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12 Simple Ways to Transform a Dull Entrance
Be sure to give your guests the best possible first impression with these simple ideas for updating your hall
The hallway provides the perfect opportunity to both welcome someone into your home and give you that instant ‘happy-to-be-home’ feel when you return after a long and busy day. The good news is that there are simple additions you can add (quickly and cheaply) to transform a currently forgettable space.
Before you get started, try looking at your hallway with a fresh pair of eyes and imagine you’re seeing it for the first time. What are the first things you notice? What do you use the space for? What does this space say about you and your lifestyle? The answer to these questions will help you decide what to add and what to remove.
In the meantime, try these inspirational ideas on for size.
Before you get started, try looking at your hallway with a fresh pair of eyes and imagine you’re seeing it for the first time. What are the first things you notice? What do you use the space for? What does this space say about you and your lifestyle? The answer to these questions will help you decide what to add and what to remove.
In the meantime, try these inspirational ideas on for size.
Go for a table and chair
What’s better than a table to fling your handbag on at the end of a day? A chair to sit on as you put your shoes on at the beginning of it. Extra marks for choosing a table that has room to tuck the chair underneath.
When choosing your table and chair, choose pieces that reflect the interior style of your home. My favourite motto is that your home should tell your story and be filled with the things you love. I recommend having a common thread running throughout your home, be it through colour, pattern, shape or interior style. This helps tie everything together, creating a finished and polished look.
What’s better than a table to fling your handbag on at the end of a day? A chair to sit on as you put your shoes on at the beginning of it. Extra marks for choosing a table that has room to tuck the chair underneath.
When choosing your table and chair, choose pieces that reflect the interior style of your home. My favourite motto is that your home should tell your story and be filled with the things you love. I recommend having a common thread running throughout your home, be it through colour, pattern, shape or interior style. This helps tie everything together, creating a finished and polished look.
Colour is a great thread to start with as it’s relatively easy to introduce into the hallway. And by changing the colour, you can dramatically change the impact or effect you’re wanting to achieve. You can introduce colour through small accessories, furniture such as a stool tucked under a table or through fresh floral arrangements. This fun and functional set-up sets a sunny tone for the rest of the home.
Install a low table that doubles as a chair
A clever and space-saving addition is handy seating that can also be home to handbags, full-to-the-brim grocery bags and anything else you throw on it. Think about the stages of life that you and your family are in. A seating area is great for smaller children to put their shoes on, or for other members to take a load off and sit down. Have a pile of shoes that are taking up precious room in the cupboards? Tuck them under the bench.
Check out ways to channel the ‘good taste’ trend
A clever and space-saving addition is handy seating that can also be home to handbags, full-to-the-brim grocery bags and anything else you throw on it. Think about the stages of life that you and your family are in. A seating area is great for smaller children to put their shoes on, or for other members to take a load off and sit down. Have a pile of shoes that are taking up precious room in the cupboards? Tuck them under the bench.
Check out ways to channel the ‘good taste’ trend
Collect cushions
If you have the space to add a dedicated seating area, pretty up your perch with colourful cushions. Soft furnishings such as these will give you a comfortable place to perch to catch your breath before venturing on in either direction.
Cushions are also another great way to introduce colour into your hallway, or tie together your home’s overall design scheme with a particular print or pattern.
If you have the space to add a dedicated seating area, pretty up your perch with colourful cushions. Soft furnishings such as these will give you a comfortable place to perch to catch your breath before venturing on in either direction.
Cushions are also another great way to introduce colour into your hallway, or tie together your home’s overall design scheme with a particular print or pattern.
Put in plants
A lush plant is another simple way to bring a boring hallway space to life with freshness and colour. There are so many variations with plants – not to mentions their pots – that you’re sure to find something that suits your space and sets the desired tone. For instance, this industrial entrance with a fairly monochrome palette could easily be overwhelmed by colourful flowers or fussy foliage. By using a vibrant green fiddle leaf plant in a charcoal pot, the designers have introduced a vivid splash of life and colour that’s just enough to add interest to the space.
Also consider the height of the plant you want to add to your hallway, as this will have a considerable impact on the space. For instance, the tall plant in this hall plays a part in connecting it to the rest of the home; it encourages the eye to look upwards to the mezzanine level, and up the stairs.
A lush plant is another simple way to bring a boring hallway space to life with freshness and colour. There are so many variations with plants – not to mentions their pots – that you’re sure to find something that suits your space and sets the desired tone. For instance, this industrial entrance with a fairly monochrome palette could easily be overwhelmed by colourful flowers or fussy foliage. By using a vibrant green fiddle leaf plant in a charcoal pot, the designers have introduced a vivid splash of life and colour that’s just enough to add interest to the space.
Also consider the height of the plant you want to add to your hallway, as this will have a considerable impact on the space. For instance, the tall plant in this hall plays a part in connecting it to the rest of the home; it encourages the eye to look upwards to the mezzanine level, and up the stairs.
