Hallway ideas: 32 ways to make an impression with decor

Table of Content

• Add a floral wallpaper design for a maximalist feel
• Warm up the hallway with a creamy wall color
• Add a Pop of Paint
• Bring pattern to an all-white scheme

Is known for using strong-colored pieces of entryway furniture alongside more traditional florals and geometric patterns. ‘We designed the Augustus table for this entryway to really stand out and reinstated the cornice and architraves,’ she says. In the modern and colorful entryway of her home, interior designer Sarah Southwell had a vibrant green made by Paint & Paper Library to contrast with the red stair runner by Roger Oates Design.

Go and steal some pieces from your closet to decorate with and add a bit of texture to those walls. Bags and straw hats are still all over Pinterest, plus it makes sense to have these near the door so it's not all about the aesthetic, there's some practicality here too. Just because hallways are small spaces, that definitely doesn't mean that they have to be void of any personality. Prints take up zero of that precious floor space, and cute baskets can double up as storage, you might even be able to squeeze in a houseplant to bring a bit of life to the space.

Add a floral wallpaper design for a maximalist feel

If you do want to give it a go, we've put together a guide on how to paint furniture, it's actually a really easy DIY. Nailing how to paint doors to get professional results is easy with our expert advice. From sage green bathroom ideas to cool, cucumber-colored kitchens, we can't get enough of this soothing shade. Whether you're dashing out of the door in your Sunday best, or shyly accepting mail in your dressing gown, there's always a reason to celebrate your hallway with a traditional look. Marvelously modern, herringbone or broken twill weave tiles are a fail-safe way to introduce patterns into your home if it's not usually your thing. To keep in line with these modern additions, the owner has introduced a round, wooden shelving idea.

Make the most of tall hallways by factoring in floor-to-ceiling cabinetry; for a traditional feel choose for shaker-style door. You could go for a slightly more cohesive gallery wall if that's slightly more your style. We love the neutral tones of these prints and how they perfectly bring together the darker and lighter hues going on in this space.

Warm up the hallway with a creamy wall color

Alvhemmakleri.seIf your entryway is a long, narrow hallway, behold these ingenious tips from a Scandinavian apartment spotted on Alvhem Makleri. Mounted on the wall are five sets of IKEA shoe cabinets called TRONES. Next to the front door are slate floor tiles that stand up to moisture and dirt. Next to the long hallway is the section shown in the right-hand photo. Wall-mounted shelves double as a coat rack; below is a small shoe bench. JWS InteriorsThis cute and tiny entryway brimming with style is by Jennifer Wagner Schmidt Interior Design situated in Fairfax, Virginia.

The key to making it feel modern is keeping the design as simple as you can. Modern hallway ideas should be all about ‘less is more’ – largely because this part of the house often doesn’t have that much space to play with. CraftifairIf you are looking to ditch all of the clutter in your entryway , behold this minimalist space by Antonia, the blogger behind Craftifair.

Add a Pop of Paint

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. '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.

If you want to make a regal entrance for your family ⁠— choose a royal blue scheme. Smart and sophisticated, this jewel-like, sapphire shade can even make small hallway ideas look expensive. Make a statement in your hallway with eye-catching designs that will withstand heavy footfall, whilst adding instant impact and interest to your space. Whether you opt for a staircase runner idea or a runner in the corridor, it will instantly create the illusion of an elongated space. A safe option for a hallway color is to keep it light and bright with a white, cream or light grey. These colors are known for their space-expanding effects so are guaranteed to make the room feel bigger.

The quirky cow and steer coat hooks work with the entryway's southwestern theme. They are also the ideal size for hanging dog leashes and house keys. The eye-catching black and white print on the wall is an engineer print of a photo Gibson took several years ago. Centered by DesignDurable, water-resistant flooring is ideal for busy entryways, especially in areas prone to lots of wet weather. That is why Chicago-based interior designer Claire Staszak from Centered by Design installed porcelain tile in an eye-popping pattern in this entryway.

First impressions count, so getting your hallway ideas spot on is really important. However, because they are often small and awkward or overly vast and vacant space, hallways often get slightly neglected when it comes to design. They are areas we sling shoes, dump keys and pile up dog leads, almost like we stop noticing them as we run in and out of the house. But we think hallways deserve more of our attention, so we have pulled together tons of gorgeous hallways and entryways to get you inspired to give your space an update.

