Hallway design and corridor interior in a small area

Finishes and materials

For floor finishing, it is better to abandon outdated linoleum and traditional laminate and parquet in favor of ceramic tiles. This option wins on several points:

• All street dirt on shoes stretches and settles in the hallway. This room, along with the kitchen, is cleaned more often than others. Ceramic or porcelain tiles are not afraid of either water or detergents. Frequent cleaning will not affect their appearance either.
• In winter, not only water settles on shoes, but also aggressive agents that utility workers use to treat streets. Such substances can cause irreparable harm to expensive laminate flooring, while they are of no use to floor tiles.

Modern laminate production technologies also allow us to talk about its strength, but the material is characterized by increased “slipperiness,” which is undesirable in the hallway. Parquet boards are made from natural wood, therefore, despite the special treatment of the material, it is most susceptible to moisture. This type of covering is not suitable for a hallway. The carpet looks beautiful and gives the room a touch of chic, but it will require constant maintenance. If you nevertheless decide to lay carpet, then it must be combined with a bottom layer of hard covering. This technique will extend the life of the material. Walls are most often treated in two ways:

• Prime and cover with wallpaper;
• Prime and paint.

Traditionally, the hallway is decorated in calm brown tones. For small rooms up to 4 square meters, a simple principle is followed: the floor should be several tones darker than the color of the walls and in no case vice versa. The ceiling is usually undeservedly forgotten. They paint it classic white and stop there, but there are plenty of options for original ceiling finishing. If the room is not only tiny, but also has a low ceiling, then you really have to refrain from experiments, opting for pastel shades and the play of light.

With high ceilings, the scope of work will increase. They can be made in steps, tension or panels. Multi-level ones make it easy to hide additional lighting sources, while panel ones perfectly hide flaws and curvature of the walls. Panel ceilings made of plastic or plasterboard are not inferior in aesthetics to suspended ceilings, but in addition they have reasonable prices and are easy to install. Drywall is ideal for multi-level ceilings: it can easily take any shape, so you don’t have to limit your imagination only to sharp corners.

Wallpaper or painting

The choice of wallpaper directly depends on the overall style in which the entire hallway will be designed. For modern “bold” trends, “catchy” wallpapers with bright prints and geometric patterns are suitable. For rooms in classic styles, use either plain wallpaper in soothing colors or with a delicate, neat pattern. If the hallway has a square shape and low ceilings, it is worth considering the option of wallpaper with vertical lines that stretch upward and carry the space of the room with it. The same move is used in wide corridors, where the lack of space is concentrated at the top. Wallpaper with horizontal stripes is suitable for rectangular hallways with high ceilings. Vertical lines mean not only a clear pattern on the wallpaper, we can also talk about a texture that is similar to fabric. Imitation of fabric consists in depicting the structure of the pattern of fibers that stretch in one direction, thereby defining a “geometric” picture. Wallpaper with silver and gold embossing, imitating fabric or cut metal, has become a trend of the past year.

Painting the hallway walls is in no way inferior to wallpaper. Moreover, it even has a “strong” advantage: such walls can be washed without harming the coating. Before carrying out the main work, the walls are puttied (if necessary), primed and sanded. The acrylic primer will require at least a day to dry completely. Taking into account the characteristics of the room, the best materials for painting are:

• Acrylic dispersion;
• Alkyd enamel;
• Butadiene-styrene aqueous dispersion.

Any type of paint is applied in two layers: the first with a brush and the second with a roller. Decorating with other materials looks original on painted walls. For example, in the corner of the hallway the corner of the brickwork suddenly “opens up”. The move is fully consistent with the principles of the industrial style.

It is important to know. Putty is used not only to “cover up” defects. Gypsum putty must be applied over the entire surface area in a thin layer. After it dries, it is polished. The more thoroughly the plaster is sanded, the smoother your walls will be. It is better to use an abrasive mesh as the main tool.

Wall and ceiling decoration

To visually expand the walls and raise the ceiling, use light pastel shades. Walls are the main element of the hallway, which can help increase the visual space for apartment residents and their guests. In families where the most important thing is the quality and wear resistance of coatings in the apartment, artificial stone and elements of brickwork (both natural and imitation using ceramic tiles) are suitable.

For those who prefer to maintain a hallway in a loft or minimalist style, it is worth choosing decorative or classic plaster. For lovers of modern elements and patchwork style, plastic panels are suitable. For all styles, wallpaper is used to the same extent, including photo wallpaper, which can “pull back” the walls thanks to its design, imitating:

• window overlooking the sea;
• balcony with Provencal landscapes;
• urban or natural landscapes.

