Love bookcases for my ever growing book collection

I like the photo gallery. I have that in my hallway - both sides and up the steps and down that hallway. We call it our "hall of fame."

I voted for the gallery idea. Hallways are the PERFECT place to hang family photos. In fact, depending on how many you have, devoting an entire hallway wall to one family member is a great way to celebrate that person (who doesn't love to be celebrated?). For example, in my parents' home, the walls of the long, narrow hall between the master bedroom and office are filled with pieces highlighting my retired dad's career milestones (framed newspaper articles, a brass doorknob from a building in which he worked that was presented to him by the employees in appreciation of his contributions, a really cool caricature, etc.) as well as some highlights from his personal life (including a framed "certificate" commemorating the hole-in-one he shot while golfing with his buddies—which they all signed). Displaying these things in a private corridor, away from main living areas, allows him to pause and reflect on all he's achieved without "showing off" to visitors.

@erplaut: you're right-on about keeping art out of harm's way--the sun!--by displaying favorite pieces in a hall. I have underestimated just how much damage can be done to not only artwork, but furniture, wood flooring, and rugs, by placing them in rooms that get a lot of direct sunlight. To that end I've had Vista window film installed on all the windows on the front side of my house (because we can't move EVERYTHING to a interior hallway!) and it's really great stuff.

If the hall is narrow, a wall of pictures loses its impact, you can't really look at them, and there probably would be a better place to display them to advantage. I love the idea of having a "destination" in a long narrow hallway, so my choice would be the runner. The colours are cheerful, the horizontal stripe widens the space and it either leads you in to the house, or shows you out. That gets my vote for that particular hallway. Though every home and every hallway demands its own special treatment.

Leslie
My vote is for the book shelves, as that is what I did in my upstairs hallway. I would have loved to do built ins unfortunately we didn't think of it before hand. Either way it a great way/place to display or store your favorite books that you just cant get rid of. Now all I need is a bigger hallway!!!!

Love the bookshelves

I also love the bookcases. It is the perfect place for rows of books.

Pictures make it more home like

Love the picture gallery. I inherited many family photo's when my Mom died and I love looking at them and sharing them with family and friends

two demi - lune tables and a needlepoint tufted chair and hung art work from studioi8.com

I like pendant lighting. It can add character to any space even very small. In addition with a good choice of lighting we can go from a simple contemporary look to opulent baroque style.

I just repainted my hallway a beautiful light tan and then painted a huge chocolate brown tree! Finally, I added my favorite pictures of our family in various sizes and shapes and finished with a birdhouse! I love it! ♥

I like the bookcases. Adds just the right amount of homeyness!

I like the lighting since it is unique and simple, but those lights sure would look amazing with that rug!

Love the book shelves. Sometimes, room can be found under staircases and in the space between studs in a wall that allows the bookcase to be slightly recessed. This may be just the borrowed space needed to keep a narrow hallway from becoming too narrow. Found this photo on houzz.

None of the above! I want to be drawn into the home.

I like the table or the hallway with color and a picture at the end. I really like an almost empty hallway. No clutter and simply draws you in.

CONGRATULATIONS to Bill Yockey for winning a Houzz t-shirt! If you missed out on this one, you still have a chance to get your comments into our Budget Decorator poll!
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/poll-budget-decorator-dsvw-vd~847310

A big basket for shoes that are shed the moment someone walks in (all my family does this! A table with a lamp to draw people into the warmth of your home.

I love the idea of the family tree painted on the wall, but would rather have eit in a larger room like maybe the den. It is really a cute way to show off family pictures!

use an old door with lites, add pictures and hooks, and voila!

sabway, this is a very creative idea. Love it!

A person should follow their ancestral heritage. In my case Celtic. That would mean heads of my enemies displayed on the walls. Does anyone know how I can get MILs head home on the plane undetected by sniffer dogs? Lavender bags maybe? Does anyone know a reputable faux head manufacturer? Hanging instructions also needed.

Conversation with MIL in my hall :- MIL criticise , repeat x infinity
Me :- "quit while you're a head."

Picture wall adds personality to the hallway and what better place to show off!!!

I am planning a picture wall to display all my awards and family pictures since I was forced to declutter my wall unit.

I hate dark dank dingy hallways. The whiter, lighter, the better. Easy to pass through.

Put two sets of lights up, one for 'fashion runway' bright so if I want to see where I'm going or do something like clean big muddy dog prints, cat urp, or big muddy hubby shoeprints; I can see to do the job. The other set, go to LED strip running lights for at night 'I need to get from A to B and not break my face' to get there.

In some places, running art along one or both walls may be fine; it depends on what the hallway links or what opens to the hall. If it is a back door or front door type end; some way of containing the water, dirt, mud, snow, etc at the door, catch coats and boots and shoes; the mail, the paper, and all those other things; is very important.

