how to make a grand entrance

David Harris, design director, Andrew Martin

Your hallway should give guests an insight

into who you are. Choose colours that show off your favourite art, textiles or photographs.

Choose a finish that’s tough,

and easy to wipe clean and touch up. Hallways are busy thoroughfares, so need to be practical.

Colour blocking is a good way to add colour

to a hall. For example, use a different colour above and below dado and picture rails and cornicing, or add blocks of colour to the underside of stairs.

Dark colours under the dado rail

combined with fresh white woodwork and light colours above work well to hide any scuffs and marks. This effect also adds lots of light to what can be a narrow space.

In a small hallway,

paint the ceiling the same colour as the walls. This draws the eye upwards and creates a feeling of space.

by keeping original features – or adding them if you don’t have them. (andrewmartin.co.uk)

Make a feature of the ceiling