More Rooms
Renovating
How to Futureproof Your Hallway and Landings
Consider these stylish ideas to give your key circulation zones design longevity
“Hallways and landings are vital circulation spaces that ensure safe and comfortable movement throughout the home,” architect Thomas Mullally says. “As architects, we keep all of this in mind with our design process. As mobility may decrease with age, these areas need to be designed to minimise obstacles and hazards, promoting ease of use in daily life.”
We’re not talking ugly institutional additions that would ruin the aesthetic of your stylish home: when ideas are incorporated from the outset of a renovation, you have the power to streamline them aesthetically. From thoughtful bespoke joinery to careful flooring choices and flexible lighting, there are lots of simple ideas you could consider incorporating into your renovation now in order to ensure your house is fit for living long into the future.
Also in this series: How to Futureproof Your Kitchen I How to Futureproof Your Living Room I How to Futureproof Your Bathroom l How to Futureproof Your Bedroom
Professional advice from: Thomas Mullally of Mullally Architecture and Design; Eva Byrne of houseology; Josephine Lecoufle-Vinet of JLV Designs
We’re not talking ugly institutional additions that would ruin the aesthetic of your stylish home: when ideas are incorporated from the outset of a renovation, you have the power to streamline them aesthetically. From thoughtful bespoke joinery to careful flooring choices and flexible lighting, there are lots of simple ideas you could consider incorporating into your renovation now in order to ensure your house is fit for living long into the future.
Also in this series: How to Futureproof Your Kitchen I How to Futureproof Your Living Room I How to Futureproof Your Bathroom l How to Futureproof Your Bedroom
Professional advice from: Thomas Mullally of Mullally Architecture and Design; Eva Byrne of houseology; Josephine Lecoufle-Vinet of JLV Designs
Design to ease memory-loss
A frustrating side-effect of ageing for many can be having a less reliable memory.
Josephine Lecoufle-Vinet suggests creating a designated area for keys and bags, so they’re always where expected and easy to find. A hall console is a simple, retrofittable solution that can be useful to this end – something with a small tray or box on top where keys are reliably plonked. A narrow, non-blocking piece of furniture with a drawer or space for storage boxes can also work well if you’d rather tuck things away.
Eva suggests also keeping manuals for all your appliances and heating systems and so on, as well as the details of reliable service providers such as plumbers and electricians, and loved-ones or neighbours, written down in case of emergency: a hall drawer or basket is perfect for this.
Something sturdy and solid will also double as a useful thing to lean on now and then.
The hallway in this home has the added bonus of labelled hooks where keys can be hung – proof that such a practical idea can also look stylish.
A frustrating side-effect of ageing for many can be having a less reliable memory.
Josephine Lecoufle-Vinet suggests creating a designated area for keys and bags, so they’re always where expected and easy to find. A hall console is a simple, retrofittable solution that can be useful to this end – something with a small tray or box on top where keys are reliably plonked. A narrow, non-blocking piece of furniture with a drawer or space for storage boxes can also work well if you’d rather tuck things away.
Eva suggests also keeping manuals for all your appliances and heating systems and so on, as well as the details of reliable service providers such as plumbers and electricians, and loved-ones or neighbours, written down in case of emergency: a hall drawer or basket is perfect for this.
Something sturdy and solid will also double as a useful thing to lean on now and then.
The hallway in this home has the added bonus of labelled hooks where keys can be hung – proof that such a practical idea can also look stylish.
Make sure there’s enough light
Proper lighting is crucial in corridors. “Ensuring individuals can see where they’re walking will help to prevent accidents,” Josephine says. Thomas agrees, suggesting lighting should be bright and even. In this hallway, of course, there is the huge benefit of roof windows, but there are also multiple wall lights for after dark.
Having dimmable lights, either via wired-in fittings and switches or through retrofittable smart bulbs, means you have the option of full lighting over something more atmospheric if needs be. When it comes to light switches and sockets, Thomas advises positioning them at accessible heights.
In its guide to adapting your home for later life, Age UK advises: you could consider installing motion-sensor lights that come on when you enter a room or get out of bed, so you don’t have to find a light switch in the dark. Or you could get touch lamps that come on when you touch the base.
Find and hire a local interior designer or architect through Houzz.
Proper lighting is crucial in corridors. “Ensuring individuals can see where they’re walking will help to prevent accidents,” Josephine says. Thomas agrees, suggesting lighting should be bright and even. In this hallway, of course, there is the huge benefit of roof windows, but there are also multiple wall lights for after dark.
Having dimmable lights, either via wired-in fittings and switches or through retrofittable smart bulbs, means you have the option of full lighting over something more atmospheric if needs be. When it comes to light switches and sockets, Thomas advises positioning them at accessible heights.
In its guide to adapting your home for later life, Age UK advises: you could consider installing motion-sensor lights that come on when you enter a room or get out of bed, so you don’t have to find a light switch in the dark. Or you could get touch lamps that come on when you touch the base.
Find and hire a local interior designer or architect through Houzz.
Be ready with rails
“Place a handrail on both sides of the stairs to allow easy passage both up and down,” Eva says. This is a small detail, but one that can be lacking in designs where older age, infirmity or people with health conditions or impairments are not factored in.
Here, this part of the staircase does not butt up to a wall and it has been designed to be closed rather than open on one side. It shows how clean and contemporary the idea can look. Note how the lower staircase also has a second handrail, in matching pale wood, fixed to the wall.
