The hallway is the calling card of any home; it is the first room that greets household members and guests of an apartment or house. The way this utilitarian space is designed can give you a first impression of the interior of the entire home. Of course, the design of rooms such as hallways, corridors and all kinds of additional spaces near stairs undergoes changes over time. We bring to your attention a selection of real design projects for hallways and corridors, the design of which will be relevant in the coming season.
Arrangement of the hallway depending on the shape
A stylish, bright hallway with a beautiful ergonomic design is the calling card of any home. Therefore, you should not neglect the design of this room. When starting to plan the renovation of this part of the apartment, decide for yourself what functions it will perform: the role of an intermediary between rooms or be the main element of the interior of the entire home.
Small hallway design
Most of the standard apartments in our country cannot boast of spacious corridors and hallways. For them, usually 2 to 5 m2 are allocated. Like other rooms of today’s “typical” rooms, they can be small, narrow, rectangular, square, or L-shaped in shape. Sometimes an unsuccessful configuration can only be corrected by radical methods of remodeling the entire apartment. However, before changing the plan, we advise you to familiarize yourself with the options we offer for finishing such premises.
Modern hallway: 4 basic rules
It is unlikely that you will argue with the fact that the hallway is the face of the apartment and its owner. After all, the hallway itself is the first thing that appears to guests upon entering, and its design can tell a lot about the owner of the apartment.
Renovating the interior of a hallway is often much easier than decorating a living room or bedroom, so no excuses should stop you from this simple task!
The 2016 season dictates to us several basic rules that we should adhere to so that the “face” of your apartment looks fashionable and modern. Here they are:
- Finishing materials and furniture should be as moisture resistant as possible. This especially applies to the finishing of the floor and the lower part of the walls.
- Another requirement is ease of cleaning. I think there is no need to clarify why this point is important.
- Resistance to mechanical stress. We take out and bring in strollers, place bags and bags on the floor, lean umbrellas against the walls - all this should not cause rapid wear and tear of the materials used.
- And finally, environmental friendliness is the symbol and main leitmotif of design ideas this season.
So, these are general trends that you should listen to if you have started renovations in the hallway and want to create a stylish interior with your own hands.
Small hallway design
Proper arrangement of a small hallway is a pressing issue for many apartment owners, both in houses of the socialist period and in new buildings. The main task of the residents of such apartments is to create a hallway that is functionally convenient for all residents of the house. Some design techniques will help to visually expand the space:
- use light, cool colors to decorate wall surfaces and ceilings;
- Replace bulky chandeliers with sconces or small spotlights. Additional ceiling lighting will be relevant;
A mirror is simply necessary in a small hallway - it will expand the space
- equip all existing doorways leading from the hallway to the bedrooms with sliding systems - they do not “eat up” the usable area of an already small room, unlike a standard door;
- hang a mirror on the wall: a vertical full-length mirror will help to “raise” a too-low ceiling, and a horizontal mirror will help expand the space.
Attention! The use of bright and shiny elements in decorating the interior of a small hallway is unacceptable, since the glare from them will distract attention and visually reduce the space of the room.
For lovers of luxury: hallways with dark furniture and shine
This is not even a trend, but an eternal classic. Who doesn’t want it to immediately become clear upon entering their home: “wealthy people live here”? In 2022, designers are achieving this effect by combining dark wood tones with softly shiny surfaces and decor. As an alternative to chic dark furniture, dark wall coverings can serve, and lamps, chandeliers, mirrors, metal fittings, etc. can serve as luxurious decor.
Narrow hallway design
In a narrow and disproportionately long hallway, it is not recommended to use a monotonous color. All available space must be zoned, breaking up the monochromatic perspective, using bright accessories, different textures and colors of finishing materials, and a play of contrasts.
In a narrow hallway it is better to combine several finishing materials
Colors such as cream white, sand white, light yellow are perfect. To prevent the walls from getting dirty, “dress” their lower part in wallpaper in darker tones that are in harmony with the main color.
Attention! If the walls and ceiling of the hallway in your home are perfectly smooth, you can use wallpaper or paint with a glossy texture to decorate them - this visually expands the space between the walls and increases the area of the room due to the surface reflections of the finishing materials. The same effect is achieved when using large mirrors.
A large vertical painting hung on the wall opposite the front door will help to visually shorten a particularly long corridor.
A large picture will visually make the room more compact
The narrow space of the hallway should not be cluttered with furniture. Only the essentials for life should be here. In the area of the front door, it would be advisable to place a built-in wardrobe of minimal depth and with mirrored sliding doors, a small bench and a shelf for shoes. The light in a narrow hallway should be bright enough. The ceiling lamp will be perfectly complemented by several spotlights and wall sconces.