Photo of an expansive contemporary hallway in Adelaide with white walls and grey floor. Inspiration for a large contemporary hallway in Melbourne with white walls and beige floor. 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.

It looks totally stunning on this hallway floor but would work just as well in a kitchen or bathroom too. This makes great sense to do ⁠— it's a good way to add pattern, interest, and even a feeling of luxury to an otherwise unloved space, and it's brilliant for keeping out the cold. We love this idea – these painted stairs have been given instant character with stickers. Not only does this hallway idea fill the space with personality, but it also makes the space warm and inviting which is exactly the vibe you should be after in a hallway. If you want to add depth and interest to a hallway, consider interspersing dark shades among a lighter scheme.

Traditional hallway ideas: 11 ways to make an impression

Table of Content

• best Christmas wreaths for the front door or interior
• Lake of Constance City Poster, grey living room idea, bedroom design idea, hallway decoration
• Create a contemporary feel with herringbone tiles
Staircase
• Be imaginative with under stairs storage spaces
• Entryway Solutions for a Long Narrow Hallway
• Display a mix and match gallery wall up your stairs

Look for designs that draw the eye away from the door and avoid anything too busy like patterned tile. A herringbone pattern created either with tiles or wood flooring is perfect for making a small or narrow hallway seem longer as it gives that never-ending optical allusion to the room. A bright and airy take on traditional design, an all-white hallway is the simplest way to make a design statement. Not to mention the light-reflecting properties of white paint, so important in this often dark part of the home. Accent with contrasting hallway lighting ideas, and you've got an elegant design scheme that is refreshing at the same time.

Alternatively, if wall panels aren't an option, you could think about trying color blocking in your hallway. This requires that you use one color to paint up to paint from the floor up to a certain height, then choose another color for use up to the ceiling. The natural textures add some interest and give the space a lovely modern rustic vibe. Note the addition of the runner too, for subtle pattern, softness underfoot, and, of course, practicality. We love this muted coral shade and how it's balanced with the crisp white floorboards.

best Christmas wreaths for the front door or interior

'We love to introduce traditional wallpaper to modern homes to create a transitional aesthetic. In this white hallway, a bench with thin black legs and a leather seat adds a little bit of dark drama, as well as some texture, but doesn’t overwhelm. If you are planning to use a bench for hallway shoe storage, counteract any bulkiness with light colors and a minimalist design. Connecting spaces and hallways are a brilliant space to factor in storage, helping to free-up valuable living space in rooms like kitchens and living rooms.

A hallway should always feel warm and inviting so choosing the proper hallway lighting ideas is key. Whether you’re opting for a number of lighting sources, you should always consider a statement ceiling light. Don’t just think about the walls - putting a new coat of paint on woodwork including staircase ideas really helps to freshen and brighten a hallway. We love this striking staircase paint idea that features a blue ombre effect. Make the space less cave-like by keeping the ceiling light and going for bleached wooden floorboards for a softer, rustic touch. If you do opt for a darker palette make sure to get your hallway lighting spot on so it never feels gloomy when you have to rely on artificial light.

Lake of Constance City Poster, grey living room idea, bedroom design idea, hallway decoration

Translate the jewel tones into upholstery and accessories and add in glass, wood and metal pieces. Unless you have a separate porch it's likely you will still need somewhere to hang your coat and other accessories. 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.

Additionally, you can choose to hang panels or art pieces on either side of the hallway for a symmetrical look. The addition of natural daylight can work wonders for a dreary hallway ⁠— swapping the front or back door for a glazed version is an easily achieved example. Even modest-sized homes have decent under stair storage space that is usually massively under-exploited. Make the most of yours by putting in a central door to create a spacious cupboard for large items ; a door beneath the bottom steps for seldom-used items; and use leftover space for a shelved-out niche. Literally, vinyl tiles that you peel the back off and stick over your original tiles.

Create a contemporary feel with herringbone tiles

Before you hang anything, trace the shape of your frames onto kraft paper, and tape the shapes to the wall to plan your arrangement until you're satisfied with the look. Complete the look with other cozy elements to add interest to your passageway. Incorporate a chair or bench, storage baskets, and pretty accessories to create a welcoming vignette. Or use a narrow table or bookcase to display a family collection, fresh flowers, or an assortment of pretty candles, knickknacks, and dishware. When decorating a hallway, it's also important to keep safety in mind. Use rubber grippers under rugs, and choose narrow furniture that won't impede traffic.

