It sounds banal, but the hallway is the calling card of an apartment or house. That is why its design is taken as seriously as the design of other rooms. Coziness and comfort should reign here too. The latter can be achieved in several ways. One of them is zoning the hallway. What it is? How to properly divide a room into zones?
Hallway zoning option.
What is the difference between a corridor and a hallway
The hallway is a room that is located immediately after the front door. This is where a person ends up coming from the street. Guests leave their outerwear and shoes here and then move on.
Hallway room in green color.
A corridor is a long and often narrow passage that connects several living rooms.
These premises have one similarity: they are both non-residential.
Long corridor in the apartment.
Why might you need room zoning?
Zoning a hallway or corridor serves several purposes. One of them is a comfortable existence in a particular room. In essence, this process involves their conditional division into functional parts, each of which has clear boundaries.
Dividing rooms into clear boundaries.
Zoning also has another purpose - to create optical illusions that will decorate the interior or increase space.
Any room can be divided into zones. And the hallway with a corridor is no exception. There are several ways to do this.
Zoning increases space.
Interior of the hallway in the apartment
Hallway in a modern style: photos of mistakes
Let's start with the mistakes made when designing the interior of the hallway. This is usually the most informative part. The real photo will appear first, and below it will be a description of the error.
Is this mirror too small? Although okay, what the heck with the size, but why is it so high?! Apparently the owners practice warming up by jumping before going outside. We make the mirror larger and lower it lower.
The cabinet design is not bad, but it needs to be reflected horizontally. Make the closed high part further, and move the bench to the entrance itself. Otherwise, the entrance is simply cramped. And if several guests come, how will they fit into such a narrow space? That's it. Well, they forgot the mirror, as in most of the photographs in this article.
There is space, but there is no mirror - it’s a mess. Nothing stood in the way of hanging a full-length mirror to the right of the door or removing a couple of coat hooks.
Well, our favorite hallway, no more comments.
Ideal hallway design photo
Our winners, the design of which used all the recommendations from the article, even mirrors!
Because Behind the hallway there is often a corridor; read our article about the design of a corridor in an apartment. We hope our tips and photos shed some light on the topic of hallway design, and yours will turn out to be the most stylish and cool, good luck!
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Room layout
In most multi-storey and private houses, the corridor is long and narrow. That is why it is difficult to make it stylish and comfortable. Often it is impossible to even place furniture in it. And if this can be done, then the same chest of drawers or ottoman simply blocks the passage.
However, according to the designers, a narrow and uncomfortable corridor, as well as a small hallway, are not a death sentence. There are many options for their design and arrangement.
Zoning a small room.
Many people decide to redevelop. Remodeling a room to your liking is quite difficult. This is a long process that requires considerable financial costs. In addition, there is noise and an abundance of construction debris. It is much better to pay attention to cosmetic zoning methods.
You can change the appearance of the hallway with the help of unusual colors, proper arrangement of furniture and lighting. You need to start work by dividing the room into several functional zones.
Unusual color design of the hallway.
Lighting
This is one of the main problems of hallways. The lack of natural light makes this room dark and uncomfortable. Therefore, the lighting in the hallway should be bright and saturated. It will fill the corridor with comfort.
Hallway lighting can be organized using a classic lamp, LED panels, or spotlights. Additional sources are widely used: sconces, lamps, LED strips for zoning.
Let's consider techniques for a narrow and long room, which is usually the hallway in most apartments.
- Combining lighting sources. This can be a chandelier and lamps or an LED strip located under the baseboard - ceiling or floor.
You should not use large lamps and lamps; they make an already modest room smaller.
- Mirror lighting. This idea expands geometry through perspective.
For a rectangular entrance room, you don’t have to limit yourself in design ideas. Depending on the ceiling height and style, any light sources are selected, but there should not be too many selected types. Most often, the interior of a rectangular room involves zoning, including with the help of lighting.
Zoning methods
So, to divide the hallway into zones use:
- Wall and ceiling finishing;
- Partitions;
- Furniture;
- Lighting.
Each method has its own characteristics and nuances.
Partition in the hallway.
Wall and floor finishing
The walls in the hallway or corridor are constantly exposed to strong mechanical stress. In addition, they often become dirty. It is worth remembering this when choosing finishing materials.
Several of them are suitable for these premises:
- Wallpaper. This is a classic option. Designers recommend choosing washable ones. If you decide to purchase paper ones, it is better to take smooth ones. Walls covered with wallpaper will look harmonious in any style;
- PVC panels. Good material, easy to care for. But it has one serious drawback - fragility. Therefore, it is worth considering whether it is suitable for a particular hallway or not;
- MDF and lining. Their main advantages are durability and practicality. However, for installation you will need a special frame, which takes up free space;
- Decorative plaster. Texture is considered the most popular. And all because of the ability to repaint it in any other color. In addition, if you apply varnish or wax over the plaster, the finished coating will be easily washed off from various contaminants;
- Decorative stone or brick. It looks impressive and even luxurious. The material is known for its strength and durability.