Cabinet selection
Many people associate a closet in the hallway with the fact that it should be large and roomy, because it will need to store all the family’s outerwear for different seasons!
Of course, depending on how large and spacious the hallway is, you need to choose a closet. If you have a large corridor, you can choose a large sliding wardrobe, including a built-in one, which will be in height - almost to the ceiling!
When choosing a large closet, decorate its façade in white. As for washing and cleaning it, you don’t have to worry, since modern manufacturers, as a rule, cover sliding wardrobes with PVC film, which makes it very easy to remove dirt from the product.
Modular systems are very popular today. You can place the storage system in them in exactly the way that is convenient for you. Of course, for small corridors such systems may seem too cumbersome. But, firstly, you can always make it “easier” by choosing an open or closed type. And secondly, you can experiment with lighting (i.e. backlight).
If the hallway is very small, choose cabinets with a smooth surface that will not have unnecessary fittings.
Arranging a square hallway
If the average city apartment in a high-rise building, as a rule, is equipped with a narrow corridor or a small hallway, then in country houses a larger space is allocated for it, which can be decorated creatively and fashionably.
Attention! With inept design, a spacious hallway may seem empty and uninteresting.
To visually “fill” the space, use rich colors for decoration: green, burgundy, blue or brown. Choose wallpaper and flooring only with large patterns. The use of various textures in the decoration of walls, ceilings and floors, such as decorative plaster, textiles, suede or wood, will provide the interior of a large hallway with a representative, rich look.
From a spacious hallway of the correct shape, you can make a place not only for storing shoes and things, but also for receiving guests by placing a creative small sofa and a round glass coffee table. Corner furniture is perfect - a radius wardrobe or a soft corner sofa with bright upholstery.
A square hallway will allow you to place more cabinets and bedside tables
For lighting, choose a fashionable chandelier with many decorative elements. However, in this case, the ceilings in the house must be higher than the standard.
Give preference to a lot of decor. A variety of floor and tabletop vases, flowerpots, textile draperies, photographs and pictures on the walls, and textured shelves will look great.
Current techniques
A fashionable version of the hallway should consist of certain elements:
— Closed cabinets are needed to store outerwear. Options for open shelving can only be used for general decoration of the corridor; I place various accessories on them.
— All furniture must be comfortable and compact; there is usually not much space in the corridor.
— As a rule, the color palette should not include too contrasting colors. It is better to base the design on three different shades that can be combined with each other.
That is, the interior design of the hallway should not only be beautiful, but also comfortable.
Fashion trends and colors 2015-2016
An innovation in design thought in 2016 was the use of a large number of different accessories. For example, photographs and portraits of all family members, framed in beautiful frames, will look great in the hall.
Wall decoration with photographs of family members
A large decorative vase or a beautiful stand for umbrellas standing in the corner will also be appropriate in the interior of the hallway. Perhaps you have a collection of cute souvenirs brought from trips abroad - they can be beautifully displayed on a shelf in a long corridor.
The main trend of last year – environmental friendliness, remains a trend in 2016. As decoration for the entire home, and for the hallway in particular, choose materials only of natural origin - cork flooring, formaldehyde-free furniture, bamboo wallpaper or wooden surfaces, water-based eco-paints without VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Hallway in minimalist style
Minimalism, beloved by many, has been and remains a fashionable trend in design. Firstly, unnecessary cluttered items collect dust and bacteria; secondly, according to Feng Shui, they attract stagnant negative energy; and thirdly, the accumulation of accessories and things is not an indicator of wealth in the modern world, because your apartment is not a museum. The photo clearly shows the main criteria of style - a minimum of things, a maximum of convenience.
If we talk about the color palette, fashionable pastel colors of 2015 remain in demand this year 2016. In this context, one cannot fail to mention the popular fashion colors of world fashion designers - marsala, rose quartz, calm blue, lilac-gray, gray, ice coffee. All of these shades can be used as a base or as a bright accent against a more neutral beige or white background.
Hallway in classic style
Additional storage options
The storage system in the hallway should be thought out so that you can store not only the main, but also additional items (umbrellas, combs, care products and much more).
For all this you can also use:
- Cabinets.
- Tables.
- Shelves.
- Dressers.
- Shelving.
If the hallway space allows it, you can use it as an additional storage option. To avoid cluttering the room, choose low furniture or open shelving. For example, an excellent solution would be to place a low chest of drawers and an unusually shaped mirror next to it.
General rules for interior design of hallways
So, to summarize all that has been said, we can highlight several rules that are recommended to be followed when decorating hallways. Always consider:
- The size and shape of the corridor (hallway) - the entire subsequent design will depend on this.
- The location of the room in the general space of the house.
The hallway and corridor are exposed to more pollution every day than other rooms in the house, so finishing materials must be highly wear-resistant. The floor covering should not be easily soiled and easy to clean. - Presence of pets and small children (for decoration, use paint, not wallpaper, which can be easily torn, outlined or scratched).
