Give Your Corridors and Hallway a Modern Update
Are you guilty of ignoring the hallway and corridors in your home? Show them some love with these stylish tips for making an entrance
Often the most neglected spaces in the home, entrance halls should really stand to attention and make a strong statement. After all, they are the first thing anyone sees when they step through the front door. Corridors and connecting spaces can be equally left out, but all these areas benefit from a contemporary makeover. Think strong lines, smooth forms, minimal accessories and clean colours to give these incidental and frequently overlooked areas a strong identity of their own.
Build simple storage
Often, hallways and corridors are narrow areas and any furniture positioned in them can really eat into the space. One solution is to get bespoke furniture built in. You can design it so that it does not clutter the space or prevent it from functioning well, but will squeeze some use out of a typically redundant area. Here, hanging bold artwork above these built-in bookcases takes the focus up to the walls, making the shelving seem even less obtrusive.
Often, hallways and corridors are narrow areas and any furniture positioned in them can really eat into the space. One solution is to get bespoke furniture built in. You can design it so that it does not clutter the space or prevent it from functioning well, but will squeeze some use out of a typically redundant area. Here, hanging bold artwork above these built-in bookcases takes the focus up to the walls, making the shelving seem even less obtrusive.
Paint it black
A monochrome scheme allows the lines and shapes within a space to take centre stage and, combined with the right furniture or accessories, creates instant impact in an entrance. This contemporary hallway has layers of dramatic black, from the polished floor to the painted walls and ceilings, but two light sources and splashes of fresh white help it feel striking, but not gloomy.
A monochrome scheme allows the lines and shapes within a space to take centre stage and, combined with the right furniture or accessories, creates instant impact in an entrance. This contemporary hallway has layers of dramatic black, from the polished floor to the painted walls and ceilings, but two light sources and splashes of fresh white help it feel striking, but not gloomy.
Install statement lighting
A statement light will turn an incidental space into somewhere with its own strong style. The stairs and landing in this house are lit by ceiling spots, which provide plenty of strong, practical light, but it is the statement pendant light in the stairwell that creates the impact, while softly lighting the wall of reclaimed wood.
A statement light will turn an incidental space into somewhere with its own strong style. The stairs and landing in this house are lit by ceiling spots, which provide plenty of strong, practical light, but it is the statement pendant light in the stairwell that creates the impact, while softly lighting the wall of reclaimed wood.
Hang colourful frames
Add some easy, fun personality to your corridor walls with a collection of photographs and pictures in an array of frames. Pick up inexpensive picture frames at large homeware stores in a mix of sizes, shapes and colours, or choose them in untreated wood and paint them yourself.
Add some easy, fun personality to your corridor walls with a collection of photographs and pictures in an array of frames. Pick up inexpensive picture frames at large homeware stores in a mix of sizes, shapes and colours, or choose them in untreated wood and paint them yourself.
Go minimal
This space is minimalism at its best. Statement furniture is used to punctuate the white walls in this expansive hallway while a colourful wall installation adds interest, without disrupting the serene vibe.
This space is minimalism at its best. Statement furniture is used to punctuate the white walls in this expansive hallway while a colourful wall installation adds interest, without disrupting the serene vibe.
Be daring
If your front door is glass panelled and allows plenty of natural light in, you can afford to be more experimental with colour in your entrance. Combine a dark feature wall with white elsewhere and high skirting boards, for a crisp, contemporary look.
If your front door is glass panelled and allows plenty of natural light in, you can afford to be more experimental with colour in your entrance. Combine a dark feature wall with white elsewhere and high skirting boards, for a crisp, contemporary look.
Redesign the flooring
Exaggerate the long, clean lines of an entrance or corridor with sleek flooring. A runner effect looks chic, creating strong lines of perspective, but you don’t have to use an actual woven design. Instead, lay wooden or tiled flooring in two tones, to create that strip effect. In a large hallway, you might also like to lay a rug at the central point, to add interest and gently break up the lines.
Exaggerate the long, clean lines of an entrance or corridor with sleek flooring. A runner effect looks chic, creating strong lines of perspective, but you don’t have to use an actual woven design. Instead, lay wooden or tiled flooring in two tones, to create that strip effect. In a large hallway, you might also like to lay a rug at the central point, to add interest and gently break up the lines.
Vibrant, large-scale artwork is a great option for a hallway. It is a space not typically home to furniture, so there is nothing to distract from the art on the walls. Feel free to mix media, too, hanging enlarged photos alongside contemporary works for an exciting gallery feel. Place an image at the end of the hallway, too, to draw the eye towards it and lead you through the space.