“Place a handrail on both sides of the stairs to allow easy passage both up and down,” Eva says. This is a small detail, but one that can be lacking in designs where older age, infirmity or people with health conditions or impairments are not factored in.
Here, this part of the staircase does not butt up to a wall and it has been designed to be closed rather than open on one side. It shows how clean and contemporary the idea can look. Note how the lower staircase also has a second handrail, in matching pale wood, fixed to the wall.
Don’t scrimp on storage
“Incorporate built-in storage to reduce clutter and keep pathways clear,” Thomas says. Don’t think only of trip hazards; also allow for easy and safe circulation.
This tidy hallway with its variety of storage options is a great example of how to cater for a mixed household. The tall cupboard at the end could conceal a buggy or a mobility aid and could also house a charging point for the latter (though, for an electric wheelchair, you would need a cupboard to be flush to the floor in order to be able to wheel equipment straight in).
More: 8 Clever Ideas for Designing a Hallway Cupboard
“Incorporate built-in storage to reduce clutter and keep pathways clear,” Thomas says. Don’t think only of trip hazards; also allow for easy and safe circulation.
This tidy hallway with its variety of storage options is a great example of how to cater for a mixed household. The tall cupboard at the end could conceal a buggy or a mobility aid and could also house a charging point for the latter (though, for an electric wheelchair, you would need a cupboard to be flush to the floor in order to be able to wheel equipment straight in).
More: 8 Clever Ideas for Designing a Hallway Cupboard
The experts also suggest focusing on:
Shoe storage “Opt for high storage solutions for shoes to prevent elderly individuals from having to bend down to retrieve their belongings,” Josephine says. A pull-out drawer like this could work well. (Ensure it opens with minimal effort.)
A nearby bench or chair would be handy for getting shoes on and off in comfort.
Shoe storage “Opt for high storage solutions for shoes to prevent elderly individuals from having to bend down to retrieve their belongings,” Josephine says. A pull-out drawer like this could work well. (Ensure it opens with minimal effort.)
A nearby bench or chair would be handy for getting shoes on and off in comfort.
Coat storage “Allow for coat hooks at 120cm from the floor,” Eva says. “This height accommodates most coats (hung from the collar, not the hood) and leaves space for artwork or a mirror overhead at eye level.”
You could also take inspiration from this hallway, which features two tiers of coat and accessory hooks, potentially catering for householders at different stages in life.
You could also take inspiration from this hallway, which features two tiers of coat and accessory hooks, potentially catering for householders at different stages in life.
Open up
“Ensure hallways are wide enough for wheelchairs or mobility aids, with smooth transitions and minimal sharp turns,” Thomas says. “And avoid steps where possible or provide ramps.”
Corridors in many homes may be on the narrow side, which puts all the more emphasis on designing for minimal clutter and unobtrusive storage – like the handleless, floor-to-ceiling cupboards here. You can also consider potentially using otherwise dead space under the stairs, as seen in the earlier example of shoe storage.
In its adapting your home guide, Age UK suggests: although it’s a major alteration, you might want to think about removing a wall or extending your house or flat to make extra space. This could allow you to move around more easily or have all your essentials on one floor.
“Ensure hallways are wide enough for wheelchairs or mobility aids, with smooth transitions and minimal sharp turns,” Thomas says. “And avoid steps where possible or provide ramps.”
Corridors in many homes may be on the narrow side, which puts all the more emphasis on designing for minimal clutter and unobtrusive storage – like the handleless, floor-to-ceiling cupboards here. You can also consider potentially using otherwise dead space under the stairs, as seen in the earlier example of shoe storage.
In its adapting your home guide, Age UK suggests: although it’s a major alteration, you might want to think about removing a wall or extending your house or flat to make extra space. This could allow you to move around more easily or have all your essentials on one floor.
Add downstairs facilities
A bit of an aside to hallways and landings, but very much connected, is a downstairs cloakroom. A loo on the ground floor will reduce journeys up and down the stairs. “Plan for at least a downstairs toilet, with a shower as a bonus,” Eva says. Often, there may be space to add a shower if there’s plumbing in place for a washbasin.
Even if you never need to use it, an extra shower room should only boost the value of your home and may well come in handy for guests.
More: How to Turn Your Understairs Area into a Cloakroom
Tell us...
Which of these points do you think is the most important – or what would you add? Let us know in the Comments.
A bit of an aside to hallways and landings, but very much connected, is a downstairs cloakroom. A loo on the ground floor will reduce journeys up and down the stairs. “Plan for at least a downstairs toilet, with a shower as a bonus,” Eva says. Often, there may be space to add a shower if there’s plumbing in place for a washbasin.
Even if you never need to use it, an extra shower room should only boost the value of your home and may well come in handy for guests.
More: How to Turn Your Understairs Area into a Cloakroom
Tell us...
Which of these points do you think is the most important – or what would you add? Let us know in the Comments.
Sponsored
Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore
A level floor with good grip is something the professionals agree is key. “Avoid steps where possible or provide ramps, and use non-slip, even flooring to enhance safety,” Thomas Mullally says.
If you have a hard floor and are considering a rug, proceed with caution, as rugs are so easy to stumble over. If you feel it’s safe to include one, Eva Byrne advises adding a non-slip underlay. Rugs, though, are also easily removable should needs shift, so may be a good option if you’re thinking ahead.
This full-hall integrated doormat is eminently practical, being fitted so as to avoid being a trip hazard. It’s also flat (ensure the floor below is perfectly level to achieve this). Note how the intersection of this and the floorboards is flush. The surface is also soft, reducing the risk of injury in case of a fall.