Your hallway offers the first impression that visitors will get from your home. This is why it is important to create an impactful space here; it will set the tone for the rest of your property in terms of interior design. The very first thing someone sees when coming into your home is the hallway. Why present something dull? Here are some of the best choices you can make for this little-thought-about room to make it look fantastic.
One of the first things you need to consider is the floors you choose. This is a high-traffic area that will see a lot of passing from not just your family or household but also from visitors. Therefore, you might want to choose something like AC5 laminate flooring for the floors here. This is beneficial due to many different reasons.
AC5 laminate is stronger than other types of flooring you could choose, and it will make for a much more impactful space overall. It is easy to take care of, and it means that you can create an amazing space that many are going to love. Start from the floor and work your way up, and you will be able to bring together a room that is going to look as good as the others in your home. In fact, most interior designers start with the floor and then figure out what other elements to add.
From your front door, you want to draw people into your home and make them feel welcome. The easiest way to do this is to use an old interior decorating trick of creating lines. For example, you could do this with rugs or a runner on your stairs. By choosing vertical ones over horizontal ones, you will encourage people to step further into the room, thus inviting them in and making them feel more welcome.
You can also use this trick with other items in your home. For example, you could line up pictures in a line along the wall heading further down the hallway. A visitor will want to walk down this line so they can properly see all of the pictures. These are small tricks, but they rarely do work when it comes to creating a brilliant home for you.
Choosing a colour scheme for a hall can be difficult. This is often one area where it can be better to have a dark colour on the walls. It will create a warm and comforting environment and, in a more practical sense, prevent dirty handprints and scratches from showing.
However, a narrow hallway might become too dark if deeper colour is used. You also need to think about the rooms beyond. If you have a lighter, neutral colour scheme in the rest of your home, the colour might be out of place in your hallway. Pick a colour that will tie in perfectly with the rest of your house.
The focal point is practically never present in most hallways around the world. This is a shame because it can so easily improve this part of the home. You can choose a sofa, artwork, or a sofa for a beautiful focal point. The obvious choice is to take a console table and place it right against a wall. Then, you can decorate it and use it to showcase some personality, like through the display of family photos.
If the hallway is particularly large, you can add a circular table right in the middle. Choose an elegant one and it will instantly draw the attention of anyone coming in. Alternatively, opt for a bench.
Symmetry is perfect for hallways because it creates calmness and harmony just as you enter a home. It can be created with the use of lighting, artwork, matching lamps on console tables, or whatever other ideas you might have.
As a very simple tip, when you have to decorate a smaller hallway, opt for luxurious materials and symmetry. You could use some bespoke table lamps or introduce symmetrical layers with textures and colours.
With all interior schemes, lighting is simply vital. It is very effective in hallways because this is a space that conventionally features less furniture. You can take advantage of this opportunity and be very adventurous with the lights you add. They can highlight architectural details or artwork.
As an example, if the hallway has a black and white colour scheme and beautiful chequered flooring, add dramatic pendant lights made out of glass. The result is a timeless, restful feel in a space where you do not naturally expect it.
Windows are rarely available so artificial lights have to be used. Do this even if you have a staircase that lets in some extra light from the first floor.
Reflective surfaces are very effective at creating visual interest inside a hallway. This is especially the case when the available space is limited. Antique mirror finishes are particularly effective since they instantly add texture and character.
Take it one step further and add blue with antique mirror finishes. This creates the much-needed illusion of having extra space available and some glamour. Look for different opportunities to use reflective surfaces in areas where you would not expect it, like in built-in storage units, on adjacent walls, or doors.
You should spend some time selecting some beautiful decor for your hallway. It might be the last room that many of us think about, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t deserving of looking nice. Think about some of the changes that you could make to your hallway today that could really serve to create an impact at the entrance of your home.
All the suggestions above can work but you should never overdo it. You have to be sure that you only add as much as possible and you do not exaggerate. This happens way more often than you might think because of a natural desire to make the hallway look great.