Attention!

You should avoid bright, large, clumsy patterns, accent contrasts and stripes.

When working to expand the hallway space, the ceiling and its covering options play an important role. If you have a small workspace, you should not be afraid of a two-tier design. Thanks to several levels, it seems that the ceiling “goes” up. This visually increases its height. It is beneficial to use mirror elements in the design for ceiling decoration. But it is worth minimizing massive hanging structures, such as chandeliers and decor. Craftsmen opt for recessed lamps, or, in the case of a small square hallway, use lighting fixtures around the perimeter.

Color spectrum

Since we are talking about small, “standard” hallways, it won’t be possible to conduct special experiments with flowers. It’s enough to remember the golden rule: “Dark colors make the room smaller, and light colors visually expand it.” So, black, dark shades of brown, gray, blue, red as a background will have to be rejected immediately. They may be present in the setting, but only in portions, in the form of small elements. The choice can only be between two options:

• Warm colors;
• Cool colors.

Yellow, orange, lilac, brown, beige, pink, grass green will make the hallway “soft” and warm. Blue, violet, turquoise, light blue, azure, swamp green, gray will add coldness to the atmosphere. Each of the above colors goes well with neutral white and black. Three is considered to be a moderate number of colors in combination for interior decoration. You can choose, for example, one universal, one cold and one warm. Two colors are used as the basis of the design, and the third is given the details. For such modern trends as Scandinavian style, minimalism, industrial, you can use a combination of two cool colors and one neutral. The excessive severity of the hallway fits completely into the concepts of these directions.

Choice of colors

When studying design solutions for small apartments, the first place is the palette of colors and shades used in wall coverings, floors and furniture. Their selection largely depends on the shape and size of the room. There are hallways:

• square and small;
• narrow and long;
• non-standard geometric shape or with many angles.

Variants of tiny hallways are found in classic houses from the USSR - Khrushchev. For them you should choose the following tones:

• beige;
• white;
• ivory;
• silver;
• light blue;
• light pink;
• pastel green;
• soft light green.

On a note!

Light monochromatic walls will visually expand the room. Jewelry with a metal or mirror surface will provide a similar effect, “pushing” the boundaries of space.

Pastel colors in a small room will provide a feeling of calm, unobtrusiveness, and will remove the feeling of isolation and closeness to the walls. When mixing several colors in a general palette, it is recommended to use those that are close in spectrum to create a smooth transition. To decorate the floor, you should choose natural coverings in a light color; it is better if they are monochromatic.

To facilitate the task of choosing a solution in terms of color, world designers in the field of apartment furnishing begin by determining the style of the future hallway. This is a primary task at the stage of preparing the premises for cosmetic repairs.

Lighting

For small hallways, the presence of “volumetric” lighting is especially important. This effect can be achieved in several ways:

• When finishing the walls, make decorative niches into which additional light sources will be built. If you can’t work with the wall, then use furniture items for additional lighting: a narrow and tall shelving unit with a couple of “illuminated” vases or sculptures.
• On each “step” of a multi-level ceiling, lines of small point light sources are placed, the wiring is “sewn up” behind the panels, which allows you to preserve the aesthetic beauty of the finish.
• In a separate area, install a frosted glass box, behind which hide powerful lamps. Most often, such a decorative panel is installed on walls where mirrors could be placed.
• Design a horizontal panel with chiseled light bulbs on the wall just above human height. Install several elegant, “elongated” lamps on the floor or sconces on the walls.

Try to use as many different light sources as possible. The more “rays” directed in different directions, the wider the hallway will appear.

Furniture

Since we are dealing with a typical Khrushchev-era hallway, we will have to work with a minimum of furniture. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to fit everything you need in such rooms. Something will definitely have to be sacrificed. Storage space cannot be discounted. Outerwear, hats and shoes must be stored somewhere. There are two options here:

• Closet;
• A hanging hanger with a cabinet underneath for storing shoes.

The third method could be installing a dressing room; in cramped hallways there is too little space to accommodate an additional separate room, so such a solution is very difficult to implement.

