WHAT ABOUT PANELLING?
through your home. ‘If you have hits of teal in a few rooms, the hallway could be the place to go full throttle with teal,’ he says. Jenna advises painting doors and skirting the same colour, which Paul echoes. ‘Your choice of paint and furniture should create a seamless flow from kitchen to living room and so on,’ he says.
NARROW HALLWAYS CAN FEEL CORRIDOR-LIKE – HOW CAN I AVOID THIS?
‘You can never go wrong with a few mirrors for making a narrow space feel expansive,’ says Wil. ‘Swap a console for a floating shelf – all the benefits of a table, but with a slim frame that keeps the floor clutterfree,’ says Jenna. ‘And be bold and paint the ceiling in a contrasting colour; this leads the eye up and showcases the hallway’s length.’
HOW DO I BRING IN LIGHT?
‘Try replacing solid doors with glazed ones,’ says Jenna. ‘There are subtle ways that you can boost a hallway’s sense of light,’ advises Wil. ‘Try a wallpaper with a sheen, or gloss paintwork on walls instead of light-sapping matt.’
WHAT ARE THE BEST LIGHTING OPTIONS?
‘Overhead lighting works really well in hallways for putting on shoes and coats,’ says Wil. ‘Make a splash with the ceiling light – again, you can go big and decorative, as this is not an area you linger in.’ Jenna says, ‘Swap spots for pendants, or go for wall lights, positioned above head height to avoid head-on collisions.’
WHICH COLOURS WORK WELL IN HALLWAYS?
‘Be guided by the natural light. If the area is quite dark, it’s often best to go deep and dramatic to make a moody, colour-drenched space; if you have a light-flooded hallway, go bright to create an uplifting, energising feel,’ says Wil.
ANY TIPS FOR WALLPAPER?
‘Look at what the hallway connects to,’ says Wil. ‘If it’s an open staircase, you may have a huge expanse of wall that could cost a fortune to paper. Here, you could introduce wallpaper in different ways – in the understairs cupboard or the panels of built-in storage.’ Jenna advises using wallpaper above a dado or
Hallways are practical spaces foremost, but they’re also the first area that
” welcomes guests into your home PAUL DECKLAND, BUYING DIRECTOR, THE COTSWOLD COMPANY
panelling: ‘This gives the illusion of height to your walls and ceiling.’ ‘It adds character and depth,’ says Jenna, ‘but I’d advise continuing it through into other areas, especially to reflect an older property with features such as ornate mouldings.’ Wil agrees: ‘You wouldn’t want a grand panelled hallway leading into a 1950s living room with mid-century influences.’
AND PAINT FINISHES?
‘High-traffic areas are at risk of scuffs and wear and tear, so opt for gloss or wipeable paint instead of matt,’ says Jenna. ‘It doesn’t have to cover the whole hallway; pay close attention to the lower half of the space where children, shoes and bags often come into contact.’
WHAT IS A PRACTICAL CHOICE FOR FLOORING?
‘The flooring could be the start of the surface that flows into other rooms,’ says Wil. ‘Engineered wood and luxury vinyl tile are good options. As hallways tend to be slim and relatively small, you could go for bold tiles, such as a chequerboard, that uplift you as you arrive home.’ Jenna adds: ‘If you’re in a flat where noise control is a priority, jute and seagrass are durable and stylish.’
SHOULD THE DECOR FLOW TO THE STAIRS/LANDING?
‘There is often little break from downstairs to up, so flow the décor upwards,’ says Wil. ‘A bold colour on the door frames and skirting that runs from the hallway to the landing can look really smart. Alternatively, create a contained statement in the hallway by painting blocks of colour behind artwork or painted shapes in the entrance space.’
HALLWAYS CAN BECOME DUMPING GROUNDS – HOW DO I TACKLE STORAGE?
‘What you choose depends on how much space you have and how