We advise giving any original flooring the love it deserves and not replacing it. Encaustic floor tiles in particular are worth repairing rather than replacing. Patterned tile works really well with traditional design schemes – and, in combination with stained glass, will provide enough color and texture to keep the rest of the design neutral and low-maintenance.

Hallway Prints

Just because hallways are often the smallest space in your home, that doesn't mean they can't squeeze in some functional furniture. These spaces are landing areas, they need a small console table to store your keys, lipsticks, dog leads, etc. Hallways are such great spaces to be a bit bolder with your color choices. They are usually smaller spaces that we just pass through, so this means you can afford to be braver in the colors you go for ⁠— have fun with the space and use it to reflect your personal style.

Sliding doors, or barn doors as they are also known, are a great option for small hallways as they take up much less space than a conventional door and blend seamlessly into a scheme if painted the same paint color. This gorgeous idea is a great example of just how well sliding doors can work. A bright shade of yellow is pretty happiness-inducing, but we also like the idea of a light pink if you're after something slightly more subtle. Now if you are totally redesigning a traditional hallway idea , rather than just redecorating, flooring is what you are going to be wanting to think about first. Bursting with light, the pastel pink door, and sandy carpet color will make your hallway feel bigger. Of course, the real design trick here is the hallway mirror which makes the most of the smallest room in the home by creating an illusion of a wider space.

Be imaginative with under stairs storage spaces

Use mirrors to enhance that light and if you have room bring in a key piece of furniture, whether it be a bench or a console table so it doesn't just feel like a sea of floor. A neutral palette is a cornerstone of many a successful modern design scheme – but to bring your space really up to date, go for grey. Among the most popular hallway paint ideas of the moment, grey’s darker tones can create drama, while lighter versions work as a contemporary alternative to white, as demonstrated in this hallway. Choose warm undertones for a welcoming feeling, or cooler tones for elegance. Hallways serve to connect rooms in a home, but they can also be stand-out spaces themselves.

HomepolishWe believe a beautifully decorated entryway with lots of practical storage will inspire you to keep things tidy instead of throwing your stuff in a massive heap. This gorgeous foyer by Angela Belt at Homepolish, an interior design company out of New York City, is a great example. A porcelain tile floor in a modern black and white pattern is exceptionally welcoming. A black ceramic table lamp offers a soft glow at night when an overhead fixture would be considered too bright. A console table can not only work as a landing pad for keys, wallets and post, but as a stylish piece to set the tone for the house’s decor – and will fit in with narrow hallway ideas too.

Place a Picture Light

Accent your traditional features with white to make them feel fresh. Hallway lighting ideas are a hugely important part of making these small spaces work. Be sure to layer you lighting to make sure every nook and cranny is well lit – and, if you have a tall enough ceiling, consider making a grand entrance with a chandelier. ‘A console table – ideally with a drawer – provides a useful place to store keys, post and fresh flowers,’ says Duggan. For a modern approach to this hallway furniture staple, pick the slickest you can find. HavenlyInterior designer Amy Fasnacht from Havenly, an online home decorating service, was tasked with transforming an empty, open-concept space without a proper entryway into a multifunctional abode.

Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. 'If you have gone for a pale paint color in a hallway, it's important to work in texture, whether via natural materials or pattern in upholstery,' says Homes & Gardens' Editor in Chief Lucy Searle. ‘They create the illusion of more space, of brightening up dark corners, of bouncing color from one side of the room to the other.

The result is a simply stunning showpiece for windows,' says Mike Stephen of Apollo Blinds. 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.

She is currently pursuing an interior design certificate from the New York Institute of Art + Design. AlvhemA sliver of wall space can expand your storage options in a small apartment. An upper shelf with a built-in rail establishes a nook for jackets and handbags. A beautiful and well-organized entryway will make a home feel more inviting. But knowing which steps to take to get the job done may not seem obvious. To help you pack a lot of style and function into your current foyer, no matter its size, we gathered our favorite entryway ideas for your inspiration.