Tag Archives | Hallway

Inbetween Rooms: Hallway Paint Colors

Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Barren Plain 2111-60

Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173

Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Ivory White 925

Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Golden Straw 2152-50

Similar Wall Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20

The hallway can be easily overlooked when it comes to home design. It is a shame really, since the first thing you see when you leave your bedroom will be what you have in your hallway. Here are some ideas for hallway paint colors and design elements.

For A Modern Look

The modern color scheme consists of neutral colors such as light grey, off white or cream – just like the hallways in the first four pictures above. But you’ll need to add extra design elements to create a well designed combination, otherwise your halls will looks quite plain and dull. Adding floor trim for example. Crown molding is another design element, along with wall trim, decorative columns, and wainscoting. Another way to break up a solid wall is to hang up framed pictures – check out the hallway below.

The hallways in pictures (4) and (5) use non modern hallway colors.

Narrow vs Wide Hallways

In my Leave No Space Dark: Hallway Lighting Ideas post I talk about how you want more than just one ceiling light, lighting up the hallway. You want to have enough lights spread out to leave no space dark. If you are not able to redo the lighting, then it is best to go with a light colored wall paint. This will help make the area feel more spacious. Hanging up a mirror in the hallway will also help make a dark or narrow space feel larger and brighter, as it reflects light and adds depth.

If you have a wide hallway, any paint color, include dark ones will look good. For wider hallways you’ll definitely want to add some of the design elements mentioned above (crown molding, wall trim, wainscoting) along with wall lamps and side tables to break up the solid looking walls.

Creative Hallway Ideas

If you want a more decorative looking hallway, then check out my painting textures post (Textured Wall Painting Ideas: From Faux Wood to Linen Effects) for ideas such as using a brush to create a linen paint effect, or a sponge to create a marble look.

There is always wallpaper, though an expensive option. But check out the anaglypta style wallpaper below. It adds style to a wall but in a subtle and understated way.

Left: Richard Anaglypta from Wayfair $2.91 | Right: Armadillo Anaglypta from Wayfair $5.56

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Hallway Storage Ideas for Wide and Narrow Spaces

The first group of hallway storage ideas are more suited for wider hallways. Further below I go over ideas for more narrow spaces.

The simplest way of adding storage to a hallway, is to buy a hall tree. These are more suited to areas near the front door – as they are used to store shoes, keys, scarves, hats, etc. Or instead of a free standing unit, you could create your own storage combo by the front door. Check out the hallway storage bench, hook, and shelf combination in picture (2).

If you are looking for storage ideas for the space around the staircase, well that awkward space under the stairs can built to have shelving, and much more (3). Have a look at my mood board here for more ideas: The Space Under The Stairs: Ideas and Designs.

A side table always looks good in a wide hallway. Not only can it be used to store items in draws, but it can also have a mirror, lamp and decor items sitting on top – letting you create a stylised area in the hallway.

A Hall Table: $113 Wayfair | B Naples Hall Tree: $346 Wayfair | C Rosston Hall Tree: $114 Wayfair

How great would it be to curl up on a window seat and peacefully read a book? So how about creating a little cozy nook in your hallway (4) – with a comfy bench or day bed with some wall shelves to store away books. You can also get benches with a top that opens so you can store items inside like shoes or umbrellas.

Some other storage ideas include:

Wicker baskets are useful for storing items and keeping things out of view – plus they look good (5).
Shadow boxes are a decorative way of having wall shelves (6)
A coat hanger can be used by the front door
Crates can be stacked on top of each other to create custom furniture shelving

Storage Ideas for Narrow Hallways

Here are some ideas and solutions on how to add hallway storage if you have a narrow space:

Hang up some floating shelves as these won’t take up any floor space (7)
The same goes with wall hooks
You can even have a hook and shelf combo just like the one in picture (8)
A recessed shelf is a fancy addition to a hall, but more for decorative items than storage
A corner shelf unit can also help save space
A ladder makes for a portable and simple hanger (Ideas for Decorating With Ladders)
Built in storage units make the most of a hallway’s space. They will be built to blend in with the design of the hallway so it won’t feel as imposing compared to using free standing units
Make the most of the height in a hallway by building built in floor to ceiling storage cabinets (9)

See if you can hang up a mirror. Not only will it add depth to narrow hallway, but it will bounce and reflect light around making the space feel larger. Also try and mix art pieces with your hallway storage pieces, such as framed wall pictures seen in picture (10), so that your storage units don’t dominate the look of the hallway. Also, it might be a good idea to streamline the colors in the hallway to 1-2, to create a cleaner and more organized look.

For ideas specific to hallway shoe storage, check out my mood board here: Unique Closet and Entryway Shoe Storage Ideas.

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March 26, 2014 in Storage

Leave No Space Dark: Hallway Lighting Ideas

Let’s not forget to light up the hallways in our homes. You’ll want to have at least one light every 5-10 feet so there are no dark spots. One light in the middle of the hallway won’t cut it. Just take a look at the picture below from Wit and Whistle and you’ll see why.

So here are all of the hallway lighting ideas you’ll need to brighten up your hallways.

The Modern Look

For a modern looking hallway design, go with recessed lighting – just like in pictures (1) and (2). These lights are fitted into the ceiling, so all of the fixtures are hidden away creating a sleek minimalist, and modern look. They will also make your hallway feel taller. Recessed lights can be used along side other lighting fixtures too – like pendant lights, wall lights, cove lighting design, or side table lighting if you want to create different lighting effects in the space, for a grander look.

There are also down lights or recessed spotlights which are similar to recessed lights. Except these are fitted closer to the walls, to light up a walls texture, or paintings hanging on them.

Something Fancy

Cove lighting can line a hallway’s ceiling and add a nice soft glow to the room. Cove lighting is when lights are hidden away, but softly bounce light off of the walls and ceiling back into the room (3). There are two ways to do this A) have a drop down ceiling fitted and a cutaway where the lights can sit. Or B) fit crown molding a few inches below the ceiling so there is space for lights to sit on top – you can read more about it and see more pictures in my post here (The Beauty of Using Cove Lighting: Ideas and Designs).

Lighting Your Way

Directional spotlights and track lighting are lights that can be pointed to different areas of the hallway. If you have a long hallway use track lighting (4). If you have more of a box shaped hallway look for directional spotlights which are usually 3 lights grouped closely together in a circle (seen in the picture below). The good thing about these kinds of light fixtures is that you only need one electrical outlet to install a number of lights.

Bringing The Light Down

If you are lucky enough to have a tall hallway, you’ll want to use lights that bring the light closer down. So use hanging lights like pendants (5) (6) (7) (8), mini chandeliers, or lanterns.

Wall Lighting

If you have a wide hallway, then you have the option of using wall lights – as seen in picture (9). You could also hang up gallery lights above any paintings.

Another option for wide hallways is to add a side table just like in picture (10). This side table can be used to display decor items, have a clutter tray, and have a lamp on it – adding to the lighting in the hallway.

Designer Tip: If you want to make your hallway feel larger and wider, hang up a mirror.

Going Natural

For the hallways on the top floor, look to use natural lighting. One way to do this is to fit solar tubes. These are tubes that go all the way from the roof to inside the house, bringing light down. You can even find solar tubes that have a ring light around them so you can turn them on at night. Or how about fitting a skylight (11) for some majestic hall lighting? 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11