How To Make The Most Of Your Hallway

All too often the hallway gets neglected, especially in the design world. If a house had a personality, then the hallway would be its heart and soul: the core of the home where all should be revealed. It is the first thing that anyone is going to see about your home hence, it is paramount for it to look good and give off a sense of who you are as a person.

Having said that, to achieve this goal and make your hallway stand out from all the other rooms in the house (as well as give up its “afterthought” status), consider the following ideas.

Create An Organized Storage Centre

With its low doorways, small floor area, and tendency to be dark and foreboding, most people don't give their hallways much thought. But if you're willing to think outside the box (and inside the hall), this tiny space can become an organizational dream come true. Here are some practical storage solutions you can incorporate:

Wall Hangers

Wall hangers are one of the most convenient ways to store coats and jackets, scarves and gloves, hats, umbrellas and other items that you don't want to leave lying around the house. They are made of metal and wood, with hooks on the front. The number of hooks can vary but usually the bigger the hanger, the more the hooks.

As well as being useful, wall hangers are also incredibly stylish and can make a plain wall look incredibly chic. You can get ones in a variety of colours and finishes to match your style or décor. 

Cabinets

A cabinet is a great way to add storage to your hallway. They come in a variety of different styles and designs can be used to store anything from shoes, books, keys, mail to other small items. Unlike traditional furniture, cabinets used for hallways are much, much smaller in nature and often comprise of only a handful of compartments, drawers or a combination of both. Similarly, their dimensions are carefully selected to maximize the storage offered without cramping up the space. 

Depending on where you have more space, you can either hang these cabinets on the wall or place them on the floor. 

Hanging Drawers

Hanging drawers are great storage solutions because they're flexible, allowing you to change the configuration as your needs evolve. You can add more drawers as needed, or remove them when they're no longer needed. Plus, they don't occupy floor space like bookshelves do.

Wall mounted storage drawers are great for small objects like keys, wallets and sunglasses. They can also be used to store pens, paperclips, scissors and other office accessories. 

Storage Benches

Storage benches are a great way to add extra storage space to your entryway and they're also a stylish way to make your home more organized. If you already have a bookcase in your hallway and want to create more storage space with the same piece of furniture, it's easy to do. Storage benches are fairly modest in size, use very little floor space and come in a variety of styles, so you can find one that will match your existing decor.

You can also find multi-functional benches that not only provide storage space but also impress with their high-quality upholstery. As a result, the bench serves as a practical seating spot for removing shoes and boots and likewise becomes a convenient place to store extra items like gloves, hats, shoes, umbrellas and other items. 

Mountable Shelves

Wall shelves can add to the functionality and style of your home. They are a great way to store things that are not used on a regular basis, but still need to be accessible. The shelves used for hallways, however, are even more practical in nature and often resemble a single, open compartment. 

These mountable pieces of furniture are a brilliant way to showcase souvenirs, decorations and memorable photos of your friends or family in the hallway. The more you personalize their content, the more inviting and intimate it will become. 

Personalize It With Art

The focal point of your hallway should be a strong visual element, like a piece of art. If you have limited wall space, you can still add color and texture with freshly cut flowers in a vase or even a collection of miniature shoes in a shadow box. This is also an ideal spot for showcasing family heirlooms like silverware or china patterns that were passed down from grandparents to parents to kids.

Arrange family photos and artwork along the walls to showcase your favorite things. Your hallway doesn't need to be big or fancy to make an impression on visitors; some small changes can go a long way toward making this space your own. If you're an avid runner, put up a few of your medals or a framed race program. And if you have kids, think about hanging some of their artwork or handprints. The possibilities are endless, don't be afraid to get creative! 

The key to making the most out of your hallways is to make it personal. There are no rules, just follow your instincts and choose items that speak to you and portray who you are as a person.

Add The Illusion Of Space

When it comes to home design, sometimes the smallest details can make the biggest difference. Tight hallways can feel even more cramped when they're lined with doors and furniture. Mirrors will reflect light, brightening up the area and making it feel airy.

Hanging a mirror across from your front door creates an illusion of space, making it appear as if there are more rooms off of the hallway than there actually are. If someone's standing at your front door, they'll have an unobstructed view down the hallway to see you as soon as you come in — no one likes surprises!

If you hang a mirror across from a window, you can use it as a reflector to bounce light around a room or outside onto your yard in order to save money on electrical costs.

If you're ever in doubt which way to hang a mirror, let the rule of thirds be your guide. The rule of thirds says that if you imagine your room being divided by a grid into nine equal rectangles, you should position important elements like furniture and mirrors along those lines or at the points where they intersect. By placing mirrors along these axes, you'll create more interesting arrangements and avoid symmetry and repetition.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, we’ve just given you a quick primer on how to make the most of your hallway. Hopefully, you’re starting to see how it can be an effective design element—not just a space for coats and a pile of shoes. But the core ideas here are simple: keep it well lit, keep it open and airy, stuff it with your favourite items, and don’t hide any unsightly necessities. The end result should be an inviting and stylish space that makes your home stand out from the crowd. 


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