Awkward! That’s the one word I always think of when I think of interior design and hallways.
Like houses themselves, hallways come in different shapes and sizes. With some hallways, particularly in older homes, you wonder why they’re even there in the first place. You yearn to simply knock them down. Others exist because the funky architecture of a home creates odd nooks.
Some hallway spaces frame stairs (think old Victorian), some are long and narrow (think classic Queenslander), some are wide and vast (think urban warehouse) and some wrap around a corner (think penthouse apartment).
No matter where your hallway sits in the awkward scheme of things, there are numerous elegant hallway decorating ideas at your disposal. To follow are 11 practical ideas that are designed to tantalise your senses and welcome you home.
1. Create a sitting area
While your family room may be the place for everyone to hang out to chat, play games and watch TV, it’s not often a place for quiet contemplation.
Add a gorgeous couch, a colourful feature chair or even an upmarket beanbag to a hallway space and you’ve got yourself an instant meditation or prayer place.
The most appealing aspect to this idea is that, unlike the expense required to don an entire living area with expensive furniture, you can treat yourself to one elegant piece that stands out from the crowd, like this gorgeous pink sofa below.
PRETTY IN PINK: Adding a couch to a hallway, combined with this Cherry Blossom art print, instantly creates an elegant space for quiet reflection.
2. Achieve ambience
Luxury living involves selecting particular pieces that suit your style. It’s not about clutter nor is it about minimalism.
To achieve ambience, lavish your hall with an opulent lamp. Vases, pottery and glass art will all add class.
LUXURIOUS: This opulent gold lamp, classy flower pot and abstract art print achieves ambience.
3. Invest in a rug
If you have endless floor space as far as the eye can see, flourish the space with a rug.
Before splashing out on your favourite rug, keep in mind the style of your home. Adding a modern rug to a classically styled home may look odd.
Given hallways often span the length of a home, consider a rug that will bring the character of your residence together. Consider the style of nearby rooms.
RUG UP: A well chosen rug can bring out the character of a home. This Port Fairy Harbour photographic print provides a personalised touch.
4. Create a reading nook
Don’t let your hallway become a forgotten space. To create a mini-library, add or carve a shelf into the wall and accompany it with a classy, comfortable chair. Voila! Instant reading room.
VOILA: Add a comfortable chair, a sofa and a work of sea sunset art to create a restful, restorative reading room.
5. Create storage space
A home can never have enough storage nor enough elegance, so don’t let a handy hallway go to waste.
Add a practical cabinet then make it beautiful by adding art. Sit art objects on top of the cabinet and decorate the wall with canvas art. Any excuse to visit homeware boutiques and shop online, right?
HANDY: Add storage then decorate it with art objects and a dash of black and white wall art. Gorgeous.
6. Put space to practical use
Let’s be honest. Hallways, particularly if they’re at the entrance, often end up being the place we dump stuff. We dump our mail, our bags, our shoes, our hats, our umbrellas. I mean, what’s an entrance hall for if it’s not for ‘making ourselves at home’?
If you realise your entrance hall is never going to be the proud reception you dream for it to be, then add practical elements like a coat rack, an umbrella stand and a shoe cupboard. Lay some ground rules. If you’re living alone, you can get away with bringing your bicycle inside. If you’re a family of four, that’s going to be a no no.
Despite what you might be tempted to think, everyone in the household has good intentions to keep the house neat and tidy, but you have to help them along. Design the space to suit your family’s needs, no matter how big or small, clean or messy that family may be.
BE PRACTICAL: To avoid the hallway being used as a dumping ground, add storage and establish ground rules.
7. Turn your stairs into a feature
Frame your staircase with furnishings to match. This gorgeous marble and timber table, below, is a perfect example of how to bring a space together.
The floral decoration on the table perfectly matches the mint coloured feature wall and the wall art. The secret to success here is choosing the right colour palette. Pinterest is a great place to find colour inspiration or check out 8 Colour Schemes That Work Everytime.
ONLY WAY IS UP: The secret to successful staircase design is choosing the right colour palette to inform your choice of furniture and art.
8. Don’t be afraid to use colour
Speaking of colour schemes, don’t be afraid to fill a hall with colours that will pop. Rather than painting a feature wall, keep your wall a neutral tone and decorate the space around it.
This combination of red door, red couch, red flowers and red art is simply stunning. Pick your favourite colour and let yourself go!
MAKE IT POP: Don’t be afraid to choose a colour and stick with it from couch, door, flowers to this Rhapsody In Red work of art.
9. Hang art
Canvas art is an affordable way to decorate any wall in your home, but sometimes we forget that hallways are rooms too and deserve to be treated with the same love and care we afford our living rooms and bedrooms.
To visualise what piece of art might work on your wall, look at the surrounding colour scheme and select something to match. Online at Wall Art Prints, you can choose your favourite category of artwork then search by colour.
Alternatively, this landscape piece Misty Rivers features a range of different colours. This print adds class and blended colour to a hallway without completely taking over.
WELL DESERVED: A Misty Rivers landscape adds something special to what may otherwise be a dull, brown wall.
10. Turn handy into pretty
“Where’s my keys?” Is this you? In the quest for a beautiful home, there’s no need to sacrifice handy places to keep your most needed items.
Hammer some hooks where you can keep your ‘spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch’ then put together a collection of cute, quirky hallway items – arts, crafts, fresh flowers…
It’s one home improvement you’ll never regret.
HANDY: Be creative with your hallway hooks by adding quirky arts and crafts.
11. Set the theme for your home decor
We love the Vintage look this Bord de mer print and rustic cabinet adds French inspired seaside style to this hallway, but it’s not for everyone. The idea with setting a theme for your hallway decor is thinking through the things you truly love – Parisian, Japanese, 1950s glamour, beachside chic, metallic art.
Individualise your hall space by choosing furniture, ornaments and artwork that reflect your hobbies and passions. It will make coming home a whole lot easier!
BE AN INDIVIDUAL: If your passion is vintage, this Bord de mer print and rustic shelving will transform your hall into a place you’ll love.
Using your hallways to mount wall art is an elegant way to bring a home to life, but there’s so much more that’s possible. The trick is getting the combination right. Say goodbye to awkward forever more – and have some fun with it!
