I am a busy mom to four and I am completely obsessed with all things house and home. I have an eye for pretty and love to write about making beautiful and livable spaces at my blog www.shabbynest.blogspot.com .
I am a busy mom to four and I am completely obsessed with all things house... More »
When considering all the rooms in a house, hallways rarely come to mind. They are often thought of as utilitarian, a means to an end. But this doesn't have to be the case.
Given the right treatment, hallways can become spaces to stop and rest. They can be visually appealing. They can add usable square footage to a home. They can add storage. And they can do it all beautifully.
To see the potential that lurks behind the utilitarian facade, check out these inspirational hallways. Who knows? You may just find that your hallway can be your favorite room in the house!
If you're lucky enough to have a hallway that runs along the end of your home, why not add french doors? The addition of all that glass allows light to poor in and brightens your home's interior.
Sometimes a little architectural detail is all you need to add interest to a space. The exposed beams in this hallway add a visual punch to what could be just another boring tunnel.
Unexpected shapes in architecture can make a hallway a focal point. The round landing at the top of these stairs, echoed by the circular opening in the ceiling, makes this hallway a real conversation piece.
This hallway really adds extra living space to this home. With beadboard wainscoting and draperies on the windows, as well as the pretty settee in the window nook, it lures family members to curl up and stay awhile.
This entry hallway is functional and pretty. With the addition of a built-in bench, complete with shoe storage beneath, it does double duty as an attractive mudroom.
There is a large closet in my hall which contains my laundry, so I have made a long, pretty table with a padded top for folding, wrapping and ironing, with a mirror and narrow shelf above. double duty!
Thanks for the hallway post. I love the look of the Lewis / Schoeplein architects photo. We sell cement tile so we are forever encouraging people to use them to jazz up otherwise boring hallways. In you photo, not only do the glass doors on either side bring in lots of interest and light, the cement tile floor certainly contributes to the liveliness of the passageway. Maybe after seeing this great post, more people will realize the fun they can have in a hallway. http://www.VillaLagoonTile.com
Thanks for this great post. I've been collecting pictures of hallways for about a year. I'd like to do built-ins, but I'm just waiting for the money tree to grow.
What a coincidence. As I renovate my bathroom, I've ripped the drywall off the neighbouring hallway walls in preparation for building bookcases between the studs - it's a very narrow hallway in a very tiny house. Every square inch counts!
Just curious...how does that glass ceiling in the first picture work? Do they walk on it? How do they clean it? I love the idea and would like to use it.
I have been looking for something to make my very long hallway more interesting and I think the dark paint ceiling and wainscoting on #8 would work. A nice light fixture would also help. thanks for the great post!
