In most homes the entrance hall is a relatively small space that fails to make a really good impact. Many home owners will put their design ideas and focus into their other reception rooms. However, a hallway is the first living space most visitors will see. Because they are often not as large as other downstairs rooms they tend to get neglected. With some home design inspiration, an entrance hall can make a much better impression on guests which will have a payoff for the rest of the home. The basic principle is to make the most of the space you have available.

Open Storage.

Entrance halls can often appear to be smaller than they actually are because they are dominated by a storage closet for hat, coats and boots. If your hall has a storage unit with a door you can shut on any clutter it can be hard to even think of giving it up. However, by removing the closet, or by taking the door off, you can open up the hallway. By creating an open storage system with some hooks and shelving your hallway will have a more airy feel.

Stairs.

By convention, most homes are designed such that the entrance hallway gives access to a staircase as well as the ground floor accommodation. By giving thought to the design of your stairwell you are likely to be focusing on your entrance hall. Consider a design element that connects your front door to the stairs. This might be a material, for instance a handrail made from the same wood as you entrance door. Alternatively, a design motif within the stairs’ balustrade that matches one in the entrance is a good idea.

Halls In Apartments.

Apartments, of course, have no staircase to consider and all one storey dwellings can suffer from hallways that are nothing more than a functional corridor. Even if your apartment has limited space, use some furniture that makes your entrance hall a living space. Just a chair and slim line table placed against one wall will be enough to make the hall seem lived in and homely.

Let The Light In.

Nothing improves the impression a hall will make than brining more light into the space. Do away with drapes or blinds that shut light out. If your home improvement budget will run to it add windows. If you can, giving your hallway a twin aspect is the best way of improving it. If that is unviable, exchanging your front door for one that houses as much glazing as possible is a tip to consider. Homes with internal glazing, or floor to ceiling windows, often have stunning hallways because of the flow of light, but this is only really suitable if you have sufficient grounds that your home still provides adequate privacy.

Go White.

An entrance hall with a dark floor is very practical as they usually take the most punishment in the home. However, this can make the room a little gloomy. The simplest answer is to have the walls painted in sheer white. Don’t forget to paint the hallway’s ceiling, too, in order to make the most of the light reflection that white paintwork affords.

Spotlighting.

Some home layouts, no matter what your approach, mean that the entrance hallway is squeezed between other rooms. If your home offers no opportunity to add windows or space for furniture, then a good idea is to make the area as bright as possible with spotlighting. Spot lights, as opposed to a single light fitting, will give a long and thin space a better continuity of light level and less dark patches. By mounting some pictures you can give the hallway a feature without taking up any valuable floor space.

Less Is More With Larger Entrance Ways.

Most focus on halls tends to be on maximising the area that is available. If your home is large and you have a grand entrance space already, the key is not to pack it with design ideas. Keep to two or three simple design features at most. Stick to a few pieces of furniture only. A single chaise longue or a piano placed in a larger entrance hallway can be enough to make the space take on a life of its own.

Picture sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.