Hallway Horrors: Decor Mistakes To Avoid In Your Hallway

Hallways are overlooked spaces within homes. We spend a lot of time moving through them, but are never in them for long periods. That being said, they are important spaces. The hallway is often the first part of your interior that guests see, helping to create vital first impressions. It’s also the first room that you are greeted by whenever you return home. 

Therefore, it’s vital to consider the look and function of this room. There are a few common mistakes that people make that can make this room ugly and impractical. This post delves into some of those mistakes – and what you should do instead. 

Neglecting shoe storage

The hallway is usually where shoes are stored. However, not everyone has an organized system. In fact, many people settle for a pile of shoes – which can look unsightly, make locating shoes hard and potentially serve as a trip hazard.

Shoe racks are one of the most reliable forms of shoe storage. Find a rack that is large enough to fit all your shoes, while keeping enough space for guests. Don’t allow yourself to hoard shoes – periodically go through your shoes and get rid of any pairs that are heavily damaged or haven’t been worn for ages. 

Choosing light carpets

Even if you implement a strict shoes-off policy whenever people enter, you could find it hard to keep a light carpet in a hallway clean. It could be particularly challenging if you have kids or pets – there will inevitably be times when kids or dogs run in after a walk in the rain, treading mud everywhere. 

Being a high-traffic area that connects the outside of your home, it makes sense to choose an easy-to-clean flooring surface option or a darker carpet that will hide most dirt. Easy-to-clean options typically include laminated wood or tile. Flooring contractors will be able to help you install this flooring. 

Opting for matte paint

When considering paints to use on your hallway walls, it’s best to avoid matte paint. This type of paint is notoriously hard to clean – and hallways are the rooms most susceptible to scuff marks from jackets and bags.

Gloss paints provide a smooth surface that is much easier to clean. This makes these paints a much better choice in a hallway. You can compare these paints online.   .

Settling for a single overhead light

A single overhead light is often not enough to illuminate a hallway. This is particularly the case with large foyers with vaulted ceilings or long corridors. 

Track lighting or multi-arm lights could be a better lighting solution for these spaces. Alternatively, you can install recessed lights across the ceiling. For times when you don’t want an intense overhead light (such as when coming home at night when everyone is asleep), a floor standing lamp in the corner or a table lamp by the door can be good solutions. 

Not letting in natural light

Some hallways don’t have any windows and they can be very gloomy spaces. Even with plenty of artificial light to compensate, such hallways can fail to feel inviting. By letting in some natural light, you could fix this. 

There are many different ways to let sunlight into a hallway. Start by considering your front door – a door with frosted or distorted glass panels in it could help let in light, while maintaining privacy. Alternatively, you can install windows around your front door. Sidelights are a name for windows installed next to doors, while transom windows are the name for windows installed above doors. You could even consider installing a skylight in the ceiling above your stairs to allow light to pour in from above. Hire a professional window installation company to help you design and install these windows. 

Avoiding color

A lot of people paint their hallway white to help brighten this space. However, a lack of color can sometimes leave a hallway feeling more like a clinic lobby than a home.

Pops of color can add a comforting warmth to your hallway. Even if you prefer to keep the walls white, consider adding a colorful front door or painting the hallway ceiling a vibrant color. 

Preserving popcorn ceilings

Popcorn ceilings became very popular in hallways between the 50s and the 80s. However, they have greatly lost their appeal over the years. They are difficult to clean and their many dimples can create shadows, making a room feel gloomy. On top of this, a lot of popcorn ceilings also contain asbestos. 

Removing a popcorn ceiling from your hallway could add value to your home, make the space brighter, make the ceiling easier to clean and remove any threat of asbestos poisoning. Consider some of these hallway ceiling ideas instead.