Decorative stone in the hallway.
When decorating walls in narrow corridors, you should remember four important rules:
- A diagonal or horizontal pattern will visually expand the room;
- No need to get carried away with decorating. A large number of small parts will make the corridor cluttered;
- Mirrors will also help to visually make the space wider;
- Stone, lining, MDF and PVC panels, unlike mirrors, will reduce space.
Increasing space with mirrors.
If the hallway boasts large dimensions, you can decorate it in absolutely any style you like and with any materials.
The floor covering, like the wall covering, must cope well with aggressive influences. An excellent option is laminate and ceramic tiles. These materials are easy to wash. They are abrasion resistant and have a long service life.
Laminate flooring in the hallway.
The tiles can be placed near the front door. Cover the rest of the floor surface with laminate or linoleum. In this case, the dirtiest part of the corridor will receive maximum protection.
Flooring in the hallway.
Wardrobe partition
You can also zone the hallway using a closet, which will act as a partition. However, this option is only suitable for large rooms. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method?
There are several advantages:
- Affordable price;
- There is no need to hang screens, which often spoil the overall design;
- More space to store accessories and useful little things.
Wardrobe partition in the hallway.
According to experts, a wardrobe installed in the hallway allows you to save more than 10% of free space.
There are only two disadvantages to such partitions:
- Due to its bulkiness and volume, the design requires the use of only durable and reliable materials;
- Wardrobe partitions are almost always made to order.
The functions and content of such products can be chosen according to your taste and needs.
Sliding wardrobe in the hallway.
Furniture arrangement
The right furniture plays an important role in the design and zoning of the corridor and hallway. The most needed items here:
- Bedside table or shoe stand;
- Wardrobe for outerwear and accessories;
- Mirror;
- Dresser;
- Hanger;
- Ottoman (can be replaced with a stool).
Ottoman in the hallway.
It is better to place them along one of the walls so that the other is completely free. Furniture on both sides looks very unaesthetic and does not allow you to decorate the walls beautifully.
Nowadays, built-in and modular products are becoming increasingly popular. They are easy to place indoors, saving a lot of free space.
Lighting
You can also divide the hallway into several functional parts and visually increase the space (for narrow corridors) with the help of lighting. It is not recommended to make only one light source. The best option is several small lamps, such as LED lamps. They can be mounted in the ceiling.
Lighting the hallway of the room.
Mirrors or paintings highlighted with light look original. Typically, mirrors are equipped with lamps that can be rotated in different directions. LED strip is suitable for paintings.
Standard size room
In such a room you can already think about an individual style. The design of the hallway in an apartment can become the calling card of the owners, a kind of certification of their taste, noticeable to everyone.
The necessary furniture includes not only shoe racks and hangers, but also cabinets, a soft pouf, and a large mirror. You can place several paintings, embroideries or memorable photographs on the walls. Decorate open shelves with souvenirs or fresh flowers.
The overall style of the hallway should be consistent with the rest of the rooms in the apartment, especially those directly leading into it. But in practice it always becomes more concise. In the hallway, like nowhere else, minimalism is valued. This makes it easier to put things in order and organize cleaning.
Essential elements
The entrance area consists of several elements. Among them:
- garage or entrance gates;
- door to a residential building;
- gate;
- porch;
- front garden;
- path leading from the gate to the porch.
When designing this section of the territory, it is necessary to strictly adhere to a single scheme. Otherwise, the building will not fit in with its surroundings. Accordingly, landscape design should be executed in the same style.
Video: Landscaping of the entrance area
Selecting the style of the entrance zone
As soon as a person begins to think about how best to decorate his site, he begins to consider the most suitable stylistic solutions. In modern design, there are several main directions that are suitable for residents of our country, namely:
- Russian old-fashioned. In this style, the garden should look a little neglected. All buildings or design details should be simple. The presence of refined elements is not allowed on the site. The house is located in the center of the site. To get to it, you need to cover some distance along an artificially created path. The house must have a veranda. A wide staircase should lead to it. The porch can be decorated with columns. An orchard is considered an integral part of this design. Among the flowers, preference is given to hydrangeas, rosehips and lilacs. Tulips or roses are usually planted along the path.
- Russian log. The main emphasis in this style is on the house itself. The building must be made of logs. The ideal option is its location near a forest, the alternative is a beautiful rural landscape. There must be a terrace on the site. It is decorated with wooden railings with carvings. The steps from the porch lead to the terrace, after which the garden immediately begins. The area is illuminated by lanterns with simple shades. Natural stone would be an ideal option for finishing paths. Of the flowers, preference is given to those that grow nearby. The flowerbed will be made in country style. Allow a choice of bluebells, aconite, phlox or asters. On the territory you can place a swing, the posts of which will be entwined with grapes. A hedge of hazel or elderberry is often planted on the site.
