narrow hallway instantly, so first and foremost allow any natural light to stream indoors by taking down heavy, dark window treatments. 

If natural light is non-existent in your corridor, instead look to hallway lighting ideas and have an electrician install statement chandeliers, wall sconces and table lamps for a dose of illumination.

Dark corners can make a hall appear small and cramped, so position a floor or table lamp in a bare corner to visually expand the area, while recessed ceiling lights can illuminate an entire room without eating into the space.

3. Stick to a monochromatic color palette

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

Striking, cool and confident, gray and white is always a winning combination when it comes to narrow hallway ideas. Create a perfect balance of the two neutrals, by using equal amounts of each. It will give a bright and fresh look for day, together with a dramatic and tailored look for night. 

Introduce pattern and character with gallery wall ideas, such as these sophisticated framed photographs, and keep the rest of your furniture and accessories plain and understated for a contemporary aesthetic.

4. Hang up a mirror in a small entrance

(Image credit: Mark Bolton / Future)

Not surprisingly, mirrors can make a hall or foyer appear more spacious. Hang a large mirror on a wall opposite a window or very near one to reflect the outdoors, broadening the feel of your room. 

Mirrors reflect both natural and artificial light to make a room brighter during the day – and at night they bounce light deep into the room, making it appear larger. 

5. Use paint to visually enlarge a narrow hallway

(Image credit: Future)

You can visually widen a long, narrow room by painting a wall at the end a darker color than the other opposite and adjacent walls. The gradation of shade and color of paint on opposing walls can either lengthen distance by using a lighter shade, or shorten a distance with a darker shade. 

Light colors such as creamy white or light gray help to brighten a room, making it appear larger and wider. Plus, you can also paint horizontal stripes on a wall to make a room feel wider, or vertical stripes to make the space feel taller.

6. Play to proportions in a long hallway

(Image credit: Paul Raeside / Future)

Long hallways rarely feel homely, but there are tricks you can use to zone the space to make it feel far cozier.  

A rug can visually draw together the furniture in a space, giving a room focus and adding comfort. While a focal point that contrasts with the rest of the scheme can be visually interesting, disguising the awkward layout – something like a statement piece of art, console or striking pendant.

7. Display oversized wall art

(Image credit: Polly Eltes / Future)

Wall decor ideas that feature too many pictures and other wall hangings tend to make a room feel closed in, so simply hang one large piece of artwork on your wall to make the room feel wider. 

Avoid hanging art too high on the longer wall as it will just highlight the imbalance in the proportions. Instead, choose art that can sit wide but low over the console for example, to bring the eye level down and help make the room seem wider.

8. Use paint to create a focal point

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

When decorating a small hallway, create a focal point with hallway paint – one area that will draw the eye, so there’s less emphasis on the room’s narrow layout.  

As long as your ceiling is painted in a paler color than your walls, no matter what the color, your ceilings will feel higher, helping a narrow room feel more spacious

9. Pay attention to scale  

(Image credit: Paul Raeside / Future)

Select furniture pieces that are in proportion to the size of your entrance. Oversized consoles, chairs and entry table decor ideas can make a small hallway feel narrow, while furniture that is the same color as your walls tends to blend into the wall, making it look wider.

Another clever trick is to arrange your furniture at an angle to create a sense of depth to the room – otherwise if you place all furniture against the walls you might end up with a 'bowling alley' look.

10. Keep a narrow space free from clutter

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

If there’s one thing that’s going to create the illusion of more space in a narrow hallway, it’s decluttering.  Make sure you keep your room organized by removing unnecessary items, and your space will instantly feel bigger – and more welcoming.

Try and keep the floor as clear as possible, too, as it’s one of the easiest ways to maintain a sense of spaciousness. Remove any oversized rugs and plants, and factor in hallway shoe storage to ensure footwear doesn't accumulate.

How do you decorate a narrow hallway?

When decorating a narrow hallway, often a less-is-more approach pays dividends, so do start by highlighting the strengths of this small space. 

Many narrow hallways are lacking in light. Try to turn yours into something more than a transitional space – significant changes such as replacing a solid wall with striking Crittall windows will allow light to be borrowed from adjoining rooms, while updating a front door with larger glass panels will illuminate the area. 

Additional tweaks such as a well-planned lighting scheme can be just as impactful. Choose a layered approach, adding subtle dimmable recessed lights and pendants combined with the subtle glow of table lamps. 

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

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.

The 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 hide the 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. It is better to illuminate with spotlights on the ceiling and on the floor.

Decor

Long walls can be decorated with drawings, large paintings, mirrors

Fresh flowers are used as decorative elements, which will dilute the urban atmosphere.

And to give the room extra space - add mirrors.

Decorative objects in a narrow room are selected in medium or small sizes: open bookshelves, compact cabinets.

Design ideas (photos)

Design of a narrow living room in a modern style the color goes well with the wooden floor The combination of light and dark shades looks beautiful and modern

If desired, a narrow living room is decorated stylishly and beautifully, it is only important to take into account the nuances, tips and recommendations. A small narrow space is not at all a reason to deprive yourself of a cozy and comfortable atmosphere in a room with a window and a sofa.

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 zoning 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 decoration 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 light, 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 reason, 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 finish is 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 encounter 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.

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