Throw in a basket
A decorative basket, whether it’s set in a corner or under an existing table, adds a casual country or seaside appeal while also acting as additional storage. Use it as a home for scarves and jumpers in winter, or for sandals and towels in summer. The style of the basket in this home also ties in with the hats hung on the wall opposite, announcing the style of the home from the start.
A decorative basket, whether it’s set in a corner or under an existing table, adds a casual country or seaside appeal while also acting as additional storage. Use it as a home for scarves and jumpers in winter, or for sandals and towels in summer. The style of the basket in this home also ties in with the hats hung on the wall opposite, announcing the style of the home from the start.
Remember a mirror
The mirror in this space helps to reflect light and makes the space look slightly larger, but it’s also a great piece to have in a hallway as it’s always nice to grab a quick look to check hair and make-up or tie before rushing out the door.
The mirror in this space helps to reflect light and makes the space look slightly larger, but it’s also a great piece to have in a hallway as it’s always nice to grab a quick look to check hair and make-up or tie before rushing out the door.
I love this idea of a floor-length mirror with a glass table and stool placed in front. A multi-purpose area has been created to set down keys, lay out the day’s shoes and bag in advance, and touch up your make-up, if the bathroom is otherwise occupied. Style it with a vase of fresh flowers, a scented candle with an inviting fragrance and any accessories you may need when coming in and out of the house.
Opt for a pretty-yet-practical vignette
Accessorise and style with products you will actually use or need. A great one is a tray or a dish to store those keys you always misplace, and that lipstick you want to take with you. Every once in a while declutter this area, as it’s prone to becoming a dumping ground.
Accessorise and style with products you will actually use or need. A great one is a tray or a dish to store those keys you always misplace, and that lipstick you want to take with you. Every once in a while declutter this area, as it’s prone to becoming a dumping ground.
Add in a coat rack
The humble coat rack or row of hooks can be one of the best things to consider if you don’t already have one. This is a smart, functional addition that keeps things neat and out of the way. It also saves time, as you won’t have to go into your wardrobe every time you come home or go to leave, or be tempted to chuck your jacket on the sofa!
Check out storage ideas for small space living
The humble coat rack or row of hooks can be one of the best things to consider if you don’t already have one. This is a smart, functional addition that keeps things neat and out of the way. It also saves time, as you won’t have to go into your wardrobe every time you come home or go to leave, or be tempted to chuck your jacket on the sofa!
Check out storage ideas for small space living
If you don’t have the wall area, or are renting, consider a freestanding coat rack.
Install a runner
A great way to welcome people and draw the eye into the space is rolling out a runner. Hall runners are great because they help to dress the space, providing a soft landing underfoot. They also protect your floor, inject colour if you need it and couldn’t be easier to add.
A great way to welcome people and draw the eye into the space is rolling out a runner. Hall runners are great because they help to dress the space, providing a soft landing underfoot. They also protect your floor, inject colour if you need it and couldn’t be easier to add.
Mix in some artwork
Sometimes all you need is a gorgeous piece of artwork when you walk through the door. Let the artwork speak for itself and create a welcoming feel to the hallway. What first impression would you like to make? Let the artwork indicate this and it will guide the rest of your styling choices throughout your home.
Sometimes all you need is a gorgeous piece of artwork when you walk through the door. Let the artwork speak for itself and create a welcoming feel to the hallway. What first impression would you like to make? Let the artwork indicate this and it will guide the rest of your styling choices throughout your home.
Leave it clear
So you’ve opened the front door and you are imagining you’re seeing the space for the first time. Is there too much clutter and ‘stuff’ blocking the hallway? Does it smell nice? What things are currently in the hallway that needn’t be there?
Grab a box or basket and a bin and remove the things that don’t belong by either throwing them out, donating them to charity, putting them where they belong or selling them on a local classified site such as Gumtree.
Style tip To keep the space smelling nice, wipe over the door handles and door frames with a natural scent, such as orange oil or eucalyptus. That way, whenever you arrive home or friends come to visit, you’re all greeted with a pleasant smell.
TELL US…
How have you made your hallway look beautiful? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
So you’ve opened the front door and you are imagining you’re seeing the space for the first time. Is there too much clutter and ‘stuff’ blocking the hallway? Does it smell nice? What things are currently in the hallway that needn’t be there?
Grab a box or basket and a bin and remove the things that don’t belong by either throwing them out, donating them to charity, putting them where they belong or selling them on a local classified site such as Gumtree.
Style tip To keep the space smelling nice, wipe over the door handles and door frames with a natural scent, such as orange oil or eucalyptus. That way, whenever you arrive home or friends come to visit, you’re all greeted with a pleasant smell.
TELL US…
How have you made your hallway look beautiful? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
An obvious and functional first choice for a hallway is to add a table on which to prop floral arrangements, lamps… and your keys, handbag and things you generally want to set down as soon as you enter your home. If you have the space, choose a table that packs in storage. Look for consoles with drawers and, big bonus, cubby space underneath to stash shoes, stowaway stools and maybe even more storage baskets.
Short on space? Round tables work well as they have softer edges than square and fit more easily into awkward spots. Console tables, meanwhile, have the benefit of being narrow, so they don’t take up too much space. Experiment with heights, too.