28 Jan How to Create a ‘Wow’ First Impression in Narrow Hallways and Entrance Ways

How to Create a ‘Wow’ First Impression in Narrow Hallways and Entrance Ways

They say you only get one chance to make a first impression. So, what do your visitors see when you open the door to your home? Your entrance foyer and hallway are the first things that will catch their eye to achieve a quick house sale. Have you ever wondered what impression your house or flat is giving off? 

It is a sad fact that hallways are often overlooked. Many entrance areas are small, narrow and dark, with not much to offer in terms of architectural interest other than that they lead you somewhere more exciting in the house. And when it comes to interior design, your options are limited to what you can do with a hallway. But are they really? 

If you are motivated to increase the appeal of your hallway and transform a lacklustre space into somewhere beautiful and engaging to greet your guests, then read on.

Take the eyes up…

No one wants to enter a home through a dark and dingy hallway, so proper lighting is a key priority. If there’s a window or a partially glazed front door, you have the advantage of natural light coming in. But adding functional and attractive light fittings are always a good idea to make the area as bright and welcoming as possible, both day and night. For narrow hallways, wall-mounted uplighters might be the best space-saving way to do this, and you can add a string of fairy lights running the length of the hallway for a more decorative touch. A large hallway with high ceilings can even take a chandelier, which not only looks stunning but diffuses the light beautifully.

…and look down

Next, take the eye down to the floor – what do you see there? Shabby floorboards or tiles, or perhaps functional yet forgettable fitted carpets? Why not ramp up the ambience with fresh flooring and transform the area into an inviting and stylish arrival hub? Instead of traditional hard flooring solutions, we recommend super practical LVT flooring such as Karndean because “just imagine the joy of walking on wood effect planks that are quiet underfoot, or elegant ceramic tiles that never crack, and intricate mosaic designs that always feel warm,” as one leading supplier sums up eloquently. Top it off with a fluffy runner rug in a bold colour or a Persian style carpet for added sophistication.

Make a style statement

If your hallway is a shade of beige, perhaps it’s time you added some visual excitement to make your visitors look up and take notice. A neutral colour scheme doesn’t have to be boring, obviously, but you do have to work that bit harder to inject a sense of fun and energy into the overall feel of the room. Had you considered bold wallpaper along the entire length of one side of the hallway – think floral, exotic and geometric patterns? Here’s a great selection. The best thing about wallpaper is that it can be applied with minimum effort for maximum return. Complement with a dark, moody colour palette on the other side of the room for an atmospheric result. 

Adorn the walls

Narrow hallways usually don’t have much space for furniture, but there’s plenty of wall space you can play with. Mirrors are an obvious solution for entrance halls, not only because they enable you to check how you look before you leave the house, but because they help bounce the light around and give the illusion of a bigger, brighter space. For added interest, choose mirrors (who says you can only have one?) with interesting frames or in unusual shapes. Don’t forget to add artwork too. Long narrow hallways are perfect for a gallery wall that you can easily create yourself with your personally curated selection of pictures in funky frames.

Maximise the use of space

With small and narrow areas, some clever thinking to make the most of the available space will go a long way. As a minimum requirement, you will need sufficient storage for coats and jackets, shoes and bags. Is there an alcove that could be turned into a coats cupboard, a perfect solution to keep your hallway free of clutter? What about a freestanding coat ‘tree’ or a wall-mounted coat rack? If the space allows, invest in a shoe storage seat or bench which doubles up on functionality and looks inviting. Wicker storage baskets are a stylish and tactile accessory and can be placed on the floor or high-up on floating shelves. Where space is at a premium, the old William Morris quote really comes into its own: Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe beautiful.