If you're looking for ideas to transform a workaday hallway into a space with personality, take a few minutes to look through this gallery of inspirational pictures. Whether your style is sober and restrained or weird and wacky, you should find something to fire your imagination.
Your hallway is the space that welcomes you home after a busy day, the last place you see before you leave the house and the first thing your friends and family encounter when they come to visit. So take the time to decorate it with care rather than treating it as a dumping ground for coats, boots and unopened post.
The essentials are probably a table or chair, a place to hang up coats and brollies, perhaps a mirror, if you've got room. Apart from that, you can be brave with your scheme, bold colours work well in small spaces as do daring wallpapers or wall art. A focal point such as a collection of pictures or accessories displayed on a wall can work well, or consider an oversized clock which is useful as well as striking.
If you love a certain style, use that as inspiration for the decoration. Country-lovers can use rustic baskets for storage, cover walls with panelling or position a print of a rural scene on the wall. Modernistas can play it cool and choose a few stylish accessories to complete the look, while fans of vintage could invest in a traditional coat stand and a recycled console table or sideboard. Whatever you choose, decorate your hallway to say 'welcome to my home!'
1/10 Hallway with feature wall
Looking for a fun and interesting way to add character to your hallway? Display a group of sun hats on hooks to create a unique feature wall. A classic hatstand keeps trenches and brollies to hand for cooler, wetter days.
Get the look
Buy now: Home Metal Hat and Coat Stand, £39.99, Argos
2/10 Hallway with map montage
Using wrapping paper in a montage is an inexpensive decorative option for a hallway, above painted tongue-and-groove panelling.
Get the look
Buy now: World Map Wrapping Paper (used as wallpaper), £6.95 for 5 sheets, Dotcomgiftshop
3/10 Hallway with oversized clock wall decal
Wall stickers and decals are a great way to add character at a minimal cost. Eradicate the need for a real clock with this unusual, oversized design.
Get the look
Buy now: Working Clock Wall Sticker, £37, Not on the High Street
4/10 Eclectic mirrored hallway
A collection of unusual mirrors grouped on to a wall creates an interesting, impressive and unique display. This one has the look of a honeycomb.
Get the look
Buy now: Quirky Wall Mirrors, from a selection at Amara
5/10 Hallway with woodland mural
Nature lovers rejoice! Digitally printed scenes are a modern alternative to wallpaper. Although murals can sometimes be costly, they have the ability to completely rejuvenate a scheme. Here, this woodland themed design provides a pretty country look in the hallway.
Get the look
Buy now: Wall Mural, Surface View
6/10 Painterly blue hallway
Cheap and readily available, paint is a great way to spruce up a dull hallway. Here, a palette of cobalt blue, deep plum and little hits of turquoise, violet and chartreuse really make this space sing. Oversized picture frames containing dreamy watercolour artwork give the space a cool and tranquil feel.
Get the look
Buy now: Ercol Originals Loveseat Colour Finish, £840, Heal's
Buy now: Dulux Paint shades of Blue , from selection at Wickes
7/10 Yellow hallway with brilliant accessories
Go bold with a daring mix of clashing colours, all chosen to excite the senses. Glass candleholders in bold jewel colours along with contrasting textures create a warm, rich feel in this traditional hallway.
Get the look
Buy now: Colourful Candleholders, from a selection at Graham & Green
8/10 White panelled hallway with wall pegs
Ever thought to hang your furniture on wall pegs? Us neither. But this could well and truly change your mind. With its pared-back looks, this quirky design feature is sure to get the guests talking. Musical chairs, anyone?
Get the look
Buy now: Comback Swivel Chair, £422, Kartell at Amara
9/10 Hallway with oversized lamp
Go big or go home! This oversized floor lamp is a complete scene stealer. Pair it with a statement wallpaper for a scheme that screams 'look at me'.
Get the look
Buy now: Kings Road Swing Arm Floor Lamp, £107.99, Wayfair
10/10 Hallway with cable knit pouffes
If you're looking for extra seating when entertaining, it doesn't get simpler than the humble floor cushion. Circular-knit pouffes provide stylish seating in this hallway. When not in use they can be stowed away in colourful stacks and they'll look just as striking.
Get the look
Buy now: Knitted Pouffe, £85, Loaf
We hope these handy tips will inspire you to jazz up your hallway, making guests stop in their tracks to admire your handy work.
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