How to Decorate a Hall Wall

Hallways don't often make the front cover of design magazines, but these are important "liminal spaces", where we transition from one state to another. How do you want a guest to feel as they enter your home? How do you want to start your day walking from the bedroom to the kitchen? There's no one right answer in design, so play with these ideas until you find something that sings to you.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Hang a mirror for a bright, spacious look.

1. Mirrors are a great solution for dim, cramped hallways. Don't be afraid to go large—this is your chance to decorate your wall and make the hallway feel roomier at the same time.
   
   • To make the mirror a focal point, hang it at eye level across from the entryway. Consider an ensemble with low furniture underneath, choosing shapes and styles that contrast pleasingly with the mirror frame.^[1][2]
   • Maximize natural light by placing a large mirror opposite a window or on the adjoining wall 90º from the window. Enhance the illusion with a mirror frame that mimics window panes.^[3]
   • Multiple mirrors can be pleasingly eclectic. Place them on the same wall or position them carefully to avoid an infinite reflection.

[Edit]Install floating shelves for more decor space.

1. Create your own space for display or lighting. Hang floating shelves if you want to display keepsakes, books, or houseplants.^[4] A high shelf is also a good place to keep a lamp, if your hallway is dimly lit and too short for ceiling lighting.
   
   • Even a narrow hallway can use a shallow shelf to prop up artwork instead of hanging them. This makes it easy to swap out the art often, or to display album covers and other pieces you can't easily frame.^[5]

[Edit]Accessorize with practical items.

1. Choose cohesive pieces for your bench, storage, or coat hooks. Entry hallways need some space for shoes and purses anyway, so make the design intentional. A cute ensemble of a shoe tray under a bench or a coat rack next to a console table keeps everything tidy.^[6]
   
   • To make this more of a focal point, hang a painting or a mirror over the furniture.

[Edit]Arrange a picture gallery on your wall.

1. A picture gallery takes the prize in compactness and customizability. You can arrange a small constellation of art across from the entryway, or cover the whole corridor with photographs and prints. If you're intimidated by the design challenge, follow these tips:^[7]
   
   • The easiest, but also most formal, choice is a grid of similar pieces of the same size.
   • For a more informal but still balanced arrangement, build around a horizontal line. Center half the pieces slightly above the line, and half slightly below.
   • Invent your own arrangement by laying out the art on the floor. Start with the largest piece and shuffle the other pieces around it to roughly balance the colors and sizes across the gallery.
   • A variety of sizes and picture frame styles helps create a more fun, informal gallery. If you're worried about a messy look, keep a consistent spacing between frames—try .

[Edit]Hang a cloth wall covering.

1. Play with texture as well as color by hanging fabric. A tapestry, decorative cloth, or even a vintage scarf gives you a lot of textural options to play with. Hang it over a rod, nail the corners directly to the wall, or drape it canopy-style around a ceiling corner to create a softer space. Mount it onto a baseboard or stretch it over a frame instead to fill the role of a focal art piece.^[8]
   

[Edit]Create a vertical plant wall.

1. Grow herbs, succulents, and other small plants in vertical planters. Hanging small planters from your walls or ceiling sets any hallway apart.
   
   • A succulent frame is a great low-upkeep, space-saving choice. To make one yourself, grow succulent cuttings in a planting frame with hardware mesh over the soil. In two or three months, the roots will anchor firmly through the mesh, and you can hang the frame vertically as a "living picture frame."^[9]
   • If your hallway has low natural light, choose low-light houseplants like philodendra, peace lilies, or Chinese evergreens. If growing from seed, start them in a brighter room first.^[10]

[Edit]Paint trim and doors a subtle color.

1. Low contrast with your walls prevents a "boxed in" feeling. A white trim around dark walls (or vice versa) draws the eye to the narrow borders of the hallway. Unless your hallway has plenty of light, it's usually best to keep your trim and door color similar to your walls'.^[11]
   

[Edit]Go monochrome for a modern look.

1. Accentuate a mostly white space with black elements. If clean, modern design is the style that calls to you, paint most of the hallway in white or beige. A sparing use of black then adds interest to the space without sacrificing the elegance at the core of this style.^[12] For instance, use black or a dark, earthy colour on door frames, stair railings, picture frames, or furniture with clean, straight lines.
   

[Edit]Paint hallway walls to feel large and bright.

1. Neutral or cool colours are best for small hallways. Neutral colours like cream or grey make the room feel brighter. Cool colours like blue or green make walls feel further away, although softer examples with warm undertones help them feel cozy rather than gloomy. Warm, saturated yellows and reds jump out at the viewer, which can feel claustrophobic unless your hallway is quite wide.^[13]
   
   • Don't want to give up on your favourite warm color? Choose a "near-neutral" version of it with a pale, low-intensity appearance.^[14]

[Edit]Create two-tone walls for variety.

1. Decorate the lower walls with wainscoting or a different paint. This is a good way to add interest to a hallway with limited space for furnishings. There are countless style options, from embossed wallpaper under a dado rail to the simple vertical planks of beadboard.^[15] You can even just paint the lower part of the wall a different shade, with a stark dividing line or a gentle ombré fade.
   
   • This typically looks best on the lower third of the wall, but there's some wiggle room.^[16] Adjust it slightly so the top aligns with other design elements, or try a 2/3 height for a bolder look.^[17]

[Edit]Make a statement with an accent wall.

1. Contrast the design of one wall to focus attention. An accent wall can simply be a different color than the others, or you can jazz up the hallway with geometric patterns, floral wallpaper, or a one-of-a-kind painted artwork directly on the wall. Sticking to just one wall allows for these bold designs that might overwhelm a small space if used on all sides.^[18]
   

[Edit]References

1. ↑ [v161384_b01]. 24 April 2020.
2. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/how-to-decorate-with-mirrors-without-turning-your-room-into-a-fun-house/2019/06/18/95f19818-87af-11e9-a491-25df61c78dc4_story.html
3. ↑ https://blog.oka.com/en-us/expert-designs/design-tips-mirrors/
4. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/entryway-decorating-ideas-36800537
5. ↑ https://www.upcyclist.co.uk/2017/02/narrow-corridors/
6. ↑ https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/entryway-ideas/tips/g2454/fake-an-entryway/?slide=5
7. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/28/realestate/tips-creating-a-gallery-wall.html
8. ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-hang-a-tapestry
9. ↑ https://worldofsucculents.com/grow-vertical-succulent-garden/
10. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/lighting-indoor-plants#low-light-plants-1622110
11. ↑ https://thecasacollective.com/painting-interior-doors-trim-walls-color/
12. ↑ https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a23513276/modern-design-style/
13. ↑ https://www.realhomes.com/advice/how-to-choose-the-perfect-paint-colours-for-every-room-in-your-home
14. ↑ https://thelandofcolor.com/gray-area-how-to-identify-near-neutrals/
15. ↑ https://www.oldhouseonline.com/interiors-and-decor/wainscot-paneling-for-old-houses/
16. ↑ https://laurelberninteriors.com/2021/02/21/all-about-wainscoting-the-one-thing-you-must-not-do/
17. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/wainscoting-height-260241
18. ↑ https://www.realhomes.com/advice/decorating-ideas-for-hallways