LESLEY TAYLOR tells you how to make your hallway shine FIRST IMPRESSIONS
WHEN it comes to interiors I always tend to think of the hallway as the area that sets the tone for people’s perception for the rest of your home. I guess it is a bit like the starter in a restaurant, if that leaves a good impression, you’re really keen to move on and experience the main course!
Let’s be fair though, the hallway is most probably one of the hardest working areas in your home. Subject to bumps and scrapes as we drag in our luggage after our two weeks away, it has to cope with muddy rugby and hockey boots, the dog eagerly scratching at the doorway to welcome you home and all manner of other practical things. So let’s put the aesthetic things to one side for a moment and talk function!
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
A HARDWEARING floor is a must in a hallway. Porcelain tiles come in a huge range of styles these days and as they require no maintenance, they are the perfect solution for a busy family hall. Traditional styles with borders are ideal to add a period style to your interior, whilst wood effect tiles can give you anything from a country to contemporary feel.
Walls can really take a bashing in a hallway, so decorate using hardworking finishes. In older properties, use matt finished paints that won’t highlight the inevitable lumps and bumps you get in old walls. Elite emulsion from Zoffany is the perfect option, it is really matt, yet hardwearing and wipeable. If your preference is wallpaper, go for a vinyl coated or solid vinyl paper as it will be far more resilient.
When thinking of the decoration of your hallway, decide if there is a small area under the stairs or a little wall that might be put to good use. Could your hall offer an ideal location for a console table that can also work as an occasional desk? Can the space be utilised to offer good and organised storage? Think about the things your family needs and might be lacking and consider if some of it can be accommodated within the hall if its redesigned.
NOW LET’S TALK DESIGN!
AS I mentioned earlier, the hallway is a great place to introduce your family’s personality and style to your home and there are so many current styles you can choose from.
Why not add a little ‘Boho’ atmosphere with a wood effect floor, lots of hanging plants and even patterned tiles on the riser of your stairs? This is a really relaxed and charismatic interior style, slightly retro and a little eclectic.
Go ‘New traditional’ with a patterned tiled floor, a runner on the stairs and simple painted walls.
Traditional styling always looks good in older houses, but it can also add a touch of nostalgia to more modern properties. In more contemporary style architecture however, stick to traditional style furniture and accessories and don’t add architectural style detailing like dado rails and decorative coving if they are not in keeping with the style of the property.
Give the room a ‘Skandi Vibe’ with natural finishes, simple rugs and stylish mid-century modern furniture. Simple and stylish, this is an easy to live with interior style that works in both traditional and contemporary style properties.