Your hallway is the journey, not the destination (which is a nice way of saying it’s often a forgotten room).
Granted, we don’t all have nice wide hallways with architectural details and natural lighting to work with, but that doesn’t mean you can’t express yourself!
For a little eye candy, I’ve included one of my favorite hallway pictures from Martha Stewart’s FLOR collection. [pause for a little sigh].
Ok, back to reality. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking differently about your hallways:
Detail: If your hallway is boring, why not create architectural interest by adding wainscoting or bead board and crown molding?
Color: Paint is probably the quickest way to update a hall. Paint the wall a light neutral and the ceiling and the wall at the end of the hall a slightly darker hue.
Flooring: Add a colorful floor runner or two to add personality.
Lighting: add attractive ceiling fixtures and/or wall sconces. If you’ve got the height, look for some dramatic hanging pendant lights.
Functionality: Improve efficiency by placing a rectangular basket along with wall with one or two wall shelves above it. Makes a great holding pen for things that go elsewhere! Then weekly, just re-distribute the wayward items, and start all over again! A bookcase with baskets could work well too.
Personalize:
Create a family tree wall album, by hanging a series of photos connected by a distinct feature: black and white photos, size, type of frame, etc. Don’t get hung up on everything matching exactly!
Have a quote that’s near and dear to your heart? Why not scribe it along the top of the hallway wall and around the corner? Acrylic lettering is easy and inexpensive, and looks hand painted!
Art gallery – white walls with colorful artwork, highlighted with frame lights or track lighting. Have little artists in the home? Create a space to display their latest creations, using clips mounted on wood panels.
What has been your biggest challenging when decorating a hallway? What other ideas can you think of?
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1. Susan,
I really enjoyed the info on hallways. My hallway to bedrooms and bath is quite narrow. I have painted it a vibrant color, called “Reddish” amd the woodwork and molding are white. At the end of the hallway, my husband installled a niche for me. It has really made a difference and added a needed detail. I can put flowers there or change it out for some of my favorite pieces. An inexpensive way to make a change.
by Sherrie — 2/19/09 at 12:57 pm #
2. Hi Sherrie,
Your hallway sounds very cool! And it’s great to have a unique space to display decorative accents!
Thanks for commenting!
Susan
by Susan — 2/19/09 at 4:34 pm #
3. hi,
my hall is a dark space with poor lighting. i have dark wood trim that i want to try and keep, the ceiling is 8ft, skinny and a off white wool blend carpet. i wanted to go a strong red ceiling with a light bone walls. will this close the hall in too much, i dont mind out-there colours any ideas? what will work with the wood trim and wood doors? cheers Trev.
by Trev — 2/23/09 at 7:41 pm #
4. Hi Trev,
Very cool that you want to play with color! I recommend using two shades of the same color – lighter on the walls and slightly darker on the ceiling. Blues and aquas might work well with natural woodwork – inspired by nature. Adding better lighting will certainly up the drama factor as well. And for accessories…since it’s a narrow space, how about one large piece of artwork with an art light hung over top? Just my two cents!
Let me know what you decide – it sounds like a fun project!
Susan
by Susan — 2/24/09 at 10:32 am #
5. dilemma, child’s tiny fingerprints. i do love them though.
love framed collections on walls of halls.
by pve design — 2/26/09 at 6:08 am #
6. Hi Pve – yes, cute little fingerprints are a budding artists favorite medium it seems!
by Susan — 2/26/09 at 10:30 am #
7. I purchased a Hall Runner for my home at the Home Good Store on
Staten Island – I trying to find out if by chance you have another
one available in this style
Dept. #17
Style 506715
Milan
RN #81537
I also purchased a foyer rug in that same pattern and a smaller one
for the foyer I am trying to located some that might have the hall runner.
I would appreciate if you could let me know if you have one that I
might be able to come to the store and purchase.
any assistance you can give me would be greatly appreicated
by Ann — 4/30/09 at 1:18 pm #
8. Hi Ann,
Thanks for submitting a comment to Openhouse, the HomeGoods blog.
We understand that you have been trying to locate a hall runner. As an off price retailer, we make every effort to keep our prices low, and our costs down, so that we can pass these savings on to our customers. For this reason, we do not provide a service of tracking merchandise, In addition, we do not have the privilege of ordering specific merchandise from our vendors. To locate the hall runner, we suggest that you continue to check with the stores in your area directly. We would be happy to provide you with store locations in your area. If you would like a store list, please call our Customer Service Department directly at 1-800-888-0776.
Thank you,
Jessica
HomeGoods Customer Service
by HomeGoods Customer Service — 4/30/09 at 2:54 pm #
9. Home Goods Gods,
Please, please consider a Home Goods store in The Villages,Florida. We are a retirement area with alot of spending power. Check us out! We have been able to lure a lot of big stores to our town of 80,000.
by Linda — 6/4/09 at 11:19 am #
10. Hi Linda,
Although HomeGoods has no plans for a new store in The Villages, FL at this time, please be assured that we have passed your comments on to our Real Estate Department.
