Guest Blogger: Creative Ways to Spruce Up your Home’s Hallway

Guest Blogger #522, Entry #1178, May 15, 2012

All too often, most homeowners do not take the time to properly decorate their home’s hallway just because it is not a room but a space where people usually arrive, depart, and pass through. However, it should be noted that a hallway is equally important as that of the other spaces inside the home not only  because it links one room to another, but it is also the first area that guests get to see since it is immediately situated inside the front door.

Your home’s hallway is also an area that forms a barrier between the outside world, and a place of transition that separates the coziness of domestic interior from the busy urban living. With these functions in mind, it is vital that you decorate your hallway in an attractive and clutter-free way, so that you can give a good first impression to your visitors. Below are some ways how you can liven up the look of your hallway.

Liven up your hallway with furniture and decor

Image via: Habitual Mind Condensation.Tumblr

Going for Functionality

To properly accommodate the transition as well as the comings and goings taking place in this area, the first few additions that you should incorporate in your design is a variety of storage solutions and a place where visitors can sit when they take off and put on their shoes. You can add a surface-mount cabinet where guests can leave their footwear or have a freestanding coat closet where you and your guests can hang their coats or extra clothing. If space will not permit a stand-alone coat closet, a coat or coat rack can be a good alternative. A storage bench would also be an ideal furniture to use in the hallway as it can serve two different purposes: seating and storage.

Depending on the size of your hallway, you may also find it useful to use furniture that will serve as drop-off or staging points. For instance, if you have a kitchen on one side your hallway and a living room on the other, a small chest or table will definitely be a great addition where you and your guests can place other items along the way. As a rule, a furniture in the hallway should be light, narrow and well spaced so that there is enough way for people to pass through.

It would also be wise to add a floor covering that can withstand wear and tear. You can opt for a fitted carpet or a runner that will cover the central track from the doorway.

Architectural niches add visual interest

Image via: Houzz

Breath life to Your Hallway Wall

You can add interest to your hallway by creating a feature wall. While you can always get away with family pictures, you can also opt for an eye-catching wallpaper or a fabulous piece of artwork. Hanging a large mirror on one of  your hallway’s bare walls will also be a good technique as it will not only help reflect the light coming from your lighting fixtures but will also make the area look more spacious. If there is no door or room at the end of the hallway, you can have a wall-mounted open shelving and place trinkets of items to add life to the space. Or, you can create a cameo setting by adding a simple easy chair and a small table with magazines or books.

Rustic hallway ideas

Image via: Room269.Tumblr

Add the right light fixtures

Lighting is extremely important within a hallway, especially because this area does not usually receive natural light unless the door is open. Uplighters and wall lights are practical and stylish options that can lend a welcoming feel to your hallway. A beautiful skylight, on the other hand, can make your hallway look more spacious. You can also add low lighting just above your hallway’s skirting boards to properly illumine the way.

Article by Robert Kirk who works as a SEO Consultant & Writer for McIntyre Masonry who are a  Stonemasonry Company in Edinburgh They offer their range of stonemasonry services to clients throughout Scotland and the UK.

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