Which option to choose depends solely on the number of residents and, accordingly, the number of their belongings. If a whole heap of clothes accumulates, then an open hanger will look sloppy and completely unaesthetic in the hallway. So the choice falls on the closet. Preference is usually given to sliding wardrobes, but they also have a drawback: such furniture is quite bulky and there is a danger that it will “eat up” the entire hallway space. To avoid an undesirable effect, “clone” the hallway in the mirror surface of the cabinet panels. A corner cabinet is also worth considering as an option, but it is only suitable for elongated rectangular hallways. Having “stealed” just one corner, such a cabinet will leave the other three free for other interior items. As seating, you can use a universal shoe cabinet with soft upholstery or put several poufs and chairs. There should be a small chest of drawers or table in the hallway. Recently, furniture items that do not have legs have become fashionable. Beds, tables and chairs rest against the wall, where they are kept suspended using special fasteners. Such “floating” chairs will add lightness to the hallway and will attract the attention of surprised guests.

Selection of furniture and accessories for a 2x4 corridor

The small hallway confines the residents. The desire to place a large mirror, a cozy sofa or a spacious chest of drawers in a 2x4 area is unrealistic. As for rooms with a short length, you should not overload it with large interior items. It will be enough to install a small wardrobe, which will accompany a mirror or designer drawing.

If the furniture store does not have the required dimensions, it can be made to order.

An excellent replacement for a wardrobe would be a regular hanger, which can be placed right behind the door. Thus, clothing will not interfere with free movement. In addition to the closet, a soft ottoman with a built-in drawer or a folding chair will fit perfectly into the interior of a 2x4 corridor. A desirable attribute of such a corridor is a shoe stand. At the moment, furniture stores have a large assortment of special narrow and multi-tiered stands. This composition will be complemented by modular paintings and a vase. To create a visual space, a mirror installed opposite the front door is perfect. However, you shouldn’t saturate the interior too much with little things.

Modern style

The hallway is no exception among other rooms and, just like them, is subject to the general principles of the Art Nouveau style:

• The use of predominantly monochromatic surfaces.
• Among the colors, the palm is taken over by gray, black and white, brown, their shades and combinations. It is acceptable to use bright “dotted” cents in red, yellow or blue.
• There are more straight lines and sharp corners in the room than rounded “bends”.
• Drawings are not welcome. If they do exist, they are extremely discreet and soft. It is acceptable to use stripes of different widths and colors instead of ornaments.
• Simplicity in furnishing. Emphasis on natural materials. The front door is decorated in light colors.

Modern style allows for slight deviations from its canons, because it changes dynamically, like the reality around us. To live up to its name, modernism constantly adopts new trends in designer fashion, which can be found in specialized publications.

Rules for creating a design in a small hallway

Straight to the point

• Light neutral background

We have already said that the intricate design of a small hallway is bad. Therefore, we use white, cream, light gray tones. This is also connected with furniture, which we’ll talk about later.

Light colors allow us to keep the hallway tidy because dirt is less visible. Besides this, the decoration is just a background. And the most ideal canvas for an artist is white and clean, on which you can realize your idea.

• Built-in furniture to order

Custom-made furniture will fit exactly into the given dimensions and you will save precious space. In addition, the design will look harmonious and modern. Placing built-in furniture is a matter of technique. And ready-made solutions are intended only for a temporary option.

Don’t be afraid that with the abundance of built-ins you will overload the interior. It is worth paying attention to only two parameters: furniture for the entire height of the corridor and in a minimalist conservative design. It will be functional and stylish.

• Wall finishing material

We're talking about practicality again. Try to predict which wall will be very popular and people will lean on it. Maybe not always, but periodically it will definitely not go unnoticed. Be prepared for this and use durable material that can be washed if necessary. These are liquid wallpaper, decorative plaster, masonry. The latter must be implemented on the entire wall, and not just a piece. This was outdated 20 years ago.

• One material on one wall

This means that different materials cannot be used. As well as the color palette. There is no need to invent a bicycle, decorate and implement interesting design ideas. A small hallway is not ready for this.

Classic style

The classic hallway is decorated in light colors: beige, pastel shades, combinations of gray and white colors. Soft rugs are laid on the floor. Mirrors are mounted in oval frames. Wallpaper in pastel shades has delicate patterns with lots of curls. Paintings depicting scenes from the Middle Ages are welcome. Furniture made of natural wood in light shades on graceful, twisted legs. It is necessary to have shades or chandeliers of complex shapes with soft curves. The use of gilding is encouraged. Rare things “with history” or their imitation are used as decorative elements. The ceiling is decorated with neat stucco. One of the compromise options for adherents of the classics, who are still ready to introduce elements of modern style into it, is neoclassicism. This direction allows for small fashionable “liberties” in design.

