Hallways can be tricky when it comes to interior styling. When I work with clients the factors I consider with their hallway includes, length, width, natural light and artificial light, floor surface finish and wall surface finish. Another thing I factor into when styling a hallway is its location and function. So here are my top 5 things to style your hallway.
1) Width of your hallway
Most people either want to put something on the walls for example wood panelling or wainscoting or art. I think what you do to the walls of your hallway depends on the width.
If your hallway is narrow, then art on the walls might make your hallway feel even more narrow. Also, I think art is best viewed from a distance rather than walking past it.
So, for a hallway I would consider a different finish or treatment to the walls such as a feature colour or wallpaper.
What you choose to do to your hallway walls depends on your interior design style goal and colour scheme, which ideally you should decide on first.
2) Interior style goal and colour scheme
Having an interior design strategy is one of the first things I develop and confirm with my clients. This is knowing your interior style goal and colour scheme from the beginning.
Your interior design strategy will help you decide what to do with your hallway and how to treat its two key surfaces, namely the floor and wall.
For example, it could mean the difference between a taupe paint colour if your interior style goal is Boho or wainscoting if your interior style goal is Hamptons.
3) Length of your hallway
The length of your hallway is another factor to consider. Most hallways will have a hard floor surface such as floorboards or tiles. So, you might want to a runner for warmth and sound absorption.
If you have a long hallway, then you might want two runners. This will depend on the width of your hallway as if you have a wide hallway, it might work better to have a standard sized rug.
In a long hallway you also want decent light. Low light might suffice depending on function. For example, if your hallway is just used to wall through rather than used as a dump zone.
For a short hallway you may not want to do anything to the walls because you’re not spending enough time in this space and it’s not big enough to treat the walls per se.
4) Function of your hallway
Is your hallway a walk through and or a dump zone? If located near the entrance then you might use it to dump some stuff like keys, bags and jackets. If so, then ensure the pieces you buy for your dump zone are fit for purpose.
The pieces could be a console table or a key and or coat rack. This totally depends on your specific functional requirements.
If there are no specific functional requirements and you want something aesthetic like a console table with a nice vase and foliage then as mentioned above consider the width of your hallway and don’t overcrowd it with a deep console table.
5) Light in your hallway
The last thing to factor into your hallway styling is the light. You might have some natural light but most likely you will need some kind of artificial light. There is an opportunity to do something interesting with lighting.
Rather than standard down lights in the ceiling you could do sensored LED strip lighting along the skirting. You could also do suitable wall sconces as well.
The lighting you choose will factor in all the above such as width, length, and function of your hallway. Considering these 5 things to style your hallway will ensure you can bring some wow factor to the hallway in your home.
Photo by Point3D Commercial Imaging Ltd. on Unsplash
