Easy Ways to Make Your Hallways Look Bigger and Brighter
The hallway is probably the most important area of our home, but it seems to be the room that gets left to suit itself. So how to make your hallway appear bigger without undergoing any major renovations?
"It's the first space to greet you each time you walk through the door, and it's also the first glimpse guests get of your home," houzz.co.uk editor Victoria Harrison tells the Express.
Hallways can be a difficult space to organise, but think about their main purpose. What is a hallway supposed to do?
It's the place that welcomes us in after a long day at work. It's a place to store our coats and boots, and a place to take them off as we come in. This is how a hallway can become messy, cluttered and, let's be honest, a bit of a dumping ground. It can be so easy to close a door and forget about the mess in there.
Your hallway should be a reflection of the rest of your house. What can your guest expect from the rest of the house, based on the hallway?
This guide is for those who get a bit stuck in a rut with their hallway. It answers queries such as how to make your hallway appear bigger and lighter and how to make it more inviting.
How to make a hallway look bigger
Keep it neutral
It's best to keep a small hallway light with neutral colours. Any small room won't normally take a bold colour unless there's a large window to balance out the light. If you love colour, it can be introduced through artwork, flowers, decorative ornaments or rugs. Neutral never means boring.
See this hallway: it has white walls, but the unit, pictures and rug by the front door really help to make the space feel cosy. It doesn't feel bare.
The hallway is probably the most walked-through area of the house, so a hard-wearing, eggshell paint is a great option as it is easy to remove any scuffs from people always coming and going.
High mirror shine
This tip is also good for a dark hallway, as mirrors reflect light. But more importantly, mirrors amplify the space around you. You could add a large statement mirror for major impact. It also means us ladies' can check our appearance right before we leave (we're all guilty of it).
Turn your coats and shoes into accessories
If your hallway is small, avoid chunky cabinets and shoe storage with doors and large handles. These will make the space feel smaller. Instead, choose shelving. The openness of it means the unit will look smaller than it actually is, especially if you can see the wall through the back of the shelving unit.
See this unit from Garden Trading. The unit doesn't look too bulky. You'll just have to try and keep your shoes tidy all the time!
Add hooks above instead of shelving to hang your coats and scarves on.
Invest in a runner
Runners are an amazingly cheap way of making your hallway appear bigger. They draw your eye right down the length of the room, making it feel longer. This also works up the stairs too. Putting one up the stairs will almost feel as though your hallway has doubled in size. Suddenly, the hallway includes the stairs.
Though this picture doesn't use a runner, your eye is drawn down to the back wall of the hallway because of the lights. If you look at where the back wall meets the floor, it's actually a relatively small hallway.
You could use this idea on a more minor, less psychedelic scale by adding small LED spotlights along your floor.
Add some beautiful botanicals
Botanical prints and plants are everywhere in people's homes this season. If you have a windowsill or ledge in your hallway, add a plant to it. Think about whether you want one that trails down a piece of furniture, or a taller plant to add height to the room.
How to make a dark hallway lighter
So you're thinking how to make your hallway appear bigger. The amount of light that is let in can make a big difference. A dark room will always look smaller. Hallways are dark because there is a wall separating all the rooms off. If you live in a semi-detached, it might also mean that there is no window there either. This can make the hallway a very dark and dingy space. So here are some simple tips to help you lighten your hallway, thereby making it seem larger.
Consider a new front door
Front doors can be pricey, but if your current door has one small stained glass window, it might be worth investing in something that lets more light in. One that's all glass will look ultra modern, and will make your hallway feel much bigger.
Paint your balustrade white
If your current balustrade is a mid- or dark wood, it might be worth painting it white for a much lighter, airier feel. It will also soften the look of the stairs to make your hallway feel larger.
…or go all glass
An all-glass balustrade can look stunning. The light will flow straight through it so you'll think you haven't even got stairs. The slats in this staircase give the appearance of a wall, whilst still letting lots of light up the stairs.
Borrow light from somewhere else
Hallways often have no windows, and a wall with lots of doors. It might be a good idea to buy some new glass doors, or doors with glass panels. This means if your living room gets flooded with light for most of the day, the glass will let some of this through to the hallway.
So there's your guide on how to make your hallway appear bigger. I hope it can help someone transform their space.
Do you have any hints or tips you'd add to the list?
This post contains an affiliate link, which means I may get a small commission for any purchases you make by clicking through from my post.
Source: https://www.dreamofhome.co.uk/2017/08/05/how-to-make-your-hallway-appear-bigger-and-lighter/
0 Response to "Easy Ways to Make Your Hallways Look Bigger and Brighter"
Post a Comment