you are at it give the hallway a good clean, scrub down the wood work and remove scuffs and marks
from the walls. If the carpet is a little worn you can replace with a runner or a rug to freshen the space e
up or alternatively reveal the wooden floor underneath.
Do not clash too many different decorating styles and looks, especially if the entrance hall is fairly small
or it will feel claustrophobic. Instead it is better to choose a few key features to enhance the hallway and
add some colour with a bright piece of artwork or if it won’t crowd the space too much, paint or
wallpaper one wall with a bold colour or prints. If there is a dado rail you can paint or wallpaper
underneath this for an amazing effect and keep the colour above to the ceiling a light shade to make the
space seem bigger. And if there isn’t one, you can easily purchase the decorative molding and fit it
horizontally around the perimeter of the room, about a metre from the floor line. Or be slightly less
conventional and just wallpaper cupboard doors to create a focal point.
Lighting is very important in the entrance hall as if poorly lit it will feel dark and gloomy, but too much
direct overhead lighting can be harsh. The lighting should be warm and welcoming. Try using small lights
directed to bounce the light off the walls and place a mirror at one end to make the area feel larger and
brighter.
Whether you have a grand entrance hall or a small foyer, this is an important room in the house as it is
where we greet guests and also gives a glimpse into our homes and our lives. For the house owner, it is
just a space you pass through to get to the kitchen or the lounge or up the stairs and therefore often
gets forgotten when considering the overall decoration and design of the home. You should consider the
entrance hall the way your guests do.
Entrance halls and corridors often have high ceilings and narrow spaces so it is important to keep a
sense of scale and proportion. It can be difficult to decide on the boundaries when decorating the
hallway as it can be tricky to decide where the entrance hall ends and the stairs begin. The simplest way
is to keep the colour neutral through-out and then it does not matter too much where you decide to
start the second storey. Alternatively you can create a stunning look with contrasting palettes or using a
bold, pattern up the stairs.