Issue 6: Small Hallway Changes that make a big Impact

Hallways have always been an overlooked part of the home. They are usually dark spaces full of shoes discarded jackets and other random objects. It is not really seen as a room but merely a place to enter and exit the home. I truly believe that hallways are a lost opportunity to bake a big impact in your home. No matter the size of the space, there are always some small upgrades you can make to give your hallway the personality and unique touch that it deserves. Below I will share my tips for breathing some life back into your hallway and how to make it a true reflection of you and your home.

Artwork

Hallways are the perfect places to go bold. It is the first step into your home and a chance to make a huge impact and Artwork is a really great place to start. The image to the right is courtesy of Lisa Dawson and her use of a gallery wall to make the most impact when you first arrive into the home. Mixing and matching frame colours and sizes really makes the gallery wall stand put.

Storage

Storage is always severely lacking in hallways, especially easily accessible storage. I really love this Ikea Hemnes storage unit hack by hanashappyhome , It is a beautiful take on what you can do with the unit with a little imagination. It is both practical and stylish with a narrow silhouette ( 24cm ) which makes it ideal for small spaces. Link to the Hemnes unit here

Mirrors

Hallways by nature are dark spaces lacking natural light. I love to add mirrors to my designs as they not only open up the space visually, but they reflect the small amount of natural light in the space thus making it more bright and airy. When looking for a mirror, try to find the biggest mirror that fits both into your budget and your space. If the mirror is too small on a large wall, it looks awkward and unbalanced. The general rule when looking for a mirror is that the mirror should be about two-thirds to three-quarters of the size of the furniture below it.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting is so important is all parts of the home, hallway included. Normally hallways have a pendent light near the entrance which leaves the rest of the hallway dark or there is recessed lighting in the ceiling, but I believe that ambient lighting is really important when the overhead lights are not in use and also to create a welcoming atmosphere. There is nothing worse than arriving home to a dark house. I like to use lamps where I can as they are versatile and provide ambient light. Two of my favourite ways to add ambient lighting to a hallway is either by table lamp or by wall sconce.

Seating

This is not always possible, but if you do have the space, i would suggest adding a small bench. The addition of a bench not only upgrades the space and looks beautiful, but provides a place to put on and remove shoes too. The bench to the left is from Cox & Cox.