Interior Decorating for Hallways

Hallways are transitional spaces.

A hallway is an interior passageway that joins two or more rooms or areas together. The rooms connected to a hallway are part of the view from the hallway, as the hallway is part of the view seen from inside the rooms.

Decorative Function

Since hallways are tied to multiple other spaces, the décor should complement the interior design of those areas. A neutral palette, including white, ivory, gray, stone and brown, is ideal in most hallways, partially because it establishes a visual flow, and partially because it will still coordinate with any future room decor changes.

Furniture and Lighting

Some hallways are too narrow or short to practically contain furniture. Console tables typically decorate wide or long hallways. Especially large hallways may also have a bench, a pair of chairs or chest of drawers. Hallway furniture tends to be as functional as it is decorative. Table lamps or wall sconces are common hallway lighting options.

Walls and Floors

Hallways are ideal for showcasing artwork, especially if the space is too narrow for furniture. If the joining rooms are fairly neutral, the hallway can be a place to use bold wallpaper combined with sleek wood floors, or a patterned rug in combination with saturated or jewel-tone paint colors.

References

• "Domino: The Book of Decorating"; Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, Dara Caponigro; 2008