Provence style

The light style of the French countryside is easy to distinguish by its characteristic features. It is typical for him:

• Use of natural materials, mainly wood.
• Light colors: the emphasis is on blue, pink, delicate green in tandem with white, beige, cream colors.
• The presence of floral patterns and ornaments.
• Presence of antique decorative elements.
• Cotton and linen in furniture upholstery.

In a small hallway of a city apartment, with the help of Provence, you can create a cozy corner reminiscent of a village, fresh air and the measured life of the countryside.

Instead of poufs and simple wardrobes, wooden benches and open hangers are used. Indoor plants are placed in “aged pots”. Combined wallpaper: plain parts are combined with “cheerful” wallpaper with bouquets of flowers. Soft cushions on the bench, wicker baskets for umbrellas and canes, antique chandeliers, mirrors in wooden frames and patterned carpets on the floor - all these are details of the French style.

Minimalism

To prevent the hallway from looking like a storage area, fill its space by adhering to the principles of minimalism.

Minimalism in the hallway.

It is better to place one or two pieces of furniture that allow you to store everyday clothes and shoes, as well as make the process of getting ready to go out and returning home comfortable. An open hanger with a shelf for hats will cope with these functions. Under it you can place a shoe cabinet combined with a pouf. There is space on the wall for a mirror with a shelf for small items.

It is better to place one or two pieces of furniture that allow you to store everyday clothes and shoes.

Furniture finishing doesn't have to be complicated. An ideal option would be cabinet fronts without handles.

Minimalism in the interior of the hallway.

Loft style

Loft is a modern style, one of the “offshoots” of industrial. It is characterized by the use of natural materials and rough textures. One of the obligatory elements of the direction is considered to be untreated brickwork. One wall in the hallway can be decorated as a brick. Furniture elements should be as “simplified” as possible using metal, stone or marble. The abundance of cold light will emphasize the severity of the style. Among the shades, preference is given to the contrast of gray, white with black, blue and “brick” brown. If the walls are painted, then rough strokes with poorly painted areas are welcome. Such negligence is considered one of the “pillars” on which the direction stands. If the atmosphere of the hallway has a clear imprint of a non-residential, industrial space, then you have succeeded in capturing the mood of the style.

Photo of a square hallway

Read here Modern hallway ideas: real 145 photos in the apartment

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Hallway design 2 square meters

As a rule, hallways are only 2 sq.m. have a rectangular shape. It is not rational to place massive furniture along the walls, since such a move will clutter the space and interfere with free movement. In this case, the only option is to consider minimalism. The style welcomes exclusively the functionality of the elements. A narrow cabinet or bench on one side, and a hanging hanger on the other. If there are a lot of things to store, then you should think about creating a separate dressing room in another room. Only seasonal clothes are left on the hanger. Using mirrors in such a tiny space is vital. They will have to be supplemented with light sources at different levels. In terms of decor, only a minimum of small elements are possible, creating the feeling of being in nature.

Important advice. Finishing work is easy to do with your own hands, but the design project for a 2 by 2 hallway will have to be either carefully worked out or contacted by specialists. Correct placement of furniture guarantees up to 80% of the success of the entire renovation “campaign”.

White background and bright accents

How elegant and impressive the white finish looks in an ensemble with large mirrors or mirrored surfaces! It seems that this combination blurs boundaries and adds grandeur to the space. And although there is no room in a small hallway with excessive furniture, several mirrors can easily fit in it. Although for a stylish outfit one mirror surface may be enough.

Bright paintings, posters, photographs, hangers, watches and other objects stand out especially expressively against the background of snow-white walls. For such a design, a minimum of finishing is sufficient - only light furniture that serves as the functional filling of the room, and a few bright accessories that enliven the interior. And all the interior decoration will look holistic, fashionable, and appropriate.

3-4 square meters

Entrance hall area 4 sq. m is considered typical. Almost any style is suitable for its interior. This season, the emphasis is on wood in materials and soft light. Don't forget about the decor. One large painting covering an entire free wall or a series of photographs with colorful images of nature, placed even on the side wall of a closet, will look great. It is recommended to install decorative panels on the ceiling to match the overall color scheme. Precision light sources are hidden behind the panels. Don't forget about greenery. A narrow and compact corner shelf in several tiers, on which pots with palm trees can be conveniently placed, will add life to the room. A stylish corner wardrobe with a hanger, decorated in a combination of black and cream colors, will complement the atmosphere of comfort and chic.