- The style of the interior of the entire apartment or house (for example, the design of all rooms is made in the style of classicism, and the hallway is in the modern style - you must agree, this will look a little strange).
Stylish decoration
There are several original ways to stylishly decorate a corridor.
Architectural decoration
If the size of the hallway allows, you can use false wall panels or special moldings. In accordance with fashion trends, the choice will be in favor of decoration with natural materials.
This method will allow you to emphasize the geometric nuances of the hallway in an original way. But if, for example, you create pseudo-arches, you can originally emphasize the taste and sophistication of the owner of the house.
Decoration with carpets
Of course, many may think that carpets in the hallway are not at all practical! After all, dirt from the street, moisture and other factors negatively affect the issue of cleaning them, moreover, they will very quickly not only lose their appearance, but will also become completely unsuitable.
But! The point is that the carpet should not be around the entire perimeter of the hallway!
It will be enough to put a small rug to create original decor and additional comfort in the corridor. For example, if you choose a carpet with transverse stripes, this option will even help expand the space of a narrow corridor!
Decorating with lighting
In 2016, interestingly shaped sconces, as well as grotesque floor lamps, are a hit. Such options are not only practical to use, but also quite decorative.
Moreover, the necessary version of such lighting can be selected for absolutely every style!
Mirrors
This is an essential attribute of any hallway! There can be one or several mirrors; this is a matter of taste and, naturally, the chosen interior design. In any case, mirrors are not only a wonderful decoration, but also a way to visually increase the space of a room!
In addition, in the hallway it is always important to use a trick with mirrors as an assistant light diffuser!
Decor on the walls
When decorating hallways, many designers refuse to decorate the floors. The main reason why this is so is that in small hallways there is no point in putting extra items that can only clutter the room and “steal” the already missing square meters.
But as for the walls, you can really decorate them with a wide variety of decorative elements!
Here the choice is yours! After all, the walls can be decorated with your favorite paintings, professional photographs, favorite collections, decorative plates that you brought from around the world and much more!
Ceiling surfaces
The design of ceiling surfaces should also be given attention, since it is in harmony with other surfaces that it will create the integrity of the design composition.
A classic that remains popular and an indicator of taste is the snow-white version. For built-in lighting, it is better to design suspended structures. If a tension fabric is chosen, then it is advisable to place a hanging chandelier on the ceiling.
In very small halls, it is better to decorate the ceiling surface with glossy material, since by reflecting light this material will help increase the space.
Suspended structures made of plasterboard or plastic panels will require additional finishing in the form of painting, plastering, wallpapering, etc. But stretch ceiling options look excellent immediately after installation.
Lighting: An Underrated Art
The vast majority of inhabitants of the post-Soviet space underestimate the power and role of lighting in creating the interior of a room. After all, how was it before? A chandelier in the center of the ceiling, a pair of sconces on the walls and a floor lamp near a cozy chair. Now designers never tire of telling us that correctly selected lighting can reveal a seemingly familiar room in a completely new way. Don’t forget, the hallway is a room often devoid of natural light, and it needs high-quality lighting as an atmosphere!
Properly constructed light can highlight the necessary areas, focus attention on design delights, while hiding possible shortcomings.
In modern hallways, central and auxiliary lighting systems coexist harmoniously. The central one is represented by built-in or pendant lamps; sconces, floor lamps, and LED strip play a supporting role.
For owners of a square front, the option of installing one central chandelier is suitable, which, if necessary, can be supplemented with spot inserts of an LED strip or nice sconces. In a rectangular front room, preference should be given to spot lighting, built-in or suspended.
LED strip is a multifunctional solution for highlighting details in the interior. A mirror decorated with it looks great, and the use of tape to highlight individual shelves in an open rack will favorably emphasize the decor placed on them.
Color version
To decorate a hallway, designers recommend giving preference to a neutral color scheme, as it will serve as a kind of canvas on which bright accents will be placed in the future. You can use snow-white, beige, soft sand, charcoal and gray tones as a basis.
A plain, snow-white room is no longer relevant, so it’s worth choosing successful combinations.
The contrasting black and white combination has remained popular for many years. Pinkish, red, blue, purple shades and greens are also suitable for duets.
Wall surfaces
The strongest and most successful solution today are combinations of surfaces of different textures. You can combine materials of different colors and textures.
It is convenient and practical to cover the upper section of the walls with wallpaper that can be wet cleaned, and to finish the lower surface with washable panels made of plastic or tiles.
When choosing wallpaper, preference is given to canvases based on non-woven, acrylic or vinyl, which can simply be cleaned with a sponge. It is possible to use imitation stone or brickwork, concrete or plaster surface.