Thank you
Jessica
HomeGoods Customer Service
by HomeGoods Customer Service — 6/5/09 at 10:44 am #
11. I first would like to say how terribly I miss visiting all the stand alone Homegoods stores in Massachusetts; especially in Framingham, Newton, and Milford. I live here in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and there is no comparison shopping whatsoever to your stores in Massachusetts. I would like to know, will we ever here in this area of Virginia get a stand alone Homegoods?
I had not seen a real Homegoods in five years until I went to the Maryland area, and I was like a kid in a candy store. That particular store is well over 200 miles from my home here in VA. I’ve talked about the Homegoods from the Massachusetts area so much to the people here, I wish they could experience buying all the wonderful things I purchased when I lived in Framingham six years ago. Will we ever get a store like the one in Framingham, Milford or Newton? We need something better than the TJMaxx & More in Virginia Beach, VA; it really isn’t the same as a stand alone store.
I visit your store (TJMaxx & More in VA. Beach) weekly in hopes of stumbling upon something spectactular. Please send the people here something better, you will not be disappointed.
The only thing that I miss about Massachusetts was the wonderful shopping at all the TJMaxx’s, Marshalls and Homegoods stores that I could frequent in a matter of minutes apart. For all of you lucky people in Massachusetts who have this luxury to visit all those wonderful stores there; be very glad.
Send Hampton Roads Virgnia something more with much more VARIETY like you have up in MA. I understand your headquarters is there, but the people here would like for you to spread all the wonderful buys like you have there.
Thanks you
by Angelia — 6/5/09 at 9:37 pm #
12. Hello,
Philadelphia, Center City (or very near) definitely needs a Home Goods store. There is Ikea, Target, Lowe’s, etc. near the waterfront area. A Home Goods would be fabulous. Probably not enough space in the Rittenhouse area. That would be perect. Many of us do not like Malls.
by virginia — 6/12/09 at 11:55 am #
13. Hi Virginia,
Although HomeGoods has no plans to open a new store in the Philadelphia area at this time, please be assured that we have passed your comments onto our Real Estate Department for their attention.
Thank you,
Jessica
HomeGoods Customer Service
by HomeGoods Customer Service — 6/12/09 at 3:47 pm #
14. I am thinking about redecorating my mom’s long, narrow hallway. She decided to try something new and it didnt turn out like she wanted and pretty much gave up, so at this time she has navy blue on the bottom and light blue on the top with white chair rail. I think it looks too much like a little boys room. I know she went with the navy blue because of dirt from kids and dogs. I have an idea of what I want to do with the walls after they are painted, I am just stuck on which way to go when it comes to color. Any ideas?
by Loren — 7/31/09 at 4:17 am #
15. What about going with a beadboard at the bottom below the chair rail, then a dove gray above? That would be a neutral enough backgroud to support just about any decor ideas you might have.
by susan — 8/3/09 at 2:06 pm #
16. Great ideas! I like the beadboard idea but i know she definitely wants to keep the navy on the bottom. I actually picked up a few color samples that were more in the gray family. I think thats what I am going to go with but I would still like to hear more ideas if anyone has any. Thanks!
by Loren — 8/9/09 at 2:22 am #
17. These are some great ideas. I’ve been thinking about my little hallway for quite some time. It’s narrow and dark, but if you turn on the overhead light it’s too bright. Some photos and a small knick knack shelf would look great… and maybe a runner.
by Petula — 10/13/09 at 4:24 pm #
18. Hi Petula (beautiful name, btw),
How about updating the lighting or the bulb wattage? A runner might make it feel more narrow – do you have wood, tile or carpet floors? Also, using larger artwork rather than small items will help make it feel more spacious.
Susan
by Susan — 10/14/09 at 12:09 pm #
19. Hello and thank you for your inspiration…
I have a narrow entry way which immediatly leads upstairs to the main level~so uninviting!! Any thoughts how i can warm this up??
Stumped beyond belief,
kerri
by Kerri-Ann — 12/30/09 at 10:22 pm #
20. Hi Kerri-Ann,
Since you probably cannot move walls, your best bet is to direct the eye elsewhere upon entrance. If there is a wall to either side that can provide traditional entry-way purposes, you can add a simple bench with some cubbies under it. But if not, add a dramatic painting that catches your eye!
Here’s another angle…why not paint your stairs? Check out the last few pics in my recent blog post at http://www.yourhomeonlybetter.com. You could really have some fun with this!
Let me know what you do!
Susan
by Susan — 12/31/09 at 10:57 am #
21. We have long hallways that is much like in a hotel that has condo, thaqt go off hallway the hallway is 5′8″ 4 condo per hallway much traffic Please give m some ideal on how to update them
by Marie — 1/19/10 at 11:10 pm #
22. I never received a reply on my question.
Marie
by Marie — 2/21/10 at 8:53 pm #
23. Oh, sorry Marie! Been a craaaazy month! Since there is a lot of traffic, durability should be priority. What is the existing flooring? For walls, you’d be best off with something like navy on the bottom half, then lighter/brighter on the top half so it doesn’t feel closed in. What lighting do you have? If the ceilings are tall enough, some hanging pendants might give it some extra style.
by Susan — 2/24/10 at 8:09 am #