Dark, cottage hallway ideas!

4 years ago

We are looking to re decorate our hallway and landing and stuck where to go really. Main issue currently is that it is very dark (no windows) and boring.
It's in the middle of the house and not the main entrance.
The stone floor and doors are staying, everything else I'm flexible on.
It's a victorian cottage style house and we like old things!
(not long moved hence no artwork around!)

Featured Answer

minnie101

4 years ago

I love your idea of Morris wallpaper, I really like some of the (modern) pure collection which looks great with wood and other textures. I would pick a couple of walls for paper and then a light neutral elsewhere. I would keep the treads and risers as wood, only painting newel post, rail etc although I think it could look really good just revarnished. You could look for good quality artificial plants? I think I would paint the back of the bricked up window and use for display (or alternatively have it removed). You could use multi outlet ceiling roses to add to the light and maybe a mirror somewhere? Maybe a sisal runner or something with texture?

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Comments (20)

Alice E
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Ellie
4 years ago
I think you should embrace the dark and go to the dark side.... paint walls dark
Alice E thanked Ellie
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Thanks :) and that’s the sort of thing I’ve been considering. For example I could make the pattern of frames and mounts part of the display by having them uniform and choosing images that are almost monochrome. There are lots of sky or sea scapes or portraits to choose from that are almost monochrome. The other thought was to buy a large size print and cut down to use just a portion of it so it’s “disguised” and just being used for its light and dark contrasts. But there are so many images that are really amazing that I wonder if a should just pick one for each of the walls. ?? Will let the thoughts percolate for a while I think. And when I fo something will post back. At one point I was thinking of trying to make my own Japanese Enso symbol. Part of its significance is practise making the drawer of it better I believe. Sometimes they draw it with a big calligraphy brush and I saw on a tv program a Japanese artist using a brush that was as big as a mop!
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Alice E
Original Author
4 years ago
I am tempted.... Just worried it would be too dark. Maybe iI should embrace it! It always feels cold and miserable in there.
PRO
Design By Kurys
4 years ago
Hi Alice, you have a lovely hall and stair. You have two options here. A darker colour could definitely work and would enhance the lovely wooden balustrades that you have. Farrow & Ball Downpipe would be great, would add depth and warmth. I would also suggest sanding the stairs and painting them with Farrow & Ball Elephants Breath then laying a beautiful herringbone flat weave stair runner to provide texture and interest. The overall design would lift and expand the space whilst retaining the original character. The other option is to paint the balustrades white which would lift and brighten the space. Some wallpaper would work too,

the illusion of space.
Alice E
Original Author
4 years ago
I really love the idea of a runner like that and painting the stairs, iI think illI'll have to paint them a dark colour as we have 3 little cats who get very very muddy!! Im thinking either dark walls or dark painted stairs, need to get some testers. I love wallpaper, especially eWilliam morris style prints. We have a wierd alcove that need to do something with too.
Marylee H
4 years ago
Hi. Your stone slabs are fab! I would order a Color Muse from Amazon and measure their colour. It will give you how light/dark they are, how much chroma they have, (colourful or near neutral) & to which Hue family they belong. (Probably Yellow or Red-Yellow). Knowing those attributes makes it much easier to find coordinating colours which go beyond the usual suspects,,

I think you might find a darker near neutral more warm & welcoming. I would make use of a big mirror, a console table and lamp. Perhaps also some potted greenery to soften off the hard surfaces.

Your hallway has fabulous structure! It’s not going to take much to give it a lift.
Marylee H
4 years ago
Near neutrals from the Yellow Hue Family,,,
Marylee H
4 years ago
Near neutrals from the Yellow-Red Hue Family,,,
Alice E
Original Author
4 years ago
Thankyou Marylee, I didn’t know such I thing existed! Yes the stones are definitely yellow hue family of colours. I think we’ve decided to paint the stairs, woodwork, doorways and the walls. Just to decide on the colours now. Probably dark stairs and near neutral walls... I think we definitely need to sort out the lighting, two wall lights just doesn’t cut it!

unfortunately there are no plugs in the hallway, we may put one in if it’s not a big faff. Sadly plants are a no go, our cats just destroy them/toss the soil around!!
Patrina
4 years ago
Are the doors original to the home? My initial thinking after painting and lighting is possibly installing a door or two that lets light in from one of the rooms that has windows? Not in keeping with the style of your home but a possible solution.
Alice E thanked Patrina
Victoria
4 years ago
What about a sunpipe to add extra natural light?
Alice E thanked Victoria
Alice E
Original Author
4 years ago
Sadly there is already a sun pipe on the top landing, it Does not make much difference due to roof shape. (v shape) We could add another on another bitbut which may help

The doors are not orginal but match through out the house so not keen to change them really. I think window doors would add extra light though. Hmmm...
Sonia
4 years ago
I had to chuckle Alice, your rug initially looked like stairs going down to a cellar to me and I though how dangerous is that? Doh! Anyway, back to your hall and stairs. I think painting them a mix of white and dark wood looks very elegant. I love the caramel shade in the first pic below for the walls, and the darker grey wall going up the stairs packs a punch, but that hall looks quite bright so maybe not ideal for yours.
Alice E thanked Sonia
Alice E
Original Author
4 years ago
Haha! I can see what you mean about the rug! Luckily no danger stairs, although a cellar would be handy! So many good ideas, itsit's hard to choose. I like the white and wood combo. We will be having a runner on the stairs for sure, and iI think that would go. I think we need lots of tester pots!
Emmanuelle
4 years ago
Love love love the William Morris ideas above! Be aware that anything painted very dark, such as railing from F&B, shows the dust very quickly! And a stair rail / banisters are not easy too clean! I personally love your stairs as they are... but would paint everything else - ie: doors, frames, skirting... with a chalky off warm white and also add some William Morris wallpaper. Would be stunning!
Alice E thanked Emmanuelle
Alice E
Original Author
4 years ago
I love love love those wallpaper designs minnie, thankyou. So much to consider, I don't want anything that will show grub and we are a muddy household!! I think a runner is a must and new rugs, with a mirror and possibly bench or console table if it fits. Yes we are going to re board the hole and put shelving in for books and display stuff probably. Thanks for all the ideas.
minnie101
4 years ago
I remember when the modern WM collection came out and thought they were stunning. I can't really see upstairs walls properly as to suitability for wallpaper but the one to the left of the stairs on the ground floor would look great. You could consider applying decorators varnish (polyvine) over the top to protect the paper from getting dirty? Test a piece first though. Also choose a scrubbable paint for the other walls, something like Little Greene intelligent eggshell is great (although the slight sheen will show up any plaster Imperfections but it will also bounce a little light). I like the rugs although do see Sonia's point re the ground floor one 😂 Great idea for books/display. Just thinking as you're decorating anyway you could install downlights and keep the pendants rather than run other lights off it? I'm not a huge downlights fan but they do serve a purpose! Maybe run them off a separate switch to the pendants?
Alice E thanked minnie101
Alice E
Original Author
4 years ago
Thankyou. Luckily my dads an electrical engineer so going to chat to him about what his possible about the lights. I think downlights will give us the lights we need, although I’m not a massive fan of them either really. Going to get some tester pots over the weekend and see what we come up with. I think we need different colour rugs to give it a bit of warmth, the current ones, sort of blend in!
Alice E
Original Author
4 years ago
Just an update - after lots of testing, we’ve gone for neutral silk walls to bounce a bit of light as other colours just didnt work. We’ve started to sand the stairs, but undecided on the final finish. We’ve also removed the wooden panels on the wall and discovered electrics for a light fitting! Next job is to decide on stair runner and the wall lights I think!