Hallways are tricky: you don't spend a lot of time in them, yet they set the mood for the whole house. I am overhauling my hall this summer and have included some suggestions you might consider if you want to spruce yours up, too.
1. Front Door
OK, let's be honest, this isn't technically part of the hallway, but the good vibes from your home should start from the moment you put the key in the front door. Plus, once the door is wide open, it becomes part of the overall look.
Pick a colour you really like as it represents your style to the big world outside. I went with a dusky colour called Sulking Room Pink from Farrow & Ball. I love it so much that I painted the whole door and frame in this shade, which made the entrance seem larger than it is.
The first coat looked a little dreary, but the second coat calmed my fears. A good reminder to keep the faith through DIY projects.
I love big, bold colours, like a strong orange door paired with dark window frames, but the most important thing is to pick a shade that - as Marie Condo might say - sparks joy.
2. Knockers
Once you've chosen your colour, be sure to add some accessories. I love foxes, so I picked a gorgeous fox knocker for the door of our first house. When we moved house, we took it with us as it was very sentimental.
Little touches with knockers, doorbells, letterboxes and doormats can add an extra oomph to any door. My friend got her door number painted on the glass above the door and it really stands out.
3. Hall Colour
Pick a colour for how you want to feel when you leave the house and when you come home.
If you seek to create an oasis of calm when they step foot in the door, opt for sleek whites or calming neutral shades. If colour affects your mood, pick bright shades of yellows and pinks.
If you're not sure what mood to opt for, perhaps you could consider the bones of your home. Older builds take bold colours really well. Consider bright blues, reds and mustard tones to reflect the character of the building.
We moved last year, and I decided to paint the hall white with a tone of grey before painting the doorframes and doors black. We went with Farrow & Ball copies, and the light and darkness were a great combination.
I also went through a phase in the last house of painting the inside of the door a different colour so there would be a colour pop as you came down the stairs. If you are brave, then don't forget about all the lovely ranges of wallpaper you can get. My favourites include Sanderson and House of Hackney.
4. Flooring
For me, full carpet is a no-no in the hall but that might be my PTSD from a childhood of being lined up to see whose footprints caused the marks on the floor.
I personally love tiles and wood. Our hallway is dark wood, and it's a wreck, but the wood is good quality so I really can't justify the cost of tiles or the sheer waste of covering up the boards.
I am currently watching YouTube videos and investing in safety goggles in the hopes of learning to sand it myself. I want the bare wood look with no stain on it. Hire Here have great tutorials online and you can rent a sander anywhere from €35 upwards. Watch this space to see how mine turns out!
I am also a fan of people painting their floorboards and love the chequered painted tile look. A simple runner rug in the hall is also great for adding a feeling of warmth as it creates a nice layering of different materials.
5. Storage
I hate nothing more than opening the door to an obstacle course of school bags, lunch boxes, and welly boots. I also have a bugbear about jackets being hung on the banister. Hooks, hooks and more hooks are the answer here - I found some lovely wooden ones from H&M Home.
Hooks should preferably be placed at the side of the opening of the door so coats are not the first thing you see in the house. Be sure to pack out-of-season coats and jackets away in wardrobes or the attic.
I have a small basket for gloves and hats and a big one for shoes and boots. Sostrene Grene, Dunnes and Penneys all have affordable options. There are lovely benches out there that have storage underneath. I've seen some in Dunnes, IKEA and JYSK.
When I did a house swap in Copenhagen, they had a peg board with the odd coat hung up (very styled) and then two shelves at the bottom for the shoes. The exact same one is pictured above. It was really simple, and you could definitely do it yourself.
A little box for keys is useful too and if space is short add a little shelf above the radiator instead of a hall table.
6. Pictures
I like to put family pictures on the wall in the hall and, strange as it sounds, it's a really good conversation starter. I like to keep the shade of the frames uniform so all mine are black. My plan is to keep adding to it as the years go on.
7. Lighting
The world is your oyster here. I don't like a really bright hall and tend to use the lamp on the wall instead of the ceiling light as it creates a cosy feel. This is the polar opposite to my mother who used to hate a dark hallway because she felt it made a house seem cold.
No matter your taste, just be sure your equipment is all in check. For example, if you have spotlights, make sure they work and aren't half hanging out of the socket.
I love the Danish brand Hay design and they have lovely wall lights in a range of colours. Our wall light is an old one from IKEA which is like an optician's test sheet. It's quirky and I love it.
Made.com have a nice one that has a little shelf on it too. You can also add a bit of fun with colourful light switches.
8. Mirrors
I think most halls benefit from having a mirror. A large mirror at the end of a corridor can make a hallway seem so much bigger. However, a mirror will also make any messiness look twice as bad so try to keep clutter to a minimum.
I have seen a lovely small hallway covered in mirrors from wall to ceiling, like a mirrored box, and it had a real wow impact as you came in the door. For me, I am happy with my round mirror from Pieces.com, pictured above.
9. Stairs
In my last house, it was a gorgeous light blue colour and I loved seeing them as I came in the door. Kids came along and I got scared every time they fell, so I bit the bullet and put carpet down. We got a plain wool runner with black tape on the sides but you can be as inventive and colourful as you like. Check out jewellery designers Chupi's gold staircase (which she did herself) for inspiration.
If money was no object, I'd pick a Roger Oates patterned runner. The variety they have in stock is amazing and they are apparently made to really stand the test of time. I have also seen people hire carpet fitters to install beautiful runner rugs.
10. Draughts
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
You know you are old when you talk about draughts and how cold the place is. Cover keyholes and buy rubber seals to block the breeze from getting in. I like how people are also bringing back the use of a door curtain. My friend has a gorgeous mustard one and against the dark walls it adds a real pop of luxury. Many charity shops get given curtains and check out Adverts.ie too.
11. Bonus: A Micro Room
Tight on space? Why not put a small desk under the stairs if space permits? I love when little nooks like these can have another use. I have a very small table with a drawer from Ikea and it does the job. The key is to have a small chair, so it doesn't take over the space. Add a little peg board to put your bits and bobs.