If it's a short hall off to the master suite, it might be a good place to put the laundry alcove; or lots of storage in a wide hall space. Built in wall drawers and such; for linens and a few seasonals (such as light windbreakers or such that might be used infrequently). If it banks to a lookover into a main lower area (say a stairs goes up to it then it proceeds to bedrooms) it would be perfect for a gallery, and if wide enough, some benching to admire the art or whatever...

There is no one catchall here. I had a very dim hallway here that led from the living area to the 'public' bathroom and two bedrooms and it was the usual dim as all getout; even with a fixture with 3 60 watt bulbs. Painted it all white, paneling and all. Nope. Had a dead end at the bedroom doors so I put 72" long mirror strips on the end wall trying to brighten it up... hubby flicked on light, walked down it, and yelled for me. That mirror on the end wall apparently was enough to make him want to diet, and he hated it. I lugged him the scale, and the mirrors stayed up until the remodel started. Most of one side's wall was removed; that finally lightened the space up (wall was not structural, it had been built of 1x3's and 1/4" luan based paneling, I do not kid)

If you have enough hallway I do like the idea of bookcases along them as well, but again you need width.

Army, Houzzers didn't force you did they? What did they threaten you with? Swagged valances? Secretly painting your walls puce when you were out? Fabric ducks in bonnets called Jenny?

Yes, we have bookcases, but don't know what we'll do if we're in a wheelchair.

@chookchook2-No I had all my daughters, family members pictures posted on top of and inside wall unit. It needed it. LOL

Could use Jenny as a decoy duck. The other ducks would be so flabbergasted they'd sit still for you to bag them. Duck a'lorange.

http://m.wikihow.com/Own-a-Stuffed-Duck

Thanks chookchook.

Don't just leave it in the hall. Like Wiki says, take it to the park. As long as it wipes its feet when it gets back. Need a rug inside the front door. As we teach our kitten:- "one foot, two foot, red foot, blue foot."

The kitten thinks we're normal.

It was between the photos and bookcases - but a picture can tell a whole story in a single moment. Love pictures!

Door was left open

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clover_1/2476294729/in/photolist-qJH2T-6bX93T-4LPE9H-6bgJH5-66WQJu-qJGYy-aFR94e-aFR86x-8it2yw-bm4yEP-bm4yQK-bm4yZt-4zMUzn-3QGpB-4tyHbV-4Mjajw-aFR8xV-qGFaR-6GN1L-bm4D86-bmvi4r-bmvi1F-bmviZZ-bmvj5a-bmvjyP-bmvjwa-bm4zke-bm4zf2-bm4zsz-JRdL4-bm4AWr-bm4B5P-7JsHcb-7JoMnv-afVtHU-4hcNGp-6BYFQS-8HAKrj-8HAKym-8HAKGq-NvEQf-bjBwBx-bjBwng-bjBwqZ-8RRi71-7TabcM-bjBwmn-LdVaf-bmvipH-bmviuD-bmviz4/

Enjoying escape from the hall

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizettegreco/279928641/in/photolist-qJH2T-6bX93T-4LPE9H-6bgJH5-66WQJu-qJGYy-aFR94e-aFR86x-8it2yw-bm4yEP-bm4yQK-bm4yZt-4zMUzn-3QGpB-4tyHbV-4Mjajw-aFR8xV-qGFaR-6GN1L-bm4D86-bmvi4r-bmvi1F-bmviZZ-bmvj5a-bmvjyP-bmvjwa-bm4zke-bm4zf2-bm4zsz-JRdL4-bm4AWr-bm4B5P-7JsHcb-7JoMnv-afVtHU-4hcNGp-6BYFQS-8HAKrj-8HAKym-8HAKGq-NvEQf-bjBwBx-bjBwng-bjBwqZ-8RRi71-7TabcM-bjBwmn-LdVaf-bmvipH-bmviuD-bmviz4/

I love the picture gallery,,,when you take a walk through the hallway, its like reminiscing those precious moments that you have captured and framed. we will really feel energized n happy. its the best idea to decorate your hallway.... a walk that hive us the flashes of the life that we lived till this moment.

*give

Being an Artist/Painter myself I am quite partial to the Picture Gallery. You can never go wrong with displaying Art that you love.

You can find many nautical theme framed art here http://gonautical.com/nautical-decor-c-2.html

Perfect "gallery" space for extra large art, sculpture and fabulous light fixtures.

I like the photo gallery because it adds a cozy warm family feel to your home while making your hallway the most talked about hallway on the block!

I would go with the cabinet and/or book cases because they can be individualized and show more of the owners personality

I love the bookcases because as a huge reader I'm always running out of places to keep them. They always seem to multiply when I'm not looking! ;-)

I would definately place a cabinet for shoes (slim enough) and above it I would place either a canvas paint of a relaxing place, or photo frames of my family and friends. :-)

I just realized this is an old post/poll after I took pictures so am posting them because I enjoy my entryway. The lighting patterns on the reflective ceiling and walls adds an interesting combo. The first two views are from the front door and the last is looking at the front door (which I had painted red just like the outside of the door).