10 Tips to Create the Perfect Country Home Hallway
Give yourself and your guests a warm reception with these ideas for designing a gorgeous way in to your country home
Jamie Hempsall
28 October 2016
Country hallways have to work hard – they’re the first place you arrive with your wellies and coats after a muddy walk and should provide an inviting entrance for you and any guests who’ve come to visit. Follow these tips to ensure your country home offers a warm welcome.
Greet guests with somewhere to sit
Where space allows, include either a comfortable chair or a small sofa to let any visitor quickly make themselves at home.
It’s also an immediate offer of hospitality to anyone who’s having to change footwear as they come in from a bracing country stroll.
Where space allows, include either a comfortable chair or a small sofa to let any visitor quickly make themselves at home.
It’s also an immediate offer of hospitality to anyone who’s having to change footwear as they come in from a bracing country stroll.
Slip in some shoe storage
Keep your household in order by including shoe storage for everyone directly by the front door. You could either opt for a storage bench seat with a lift-up lid, or buy some storage baskets like the ones here. They can be put on shelves or popped beneath a console.
A handy tip is to allocate children their own basket to avoid last-minute pre-school scrambles!
A low bench seat also provides people with somewhere easy to sit down to put on shoes. By organising your hallway storage, you’ll ensure it’s always well-dressed and ready for action.
Keep your household in order by including shoe storage for everyone directly by the front door. You could either opt for a storage bench seat with a lift-up lid, or buy some storage baskets like the ones here. They can be put on shelves or popped beneath a console.
A handy tip is to allocate children their own basket to avoid last-minute pre-school scrambles!
A low bench seat also provides people with somewhere easy to sit down to put on shoes. By organising your hallway storage, you’ll ensure it’s always well-dressed and ready for action.
Use light to your advantage…
Make your guests feel at home by greeting them with plenty of illumination. Choose a feature light to make a real impact.
Lighting can also signpost where they should walk to reach other areas in your home. The lamp here provides an instant warm glow, while a pendant like this one – especially if paired with another, positioned further along – will signal the way along the hallway.
Browse more photos of country-style hallways
Make your guests feel at home by greeting them with plenty of illumination. Choose a feature light to make a real impact.
Lighting can also signpost where they should walk to reach other areas in your home. The lamp here provides an instant warm glow, while a pendant like this one – especially if paired with another, positioned further along – will signal the way along the hallway.
Browse more photos of country-style hallways
…But don’t be afraid of the dark
If your hallway doesn’t benefit from natural light, embrace the dark and play to its strengths. Dark tones and discreet lighting, as well as soft furnishings and accessories, will create a cosy entrance to your home.
Dark wall tones react with the available natural light to provide contrasting light and shaded areas that vary throughout the day, adding interest and depth.
Here, a contemporary blue-grey paint acts as a calming backdrop to the natural cool tones in the wood console and the grey of the plant pot.
If your hallway doesn’t benefit from natural light, embrace the dark and play to its strengths. Dark tones and discreet lighting, as well as soft furnishings and accessories, will create a cosy entrance to your home.
Dark wall tones react with the available natural light to provide contrasting light and shaded areas that vary throughout the day, adding interest and depth.
Here, a contemporary blue-grey paint acts as a calming backdrop to the natural cool tones in the wood console and the grey of the plant pot.
Set the tone with natural flooring
Wood and tiles are highly practical for coping with wet and muddy footwear. The clean, natural feel of this wooden floor is warm and comforting. It provides an ideal transition area from the outside to the interior.
Well-maintained wooden flooring can last a lifetime, so it’s definitely worth investing in a good-quality product and ensuring you oil it regularly.
Wood and tiles are highly practical for coping with wet and muddy footwear. The clean, natural feel of this wooden floor is warm and comforting. It provides an ideal transition area from the outside to the interior.
Well-maintained wooden flooring can last a lifetime, so it’s definitely worth investing in a good-quality product and ensuring you oil it regularly.
Include a classic console
Most of us like to offload our keys, coins and post when we enter the hallway and a console table is the perfect solution. Choosing one with drawers will also ensure the space remains clutter-free.
Use the surface to create a welcoming entrance by dressing it with ornaments and plants. It would also be useful to hang a mirror over it for guests who might want to check their appearance as they enter and exit your home.
Most of us like to offload our keys, coins and post when we enter the hallway and a console table is the perfect solution. Choosing one with drawers will also ensure the space remains clutter-free.
Use the surface to create a welcoming entrance by dressing it with ornaments and plants. It would also be useful to hang a mirror over it for guests who might want to check their appearance as they enter and exit your home.
Make a feature of a fireplace
If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace in your hallway, don’t be tempted to remove it to free up space. Instead, embrace it as a key feature.
To ensure your visitors have plenty of room, avoid too many accessories and ironwork. Here, they’ve kept the space streamlined by installing a wood-burning stove and placing a simple basket of logs nearby. Use the mantelpiece as a spot to put ornaments, artwork and extra lighting.
If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace in your hallway, don’t be tempted to remove it to free up space. Instead, embrace it as a key feature.
To ensure your visitors have plenty of room, avoid too many accessories and ironwork. Here, they’ve kept the space streamlined by installing a wood-burning stove and placing a simple basket of logs nearby. Use the mantelpiece as a spot to put ornaments, artwork and extra lighting.
Ensure a warm reception
Nothing truly says “welcome” like a well-warmed space. However, a large radiator can dominate your design and take up valuable wall space. Solve this problem by hiding it behind a cover, which will disguise it and also act as a useful display surface.
Discover radiators that look stylish, too
Nothing truly says “welcome” like a well-warmed space. However, a large radiator can dominate your design and take up valuable wall space. Solve this problem by hiding it behind a cover, which will disguise it and also act as a useful display surface.
Discover radiators that look stylish, too
Embrace the space
A spacious hallway is rare, so if you have one, revel in it. Position an interesting feature at the furthest end of the room that will draw your eye towards it the moment you look in from the front door.
This grand hallway has been given a warm and welcoming feel with rugs and soft, traditional curtains. At the far end is a floral arrangement, which provides a focal point in the large space.
A spacious hallway is rare, so if you have one, revel in it. Position an interesting feature at the furthest end of the room that will draw your eye towards it the moment you look in from the front door.
This grand hallway has been given a warm and welcoming feel with rugs and soft, traditional curtains. At the far end is a floral arrangement, which provides a focal point in the large space.
Dress with drapes
Many country houses have a long hallway with windows running down the side. If you have a space like this, keep the area light and airy by opting for simple, classic window dressings. Make sure you reflect the dimensions of the building without overpowering the area or blocking out the light.
What do you think of these country hallway ideas? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Many country houses have a long hallway with windows running down the side. If you have a space like this, keep the area light and airy by opting for simple, classic window dressings. Make sure you reflect the dimensions of the building without overpowering the area or blocking out the light.
What do you think of these country hallway ideas? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Hi Jamie, that's exactly what we have done - one huge mirror, and one tall, round but narrow set of shelves for the 'bits n bobs' and the ubiquitous coat stand.
Perfect!