Our quite dark hall but quite sick of Beige walls

Comments (24)

PRO
Adaliza
Investigate Farrow & Ball paints - they have a wonderful range of whites which are very different from plain old white emulsion when applied to the walls. I've used Strong White teamed with Pavilion Grey in my bedroom and Old White on feature walls in my lounge. I love the way they appear on different walls and they seem to reflect the light around the rooms. I'd use a darker shade (like Pavilion Grey) on the dado rail and below it and on the doors, then use a lighter white (like Strong White) above the dado. Then add a jazzy, bright colourful rug instead of going to the expense of changing the carpet.
13 February, 2015last modified: 13 February, 2015
caltech1948
Thank you for your advice Adaliza, I have used F&B paints too and I really like them, I will look at the shades you have suggested, I used Elephants Breath and Skimming Stone in my kitchen a few years ago and loved the effect.
13 February, 2015
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As a rule of thumb use richer or warmer colour on shaded surfaces because if you go for white or light colours in shadow they always look grey. Save white for anywhere day light hits. For your downstairs hall what about paints from Farrow and Ball: Upstairs the hall looks narrow but even so, adding details will help - wall lights, mirrors etc. I think this area needs more elaboration. Maybe this is a good place for your wallpaper which just might be too much with the tiles downstairs? A picture rail would be appropriate here and be sure to choose a colour for the woodwork that suits, the default white might not. Jane
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Hi Laura, You're right saying white doesn't stay white long... I know the feeling. I agree that Grey would work better, as it would be striking enough to provide an elegant yet sophisticated look to the house. Your children shouldn't be able to get the painted walls dirty too easy and of course with paint, you can use a wipeable one. Whereas, wallpaper can be damaged and never quite look the same again. However, that being said a wipeable Darker Grey Paint below the Daedo rail and a light patterned wallpaper above would look very in keeping with the house. Also, children's hands seem to keep below a certain point, so this may be a nice option, if you can keep them from touching walls so much. I've attached an image below which displays, how I would design a hall. Keeping in mind your needs, and the circa of the house. However, this adds a contemporary yet, modern approach. I hope this hopes, I'd love to help you out with the design if you need any tips! Kerry
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PRO
True Colours Interiors
I would look at The Little Greene Paint Company. They have a grey collection, which may sound a bit drab, but it isnt. Something like their ceviche could work. If you are keeping the dado rail, I would have the same colour top and bottom, and a pure white dado.
13 February, 2015
Lara Imrie
Hi there,

My hall suffers the same problem, no natural light etc is the problem I have but I noticed in your picture that you have glass panels in your door good idea btw.

My suggestion is possibly Change your carpet to laminate or hard wood or if that is not an option go for a bright runner to break up the constant cream carpet ?

If you're totally wild you could paint the skirting boards a bright funky colour ( there is an article on houzz with pictures which look amazing )

A mirror would also help with light dispersion throughout your hall eg take advantage of the natural light from your glass panel door etc.

Hope my ideas were not too wild for you to think about & may have sparked an idea or three in your head.

Have fun

limrie
14 February, 2015
Lara Imrie
Sorry I should pay better attention to the question I've never used farrow & ball myself but they do seem to be popular with houzz members.

To go back to the painting of the skirting boards that goes for your dado rail too.

If you're wanting to keep the calmness of natural colours , think about using a green colour on your walls. Or even a white with a hint of green atm our hall has Apple white walls and oak hard wood which I would like to try a different shade of green apposed to Apple .
I'm sorry I don't know the names of the green paint on offer from the different paint companies, maybe look on houzz for inspiration and articles about how green is the wanted colour atm.

Good luck

limrie
14 February, 2015
Lara Imrie
http://www.littlegreene.com/paint/colour/green-paint/cupboard-green

Looked up little Greene company and found a wide range of natural green colours.
I liked this one.

limrie
14 February, 2015
caltech1948
Thank you limrie, any comment is so welcome, and, to even go looking at Green paint for me!!... I thank you very much. I haven't thought of Green to be honest...( my hubby's fav colour) but it's something to investigate. Thank you... Carol x
14 February, 2015
caltech1948
PS.. Sorry, we have had laminate in the hall but just yesterday changed back to carpet.. Long story.. Your ideas are not whacky at all... Fresh to be honest!. Thanks a lot. Carol x
14 February, 2015
Matthew Decorator
Lose the dado rail, paint ceiling, radiators and woodwork white, paint the walls a light grey
14 February, 2015
Rich Hill
My hallway used to be similar, very dark, I went for half and half with green wallpaper and white tongue and grooving panelling, I put laminate flooring in the hallway and a striped carpet up the stairs. I'm going to use a similar door as you've got on the kitchen to let in more light
15 February, 2015
Claire Lofthouse
I agree with the reference to changing the carpet to wood floors. I have that in my hall and don't even mind the magnolia walls as a result!
15 February, 2015
PRO
Stella Michael
As well as your wall and floor is being beige, so is your artwork! I quick way to brighten it up is to remove the beige artwork and put something up more interesting and brighter in colour!

