dark hallway

8 years ago

Hi! im looking for advice on a paint scheme for my dark hallway. The only natural light comes from a small window so can be quite dark even during the day. I like the idea of painting the walls a really light blue (almost white) and the wordwork a slightly darker blue. im just having troubles visualising what colour to paint the doors and above picture rails. I would like to steer clear of gloss white for the doors as having little natural light turns the paint yellow. also I would like to paint the coving blue to bring them out. the question is should I leave the wall above the picture rail white? or should I paint it the same colour as the rest of the wall, in which case shpuld I paint the coving with the same vlue as the wood work? any other suggestions will be greatfully received!

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PRO

Occipinti

8 years ago

Hi Russell,

I think your hallway could benefit from everything being the same colour. Painting the skirting and walls the same colour will make it feel bigger. Here the rail is painted the same colour as the walls. If you want to use blue make sure it is a light airy blue, especially as you mentioned you don't get much light. I am a personal fan of light greys. Hope this helps and good luck xox

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Comments (22)

Russell Price
Original Author
8 years ago
ok, thats not a bad idea. would you suggest doing the wood work with a gloss in the same colour as the wall or are we talking litrally the same paint for all? I like that the door is painted a different colour in that picture. do you think that would work in my hall way considering there are 4 doors and its pretty short? or would they benifit from using the same paint as the wall?
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PRO
creativeorg
8 years ago
Hi Russell

I agree with Occpinti. If you paint the skirting boards and woodwork a darker colour then the walls then the room will appear smaller and darker. Light walls and light woodwork are a must. You'll be amazed once the architraves and skirting boards are painted a light colour the room will be transformed and that beautiful floor will look amazing. Good luck!
PRO
creativeorg
8 years ago
I would paint the front door a different colour and leave the internal doors the same light colour. The doors and woodwork will need to be painted with a gloss or satinwood which has less of a sheen. I personally prefer satinwood. You could also go with a period colour that will be more in-keeping with the period of the house. Both Dulux and Crown do period colour charts or Farrow and Ball do some amazing colours.
Russell Price
Original Author
8 years ago
thats not actually the front door. theres yet another even smaller, darker hallway beyond thar door! :)
PRO
Akiva Projects Ltd
8 years ago
Hello,

I like the idea of creativeorg ! Painting the walls in light blue it sounds good, so as having the woodwork painted in slightly darker blue. I would keep the ceiling and the wall above the picture rail in white.

I would also suggest you to get some large mirrors, it really helps to make the space look brighter and larger. Where your two pictures are hanging you could place there mirrors.

You could also paint the door in warm grey or a mix of grey with blue.

StJames Design Interiors
Juliet Docherty
8 years ago
Hi Russell. I think the issue with dark halls is that when painted light they are cold. Painting a dark space a deeper colour will make it feel warmer which I think is always preferable. I would suggest trying something like Joa's White (have used in dark hall and it worked) or Savage Ground (F&B). If you can install downlighter in the ceiling that would make an enormous difference. Good luck.
PRO
Occipinti
8 years ago
Hi Russel,

I painted my studio skirting and walls the same colour. I just got the same colour mixed up in a wall paint and a separate one for the wood. You can choose gloss or eggshell for your skirting. Just depends on the look you want. I went for an eggshell so that it blends in better. It also makes painting it sooooo much easier as you don't have to worry about getting your lines exactly straight. I didn't even have to mask it off! Made the job 10 times faster.

Loving the mirror idea by @StJamesDesignInterior too.

Good Luck
PRO
UK Flooring Online
8 years ago
Consider adding life by spicing up your floor. It accounts for a large part of the visible surface area and is the place where we naturally focus our eyes when passing through the space. Why not replace that worn old rug and brighten up your space with some stylish laminate. Here are some ideas from Balterio:

http://www.ukflooringonline.co.uk/brands/balterio/?filter_colour-style=69
Russell Price
Original Author
8 years ago
what rug? :/
PRO
UK Flooring Online
8 years ago
sorry, it's a carpet, on the floor with the diamond pattern
Russell Price
Original Author
8 years ago
nope. tiles. I wont be covering them. thanks
PRO
Direct Trade Supplies
8 years ago
Hi

You could potentially insert some low level marker lighting to make the hallway appear lighter and more airy.
PRO
Direct Trade Supplies
8 years ago
https://www.directtradesupplies.co.uk/search.php?xSearch=WL050
Russell Price
Original Author
8 years ago
nice idea, but im really only looking for advice on paint scheme. thanks anyway
minnie101
8 years ago
Hi. I like colourhappys suggestion or embrace the dark. Have a look at farrow and ball railings or Hague blue, both work well in small rooms. I'd paint everything in the same colour up to the cornicing. Go for an off white ceiling, if you want to highlight the cornicing more, go a shade darker than the ceiling. Do you have lighting at the moment? A couple of pendant lights would be great, plus a couple of mirrors, maybe even opposite each other by that end door. Warm Metallics work well against these blue/greys so maybe mirror frames in bronze etc. You could also look into cleaning the floor, the colours look fantastic once cleaned (I'm clearly not suggesting your floor is dirty btw!)
minnie101
8 years ago
Pics. I don't mean the style btw. I think the 2nd colour is actually F&B downpipe mow I look at it! Will find one for railings!
minnie101
8 years ago
This is railings but looks very different with a white ceiling!
Russell Price
Original Author
8 years ago
thanks for the advice, I hadnt considered "embracing the dark" I will certainly think on it.
Russell Price
Original Author
8 years ago
oh, and the floor will be polished up once I have the painting sorted. thanks! :)
traceymutch
8 years ago
I would go dark too. Sometimes no amount of white will lighten a space especially as light in this country is so often grey tinged that it makes white look grubby anyway. A good rich dark shade of any colour you like will look striking. It can then be lifted by light photos or paintings on the wall.
PRO
Nadine Iva
8 years ago
I agree with the light colour suggestions and painting all walls plus door the same colour. I think all variations of cold white with a hint of blue or grey would look wonderful and afterwards it will be easy to add accessories such as mirrors that will give an illusion of a bigger space. Dark colours is a put off for small spaces in private houses, I believe this option suits more an office or retail spaces.

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