Hallway Decorating Ideas

While decorating the house, hallways generally get ignored. They are the walkways which inhabitants of the house use to get from one room to another. Usually, it is seen that hallways become the dumping ground for all the unwanted things in the house such as old newspapers, clothes, etc. As they are visible from most of the rooms, this can dampen the look of the entire house. Solution? Extend the interior decoration of your house to the hallway! Decorate it in such a way that it reflects your personality and style! Scroll down for some unique ideas.

Wall Colors
The walls should be painted in light, neutral colors such as beige and white, so that it appears spacious and at the same time dispels darkness, if any. However, there are always exceptions to this rule. If your hallway is very large and wide, you can experiment with a plethora of bright colors such as red and yellow, as long as these colors go with the interior painting in the other areas of your house. One of the good ideas is to paint the hallway in a neutral shade and just when it is about to end, paint it in two or three shades darker color. If there is an adjoining staircase, you can spice up the look by painting the stairs in some unique colors and patterns.

Wall Treatments
If you want to do something different and unique with the walls, you can consider wainscoting. To keep things simpler and have a similar effect, wallpaper is an easy option. If you have a dado rail in the hallway, keep the wallpaper above plain and the one beneath it, patterned or embossed. For those of you who are willing to put in efforts, time and money, plater finishes in sand and grains, marble flour, limestone, etc can be looked into.

Accessories
Well chosen and appropriately placed accessories can really add to the appeal of a hallway.

• One of the ideas is to hang a few framed family pictures on one of the walls to make it more warm and inviting. Leave almost no space in between the pictures to enhance their impact. If you want a classic look, hang only black and white photographs. Also, the frames of the pictures should match with your décor.
• If you want to give your hallway a gallery kind of look, hang an artwork. Use a spotlight over this artwork to draw attention to it.
• You can also hang a large framed mirror in the hallway. Mirrors reflects light back, both natural as well as artificial, thus increasing visibility, brightness and beauty of the hallway. They make the space appear bigger than it actually is!
• Sometimes, the hallway may appear very isolated compared to other spaces in the house. So, to make it look inviting, add some furniture pieces to it. Console table, foyer table, chair and mid-sized cabinet are some furniture items that you can keep in a hallway. Remember, not to clutter the hallway too much!
• Along with the wall decorations, pay attention to the floor space as well. A floor runner or a colorful rug can completely change the look of your hallway. In fact, if staircase runs through your hallway, add an attractive stair runner to it, to add to the décor.

Lighting
Lighting plays a big role in decorating a hallway. You can choose from ceiling lights, wall lights and table lights, according to your requirements. Wall sconces, placed around five feet from the floor, illuminate the hallway and are ideal for small spaces. Track lights can be dimmed or made brighter according to your choice. Their best feature is that they can direct the light anywhere in the hallway. Recessional lights are the best option for highlighting a piece of art. To add to the décor, hang a chandelier or a pendant at its entrance so that anybody walking in can admire it's beauty!

Besides the above mentioned, here are some more home decorating ideas - Place a coat and umbrella stand in one of the corners that is near the door, to utilize the space. Add candles on either side of the mirror to give it a royal, classic touch. Keep a foyer table near the entrance of the hallway and place a vase of flowers over it to welcome the guests. With these decorating ideas, I am sure you will be able to create another warm, attractive space in your house!