Hallways are usually an after thought in most of the design process. Which I find funny because they are actually the prelude to the rooms themselves. They set the first impression for most spaces in our homes. So why shouldn’t they be as fantastic as the rooms themselves? All of the most impactful homes I’ve seen have paid special attention to hallway design to make sure the set the right tone. However, hallways can be a bit awkward to design and come with special challenges. Here are a few tips I’ve come up with to help create a stunning, yet not overcrowded hallway to really complete your home’s full design.
1. Hallway Greenery
Hallways can actually be a great place to throw in some much needed greenery. Displaying plants in a hall area gives a warm, calm look right off the bat for guests making their way through your home. Normally, floor space isn’t exactly abundant in hall areas, so you don’t have to try to put a planter down. Try hanging a plant (out of the way) in a hallway that keeps your guests eyes up and entertained by this beautiful ‘hanging gardens’ look. If you’re not feeling the hanging plants or are dealing with too narrow of a space for anything hanging, try hanging plants to the wall in an interesting way like these mental planters. I think this is more interesting than art of framed photos!
2. Mirrors
Mirrors make all the difference in small spaces! They’re perfect for making a small, narrow hallway look wider and a little less claustrophobic. I love seeing huge oversized mirrors placed strategically down a hallway to make it look like a whole other room in itself. This trick also saves you the trouble of having to deal with art of wall decor down a hallway which is overdone and difficult to arrange without looking too cluttered. It’s always nice to have one entire wall of mirrors if possible to literally make a hallway look double it’s size and reflect light so it’s not so dark.
3. Add a focal point to the end of the hall
One way to make a hallway look longer is to create an interesting focal point at the end that draws the viewers eye down the hall, like an art gallery. This is, of course, dependent on the amount of space you have. The second example here is a little more complex with a chair and more accessories. But as you can see from the first example, you can do this with just one wall as the focal point. Murals like this one are easy and look incredible! You don’t even need to worry about the rest of the hall.
4. Killer Lighting:
There’s nothing more of a design buzzkill than a too dark hallway. You should always make sure a hallway is sufficiently lit. You can even use lighting to act as decor in a hallway! Take a look at the two examples below. One uses floor lighting to create an interesting visual trick on the floor of the hallway. The walls don’t even need decor with this and the hallway is lit! The other way is awesome as well. Those lanterns project the perfect pattern on the ceiling of this hallway.
Example from John Cullen Lighting.
5. Have something to look up to
Another trick to make a hallway look longer (and more interesting) is to do something with the ceiling other than just leaving it one color. For example, you could take this faux wood finish and use it on just the ceiling of the hall for a rustic look. And never underestimate the power of some exposed beams and paint. This hallways is so impactful and grand!
Those were just a few of my favorite ideas for how to decorate a hallway for maximum space and light! I hope these tips were inspirational! Stay tuned for more.
-Kelli