- Modern. The style is in perfect harmony with the creative character of the people living here. The garden should be combined with the building itself. The entrance area is decorated with a flower bed. You can protect it with a low border. It is better to choose hydrangea or spirea as plants. Paths should be paved with natural stone or tiles. A pond is placed on the site. It can be decorated with irises or sage. Forged arches are often used, with roses planted near them.
- Minimalism. This style involves a combination of modern technologies and an almost complete absence of vegetation. If there is a garden on the site, then it must be decorated in such a way as if it has not been looked after for a long time. Preference is given to forged decorative elements. The staircase leading to the front door may have a ramp. The canopy is made of either metal or glass. The area in front of the house is tiled or natural stone. Create artificial lighting. Juniper, barberry or spirea are often used as green areas.
- Cottage. This style is one of the most popular. It is a harmonious combination of beauty, functionality and comfort. The installation of a fence is required. Cultural plantings should be visible from afar. You can create a winter garden near the house.
Secrets of a beautiful front garden. How to design the entrance area?
Of course, everyone knows what a front garden is. This is the very first garden picture that a person sees when approaching a plot or opening a gate. In his book “Beautiful Gardens. Secrets of landscape designers" Andrey Lysikov tells how to design a business area, what plants to plant and what accessories to use.
As follows from explanatory dictionaries, a “front garden” is a flower garden enclosed by a picket fence or a small garden along the side of a house, usually along its front part. The front garden may be an ordinary, unimpressive passage area, but you can turn it into an independent, originally designed miniature garden.
Small cozy front garden
How to decorate a front garden
It seems to us that recently the theme of the front garden has become less and less popular not only among landscape designers, but also among gardeners. Unfortunately, in our country, front gardens in general, and especially beautiful, elegantly executed ones, are rare. The reason for this, obviously, is the existing way of life, which involves fencing off from the whole world with high, solid fences.
Increasingly, instead of front gardens, you can only see blank high fences
In this case, the very idea of laying out a front garden - a decoration in front of the house, put on display for everyone, loses its meaning. If a decorative entrance area is created in walled gardens, it will usually not be seen by anyone except the owners and their guests. Traditional front gardens can still sometimes be found in villages, and their counterparts sometimes appear inside gated communities where the fences between plots are low or easily visible.
In villages or inside gated communities you can still find low, visible fences
In this regard, there is a lot to learn from foreign countries with developed practices of home decorative gardening. What kind of artistic techniques can you find in the design of small plots of land under the windows or in front of the entrance to a Dutch, German or Belgian house. It seems that the owners of small private properties compete with each other in terms of decorating the local area. Despite the overabundance of means of expressing the individuality of a site and the passion for eclecticism, many implemented projects fully withstand the most serious criticism and can serve as an object for creative reflection and imitation.
Within one street, various front gardens replace each other, like pictures in a kaleidoscope. Flat parterres and compositions using geoplastic techniques are adjacent, miniature slides, retaining walls and borders made of wood or stone rise. Concrete containers, ceramic flowerpots and boxes made from boards and old sleepers are hidden under cascades of hanging annuals.
Design of the area in front of the house, tiled paving dominates here
Numerous options for paving and filling the surface with crushed stone, pebbles or gravel screenings alternate with the greenery of short-cropped tiny lawns. There are large stones: boulders, flat slabs or angular fragments of rock, reminiscent of islands, surrounded by a foamy surf of sedums, chives or thyme.
Many areas are dominated by flower front gardens, which reveal all the benefits of continuous flowering gardens. Often there are so-called staffage elements - objects made of stone, metal or wood: intricate sculptures, hollowed out flower boxes, birdbaths, antique plows and anchors, as well as original garden furniture made from driftwood or roots.
Often in front gardens there are intricate sculptures and original furniture made from natural materials, old garden tools and other vintage items.
Old stumps and wood cuts are turned into flowerpots or pedestals. Stone sculptures depicting animals and birds compete with funny wooden figures made of twigs and thin twigs.
You can decorate the space around your home in a variety of ways. For inspiration, additional knowledge about techniques for arranging a garden area is always useful. In the book by Andrei Lysikov “Beautiful Gardens. Secrets of landscape designers", which can be purchased in the official online store of the publishing house, you will find many practical tips on the design of the local area and other areas of your garden.
On the windowsill
Of course, only a wide and strong window sill is suitable for such a purpose, so if necessary, the existing one will have to be expanded and strengthened - this is not so difficult. It is also possible to install a wide bench directly under the window, if it is located above a comfortable level.
To create a cozy environment, you only need a little: a soft seat, a few extra pillows and a cozy blanket. A shelf nearby or a folding table on the slope would not be superfluous - it would comfortably accommodate a lamp, a book, or a cup of aromatic drink.
