Your hallway is the first part of your home that you see when you step through the front door. Having a warm and welcoming space helps to create a calming atmosphere throughout your home.
Today I want to focus on how you can make the most of a small hallway. It shouldn’t just be a place where coats and shoes are dumped. That’s when it becomes messy, cluttered and unwelcoming.
Our hallway is small and as the autumn and winter months continue to settle in I’ve noticed it has become a much darker space than before. It’s our first year in this house so we need to work on bringing in light, warmth and organisation to turn it into a cosy and welcoming space.
For most people, the hallway is a high traffic area, especially if you have little ones or lots of guests. It’s no surprise that it can often become neglected.
Here are 4 ways to turn your hallway into a welcoming space:
Mirrors
One of my favourite ways to bring more light into any room or space is through the use of mirrors. I’m currently on the hunt for a full-length mirror to sit on the wall at the bottom of the stairs. I also want one to face opposite the kitchen door.
Mirrors bounce both natural and artificial light around the room which helps to create the illusion of space and warmth.
They’re also functional, something which is important to think about when you’re decorating a small or narrow hallway. I love having a mirror by the front door to apply a last-minute swipe of lipstick or to make sure there’s no Marmite around my mouth before heading out of the house.
Console table
I love hallways with console tables. I think they’re chic yet practical and really help to pull the space together.
At first, you might think that they’re only suited to larger spaces but Cox & Cox have such a lovely range of console tables in various sizes and styles.
When it comes to decorating your console table it’s important not to let it become cluttered. Think minimal – a bunch of cheerful flowers, a mirror and baskets – excellent for hiding your hats and scarves in throughout winter.
I have my eye on their Aalto Console Table. It has a draw for keys and a shelf underneath for baskets. If you’re a fan of Scandinavian design you’ll love this one too.
Lighting
If you’ve read any of my House & Home posts before you’ll know how important lighting is within your home.
Unless you have big windows the hallway can be quite a dark space, especially throughout the colder months. You can find out more about decorating your home with light here but opting for a big ceiling light and if you have space, a slimline floor lamp will do the trick. If you have a console table you could even have a lamp on there.
I like to use daylight bulbs in the ceiling because they give off more natural lighting.
Colour
Small hallways can often be dark, I know ours is. So, you could either embrace the darkness and go with a trendy shade like navy and then bring in extra light with lamps and mirrors which would give the space a truly cosy feeling.
Alternatively, you could go with lighter shades like grey and white or even bring in a loud and cheerful shade like yellow. Also don’t be afraid to try wallpaper. With the right print, you can give the illusion of more space. I personally much prefer funky wallpaper patterns in smaller spaces. Try picking one wall as a feature and treat yourself to some beautiful wallpaper.
Just as a final thought and if you’re in a position to do a little more work think about tiles. There are so many fantastic styles around at the moment. They’re hardwearing and easy to clean which makes them perfect if you have kids.
I hope you found some of these tips useful and I’ll soon be sharing the changes I make to the hallway.
Thank you to Cox & Cox for collaborating on this post. They’re a brand I’ve loved and shopped with for a long time so having the chance to work with them here on PGT was fab.