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These Are the Elements You Need for the Perfect Hallway
Design a hall that looks good and works hard for its keep by considering these key pieces
We expect a lot from a modern hallway – a warm welcome when we arrive home, and plenty of storage for our coats, shoes and other outdoor items.
But with careful thought and cunning design, you can plan a space that’s both inviting and organised, even if your hallway is tiny.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
But with careful thought and cunning design, you can plan a space that’s both inviting and organised, even if your hallway is tiny.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Hit the dirt
When planning the flooring in a modern hallway, think about dirt management. Aim to remove as much grit and grime from the street as possible before it reaches the main rooms of your home.
A recessed mat well just inside the front door is a good idea and forms your first line of defence. Coir matting slotted into the well will remove a surprising amount of dirt each week.
Go for floorboards or tiles, both of which will cope with heavy footfall. You could also lay a runner on the main body of the hall floor to provide good backup, picking up the remaining dirt loosened at the mat inside the door.
When planning the flooring in a modern hallway, think about dirt management. Aim to remove as much grit and grime from the street as possible before it reaches the main rooms of your home.
A recessed mat well just inside the front door is a good idea and forms your first line of defence. Coir matting slotted into the well will remove a surprising amount of dirt each week.
Go for floorboards or tiles, both of which will cope with heavy footfall. You could also lay a runner on the main body of the hall floor to provide good backup, picking up the remaining dirt loosened at the mat inside the door.
Key in a console
Creating a home for your keys that’s convenient but out of reach of intruders will make mornings easier. And no hall is too narrow for a slim console, perhaps mounted on the wall, as here, where space is especially tight.
This is the perfect place to fling your keys and to create a warm welcome with candles and flowers. Hang a large mirror overhead to reflect light, as well as to check your appearance as you leave home.
Creating a home for your keys that’s convenient but out of reach of intruders will make mornings easier. And no hall is too narrow for a slim console, perhaps mounted on the wall, as here, where space is especially tight.
This is the perfect place to fling your keys and to create a warm welcome with candles and flowers. Hang a large mirror overhead to reflect light, as well as to check your appearance as you leave home.
Relish your radiator
Treat your hall to a radiator that not only adds warmth, but pleases the eye. A cover can conceal an ugly model, but if you want to get as much heat as possible, it’s worth investing in a feature radiator.
A modern version of the traditional column design will add character, and you can tailor the number of columns to fit the space.
Treat your hall to a radiator that not only adds warmth, but pleases the eye. A cover can conceal an ugly model, but if you want to get as much heat as possible, it’s worth investing in a feature radiator.
A modern version of the traditional column design will add character, and you can tailor the number of columns to fit the space.
Slim down your storage
There are a lot of things we need to store in our hallways, from hats and shoes to brollies and bags. Carefully planned, slim storage can house myriad items surprisingly well, all cunningly concealed behind unobtrusive doors, as here.
When thinking about small hallway ideas, if fitting a cupboard isn’t possible, consider creating your own ‘wonder wall’, with hooks for coats, racks for shoes and tubs for scarves and gloves.
Want to design something similar? Find joiners and carpenters in your area
There are a lot of things we need to store in our hallways, from hats and shoes to brollies and bags. Carefully planned, slim storage can house myriad items surprisingly well, all cunningly concealed behind unobtrusive doors, as here.
When thinking about small hallway ideas, if fitting a cupboard isn’t possible, consider creating your own ‘wonder wall’, with hooks for coats, racks for shoes and tubs for scarves and gloves.
Want to design something similar? Find joiners and carpenters in your area
Lower your hooks
Our longest coats average no more than 120cm in length, so try hanging hooks lower down to maximise storage and minimise chaos at eye level.
Combine the hooks with a slim shelf for keys and post, and a feature mirror hung above it for instant style.
Find lots of handy hallway storage in the Houzz Shop
Our longest coats average no more than 120cm in length, so try hanging hooks lower down to maximise storage and minimise chaos at eye level.
Combine the hooks with a slim shelf for keys and post, and a feature mirror hung above it for instant style.
Find lots of handy hallway storage in the Houzz Shop
Sit and store
There’s something truly welcoming about a seat in a hall. It’s an instant invitation to rest and makes putting on and taking off shoes so much easier.
A depth of just 40cm will suffice for a built-in bench. Add drawers beneath for useful and accessible storage.
There’s something truly welcoming about a seat in a hall. It’s an instant invitation to rest and makes putting on and taking off shoes so much easier.
A depth of just 40cm will suffice for a built-in bench. Add drawers beneath for useful and accessible storage.
Aim for art
Art will complete any room, with the placing of the piece as important as the subject.
Use artworks to resolve any issues your hall may have. A long, thin space will be relieved by regularly spaced images hung at eye level; a dark hall will be brightened by pictures that include a lot of white, while large pieces will add drama to the smallest of halls.
Tell us…
Have you used any of these design ideas in your own hallway? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Art will complete any room, with the placing of the piece as important as the subject.
Use artworks to resolve any issues your hall may have. A long, thin space will be relieved by regularly spaced images hung at eye level; a dark hall will be brightened by pictures that include a lot of white, while large pieces will add drama to the smallest of halls.
Tell us…
Have you used any of these design ideas in your own hallway? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Nothing says “welcome home” more than a front door you love. For a natural feel, go for a timber design and paint the outside a signature colour. Choose a white paint for the inside to reflect the light.
A glazed area will allow natural light in, but opt for opal or stained glass to maintain privacy.