I start this post with the key fact that I want you to take away: your hallway is a room, and should be treated like one. Why is it so important to acknowledge this? Because your hallway is more than just a place to kick off your shoes and throw down your keys. It is a central feature of the home, setting the opening tone for the rest of your house, and welcoming you and your guests at multiple times per day. Aside from, perhaps, the kitchen or a child's playroom, the hallway is the hardest working room in the house: it channels the most traffic and battles with the elements as you go about your way. So, I ask, why do we not extend our homemaking style to the hallway? Why is it de-prioritised? My guess is that you're too busy trying to close the door to the outside world or rush your guests into the living area where the drinks are being served. But why should we not love our hallway enough to use it as a focal point, and a source of all jealousy from our front door appearances? Why should we not love it enough to take a few minutes, sit a bit longer and feel welcomed and content, instead of rushing as we end the day just passed? It's time to take back (or begin!) the love for the hallway, and make that first impression one which lasts.
If you have the pleasure of decorating your hallway rather than just furnishing it, there are a number of points which need to be considered. As I already said, the hallway is a centre for your household traffic, meaning that your decorating must accommodate. When it comes to flooring, opt for stone or wood to ensure that you can easily rid of the elements and dust that you bring in from the outside. Cleanliness is key, so I would avoid using a rug and let the floors do the dirty work. I know that most of my readers will have seen a marble-clad entrance at some point in their lives, and I know that it is unlikely it went without a pause of appreciation for the splendour. As you can see from the images to follow, practicality doesn't have to mean boring.
For paints, you want something with a sheen or with hard-wearing enhancements so that you can wipe it down easily. Both Little Greene Paint Company and Dulux do an easy-care range which is ideal for the hardworking halls. Decorating the hallway also gives the opportunity to create a visual experience for yourself and your guests every time you enter the home. Contrasting or overtly bold colours can work well in a hallway, and nod to a more eclectic scheme whilst not overpowering the spectator as it would in a larger room. A few which have always stuck with me are these canary yellow walls at a stately home in Oxford, and the bold pink accent used by Kelly Behun here. They show how such colour can work in spaces large and small, and with traditional or a modernised decor.
Wallpaper is another easy way to introduce colour or add some neutral textures without the need for expensive or space-consuming items. Here, you can contrast with the rooms connecting or use the same in each to give an appearance of extension. Horizontal stripes elongate and lengthen narrow spaces whilst patterns and paintings can be used to enhance the architectural elements that the hallway may possess.
Recreate the looks with some of these:
Now for the furniture. One of my favourite things about the hallway is that it provides an opportunity to house some great furniture which may not "fit" elsewhere. For instance, the table that is too big for the sitting room but too small to dine on? Use it in the hallway. The single chair that you came across at Portobello or splashed out on in an impulse moment with no other pieces to match? Use in in the hallway. And my personal hero product? The console table: sleek, stylish and stable enough to top with a whopping piece of art and to hide those bills within. The furniture you choose should be different and demanding of attention, but just like the hallway, should be practical and considered for its use. And be honest with yourself: if you know that shoes and newspapers amass by the door, then consider furniture that will store these away. If you know a chair will turn into a coat hanger, invest in some stylish hooks or a coat rack instead. Make smarter decisions such as these, and your smart entrance will follow shortly after. A few examples and some of the key pieces which have caught my eye:
Once the larger furniture and decor is covered, you want to accessorise the space. Again, this is an opportunity to display who you are and what you love so that your home is a place you feel welcomed in as soon as you cross the threshold. My go-to would be flowers for the table, an arresting ornament or display dish, and a blown-up piece of art or photograph that steals my heart every time I look at it. Each, of course, will be selected by personal preferences, but make them an asset to your home and set the ambience you want to create throughout. If these pieces aren't considered, your hallway WILL look like a half-way house for items on their way to the charity shop. Do you really want your friend to be asking how much you're selling at the boot sale? I didn't think so. Some of my picks:
And a few more created spaces for good measure:
I hope you're feeling a little bit inspired and would love to know what you thought. If you have any questions or you do want to take back your hallway but don't know where to start, don't hesitate to drop me a line by email or social media, and we can see what your options are. Ciao for now. A x