As is the room you walk into when you get home from work, and the room that greets your guests, the hallway should ideally be a welcoming, bright room. However, often, entrance halls can be very small narrow, lacking a window or very dark.
However, there are plenty of ways you can maximise the light in your hallway, and hopefully create the illusion of more space to boot too.
Reflect the light
One of the easiest ways to bring light into your room is to reflect the light. Large mirrors are the obvious option, bouncing the light around the room and creating the look of more open space. In a long hallway, you may even find a couple of mirrors the way to go. Perhaps one mirror above a gorgeous Luxe Kensington industrial console table and another floor-length mirror at the end of the hall.
Brighten your hallway features
The doorway may be the only source of light in some hallways. If you have a wooden door, why not paint the inside of your door white to maximise the light you are bringing in.
You can also opt for a lighter bannister. If you have an open balustrade, you may find that keeping the wood lighter, or even opting for a glass handrail a good option.
Be careful with colour
Dark rooms often leave us feeling a little cautious about using colour, instead opting for pale shades which bring light but don't make much of an impact. However, it doesn't have to be the way.
Of course, it may not be the best option to paint your entire hallway navy or dark purple. But careful injections of colour with your accents can make a fantastic statement. Radiator covers are popular in home decor at the moment, so how about choosing a radiator colour in a vibrant shade to make an impact. Artwork and even a large bookshelf with lots of gorgeous books organised in colour order will create a chic finish and add a talking point to your entrance hall too.
When it comes to floor coverings, lighter wood and tiling are a great idea. This will create the illusion of a bigger room, especially if you use the same flooring in any rooms off the hallway to create flow.
If you have a slightly larger space, don't be afraid to add interest on the floor too with patterned rugs. The stripes of this green rug are absolutely wonderful for elongating the room and complimenting any industrial pieces too. Alternatively, the bold pattern of the Louis De Poortere Atlantic Ocean Blue Waves Rug will really make a design statement the moment your guests step into your home.
And what about furniture?
Many of us may be tempted to go for light furniture, to bring as much light into your space as possible. However, you may find that very light furniture like white looks grey in a darker hallway. Instead, it is a good idea to save white for anywhere with bright daylight. Instead, opt for a slim design with an open base.
You will often find that industrial furniture is a great option for a dark room as the more modern designs are often slimmer and metal accents are flattering in smaller spaces. Our Maddox Reclaimed Elm Console Table is perfect with the open base and stainless steel finish on the legs. If you are looking for something with storage, the ultra slim Industrial Lansdowne Reclaimed Wood Console Table may be the way to go.
Have you got any great tips for making a dark hallway look brighter? Let us know.