Important advice. To prevent the atmosphere from being boring, colors are added to it with the help of paintings or entire series of works of art and their reproductions. The painting directions should resonate with the design style of the 4 sq. m hallway.

5-6 square meters

An entrance hall with the ability to “play” with space. The room can no longer be called cramped, so you can afford pleasant little things in the form of hanging shelves mounted into the wall without visible fasteners or bright accents. Red chairs or a bright yellow shelving will no longer spoil the decor. An original solution is to place a wide aquarium mounted into the wall in such a room. This design move will fit into any modern style. A matte painting can be depicted on the mirror of the wardrobe, which will gracefully highlight the good taste of the owners of the house. For example, an image of a tree on a cliff will blend into minimalism or a design with “subtle” notes of the East. You can experiment with lighting temperature by combining cold light sources with warm ones. The final picture may turn out to be very non-standard.

What to do if the apartment has a long hallway?

Long hallways in an apartment are not uncommon. Often in panel houses they are exactly this shape, and doors lead from the corridor to different rooms. Yes, such a layout is not ideal, but imagination will help even make a candy out of such a room.

The design of a long hallway will differ from the design of a room with a regular square shape. But this shape, given that the width of the corridor is sufficient, allows, for example, to perfectly fit a long wardrobe, the spaciousness of which will amaze.

Due to such a cabinet along the entire length of the corridor, its width will decrease somewhat, but the hallway will overnight turn into one of the most functional rooms in the apartment.

7-8 square meters

In such a hallway, aesthetically selected furniture with sliding mirror panels will visually increase the volume of the room and add natural light. Massive, monumental items with intricate vignettes, as well as furniture with protruding corners should be avoided in such an area. They will only “overload” the interior. A table in light colors or a shelf with rounded surfaces will correct the situation. Depending on the height of the ceilings, you can create point light sources in suspended ceilings, or, if the ceilings are low, use local multi-level lighting (sconces, lamps). In a hallway that has an oblong configuration, the floor should be divided into zones using different colors or floor coverings of different textures (laminate, parquet, carpet, etc.). If the hallway has a shape with approximately equal length and width, then this is a rather “rather large” space in which you can create an impromptu vestibule by placing a small sofa, a coffee table that will not interfere with the passage, and equipping a niche for a TV.

General recommendations for creating interior design in hallways

Regardless of how many meters there are in the hallway, be it 4 meters or 5, 15 or 20, there are several important points in the equipment.

When creating an interior, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. The equipment of the hallway should include only the necessary items, there should not be anything superfluous;
2. You can expand the hallway by creating one or more arches passing through adjacent rooms;
3. It is advisable to purchase furniture to order with the help of a specialist, so you can be sure of the correct choice of sizes;
4. Do not create an emphasis on large lamps; a large chandelier will create an oppressive feeling. The best option would be to use spotlights;
5. The use of furniture should be rational. If it is not possible to distribute it throughout the entire hallway area, you can use modular cabinets that take into account all the needs of the owners.

The furnishings in the hallway should be done last, after the renovations in all previous rooms have been completed.

9-10 square meters

On the hallway area of ​​9-10 sq.m. design will only be limited by your imagination. The finishing of the floor and ceiling is light and glossy, creating a feeling of even more free space and light. Wooden wall panels will harmonize with light sources of the “warm” spectrum. Someone will allow himself the idea not to stop at the “classics”, and playing with space by covering the floor with a 3D image (green lawn grass or forest clearing, etc.) and photo wallpaper of the same theme and color will erase the boundary of reality. In such a hallway you can place a large wardrobe, the size of which is more reminiscent of a full-fledged dressing room.

Where to start design

The interior of a square hallway in an apartment should combine details that complement each other. If you want to do everything in a modern style, follow the advice of designers.

Let us remind you that when decorating, you should change the appearance of the floor, walls and ceiling.

For example, we will describe the design of a hallway of 6 sq.m. Despite the fact that the room has a small area, it is quite possible to implement renovation ideas.

The floor surface can be covered with ceramic tiles, laminate or linoleum. Today it is popular to make heated floors.

The walls of the square hallway also require modification. When finishing, textured plaster or “liquid” wallpaper is used.

The ceiling in the hallway can be made in the following types:

• single-level plasterboard;
• tension multi-level;
• plastic.

You also need to take care of a sufficient level of lighting. As a rule, various models of spotlights are made on the ceiling.