Decorating Ideas for a Long Hallway

Lighting is extremely important in a long hallway that does not receive much natural light.

Hallways are often overlooked by homeowners when decorating a home. However, as the passageway between rooms, hallways play a significant role in the home's overall flow and vibe. The decor in a long hallway is especially important because using the wrong decorating elements may make guests feel as if they are on a never-ending journey when they walk down it. If you are unsure how to decorate a long hallway in your home, a few ideas can point you in the right direction so your home is as inviting as the rest of your home.

Mark the End

To help make a long hallway seem shorter, find a way to clearly mark its end. Painting the wall at the hall's conclusion a dark, bold color to contrast with the hallway's light walls is a simple and inexpensive to mark the end. If the hallway is narrow as well as long, the lighter colored walls will help the space seem wider while the darker shade at the end helps give the impression that the hallway is not as long as it truly is. Placing a large potted plant or tree at the back wall of the hallway is another way to mark its end because guests will always have the feeling that they are moving toward something.

Stagger Art Work

In a long hallway, you should place artwork along the walls so guests have something to look at as they navigate the space and so the distance does not feel quite as long. Staggering artwork along the walls helps to keep guests in motion as they move from one piece to the next. Placing a series of photos or paintings that are related or that have a similar theme can take the guesswork out of choosing your artwork and can help unify the space visually.

Remember the Floor

In a long narrow hallway, providing visual interest wherever possible helps give guests the sense that their journey is shorter than it actually is. Many homeowners focus on the walls as the main place to add color, pattern and artwork, but do not overlook your hallway's floor. In particular, it is an ideal place to create visual interest without adding too much bulk to a long, narrow hallway. A long runner with a bold color or funky pattern is a traditional option for the floor in a long hallway, but a brightly painted wood floor or a tile floor with checkerboard patterns are also attractive options. You may also want to try a faux marble or tile finish for your hallway floor as well.

Add Light

Many hallways lack exposure to natural light because they do not have windows. In a long hallway, the lack of sunlight can make the space feel even darker and longer than it actually is. When decorating your hall, add plenty of light along the way so guests can see where they are going and so the space has a brighter, more cheerful feel. Recessed lighting in the ceiling is an effective option, but pendant lights are ideal for adding visual interest to the hall and brightening it at the same time. No matter what type of lighting fixture you choose, use bulbs that give off a soft glow that mimics natural light to give the hallway a warmer look.

References

• Home Decorating Coach: Walking Through Home, Decorating a Long Narrow Hallway
• Interior Design: What to do with a long hallway?
• Desire to Inspire: Reader request -- long narrow hallway