As we don't tend to spend lots of time in hallways they are a great place to have a bit of fun so you can go for brighter or bolder colours. Making the floor a bit darker either with exposing floorboards, new carpet or just an area rug over the top of the carpet would make a big difference.

When I first moved in my hall (which has no windows) had natural sissal on the floor(beige) and beige walls and felt really draining so over time it has turned into this(see photo) and makes me smile whenever I walk through it even after all these years so consider changing even one thing to break the sea of beige ... the floor, the artwork, one part of the wall - top or bottom and the whole space will feel different.
15 February, 2015
Lauren
I agree with Rich Hill above, a white or light colour below the daydo rail then a darker but still pale colour above. Also consider adding transom windows above the doors as you have the extra height available, this will add a lot more natural light in and will bounce off the ceilings too!
15 February, 2015
clare2291
We had a similar issue, our house was built with a sky light over the stairs but the previous owners blocked this off with a loft conversion so our hallway is really dark. It also didnt help that they painted the walls a dirty yellow, put in a dusky blue carpet and put dark varnish on anything that didnt move! I asked a similar question on here a few months back and was told to put a window in (I live in a terrace :-) ) and adding windows above the front door which we cant do as we are under the Welwyn/Letchworth herritage foundation area and they wont let us make this change to the outside PLUS we have fire doors throughout the hallway because buildings regulations made us put them in for the loft conversion so we cant put windows above those door frames. We initially planned on beige walls and beige carpet to brighten it up but thats so boring! We then came across the Dulux light&space paint and decided to give it a try. I read reviews and some people raved about it whilst others said it made no difference. We decided on light blue so amongst other brands we got a tester of L&S 'First Frost' and to be honest it looked a bit strange compared to the others (hard to describe but almost illuminous). Hubby wanted to give it a try so we put it on and it looks amazing. I believe it has brightened the whole area up and it feels bigger. We've found a blue, beige and white striped carpet (sounds horific describing it like that but it is nice!!) as well as painting the woodwork white. I would recommend this range of paint if you want to brighten a room up.
15 February, 2015last modified: 15 February, 2015
clare2291
Here are a few more photos as it would only let me upload 4 :-) Carpet isnt in yet but below is a photo of what we are thinking of having - SCS Partners Stripe in Rustic Sky
15 February, 2015
jen2hands
How about some wallpaper in the hall? Ours is a long dark hallway and we have used wallpaper on one wall which makes it a much more interesting space, we've had so many compliments on it.

I also added a couple of plaster corbels as ours is a Victorian house and I wanted to put some features back. I plan to have a runner on the stairs and a photo wall going up the stairs but I haven't got that far yet!
16 February, 2015
Laura
Wow Jen2hands. I love the wallpaper and the lights. We've got a long narrow hallway and we were looking at putting spots, but the joints are in the way - those lights would look fab. Do mind me asking where you got them from?
16 February, 2015
jen2hands
Hi Laura, thanks for your nice comments. The lights are from Next, they weren't expensive. I wasn't convinced about them when we ordered them but I'm really pleased with them, they do look great. I love the contrast of the modern wallpaper and lights and the Victorian features in the house. Good luck doing yours!
16 February, 2015
Áine Ní Aileacháin
We have just bought a house with a very bland beige hall (carpet on stairs, beige tiles and walls). We're considering Dulux's Coral shore. It's vibrant, tones well with the tiles, and is a bit of fun. It's a compromise, as I like raspberry tones, and my husband likes burnt orange. Haven't painted it yet, but it's looking good on the bit I tested.
17 February, 2015
Aline Browers
panelling and a wallpaper that reflects the light would make a huge difference here. would probably go for a Jim Thompson/Fox Linton wallpaper. I love little green paint.
17 February, 2015
sophtherou
Hello Jane,
Love the wall paper, would you mind telling where you got it from?
At the moment I am considering using Cole and Sole Parterre Paste the Wall Wallpaper white and gold (see attached) but as the corridor is long and narrow, it might look too busy? I would be interested in hearing general thoughts on this! The floor will be white laminate.
18 February, 2015
Jade Brindley
I would keep the dedo rail and use the idea of half and half. Use a funky wallpaper on the bottom with a more plain colour on the top, maybe something like this for the bottom half and then a mix between grey and white on the top
18 February, 2015
PRO
Sarah Naybour Design
Funky wall paper is a great idea, but have you also considered going darker? Rather than trying to lighten the space, why not make it darker so that when you do transition into the lighter spaces in the house there is real impact and contrast ?
18 February, 2015
Vonn
We have the exact same issue in our "hall". Bijou is the polite name I believe. We panelled the bottom and wallpapers in a a very light mushroom damask wallpaper. It really is the nicest it could possible be, given the narrownness and north facing aspect. I love it! Good luck. Can't wait to see the finished result. PS I also love the lights!
25 March, 2015

United Kingdom

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Our quite dark hall but quite sick of Beige walls

Comments (24)

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