Hallway Design: Your Guide To Ideas, Styles & Inspiration

The table of contents

• Hallway design ideas: the basics
• Hallway layout design ideas
• Classic hallway design styles
• Funky hallway design ideas

As the gateway into your home, your hallway is so much more than just a space that leads off to more exciting areas of the home. 

It is, in fact, the meet and greet room of your home, so it pays to give this functional space a makeover to ensure your home makes a good first impression. This isn’t just for the benefit of your guests, either – walking into a stylish and welcoming space every day has the potential to instantly lift your mood, too!

Whether you have a long, narrow corridor or a large open space, optimising your hallway design can do wonders in setting the tone for the rest of your home. 

And if you’re in search of hallway design inspiration and styling ideas, you’re in the right place. 

This post is brimming with hallway design ideas, styles and inspiration to help you create the perfect entrance to your home whether you’re a home improvement novice or a seasoned DIY-er. 

Hallway design ideas: the basics

No two hallways are ever the same in size, dimension or function, but if you’re looking to nail best practice when it comes to hallway design, here’s an idea of some of the basic elements to consider:

• Hallway colours: hallways can be dark and narrow spaces, meaning you need to get the colour scheme blend just right. This doesn’t have to be all white or pale neutrals though. It’s possible to use bright and bold colours for a more dramatic effect, but we’d suggest avoiding very strong, dark hues like grey, brown, green and red – or at least using them as the single colour
• Lighting: the right lighting can transform your hallway from drab and dull to bright and welcoming. Consider how much natural light your hallway gets and identify any dark spots. For example, if you have a long corridor, ensure there’s lighting throughout the space so it’s fully illuminated and doesn’t feel closed in
• Mirrors: paired with lighting, mirrors are an interior design master at giving small, dark spaces like hallways more light and depth through reflection. Position them next to or opposite a light source for maximum effect
• Storage: clutter in your entrance hall is guaranteed to make the area feel cramped and messy, so including storage into your hallway design ideas is a must. From coat hooks and shoe racks to console tables and cupboards, there are plenty of ways to introduce practical storage into your hallway in a stylish way
• Floors and walls: as a thoroughfare through your home, hallways will inevitably see their fair share of footfall, which also means dirt. When considering your walls and floors, use materials that are well positioned to handle everyday scuffs, dirt and grime. This could be robust patterned floor tiles or wipeable paint, helping you remove marks with minimal fuss

Hallway layout design ideas 

There aren’t any strict rules on layout for hallways, given that they vary so much in terms of size.

But if you’re struggling on where to start when it comes to realising your own hallway design ideas, we have a few tips to help you achieve a more effective layout.

Long, narrow hallways

Long, narrow entrance ways are a typical feature in a lot of period properties, which can make them difficult to tackle. 

However, you can help to improve their flow and function with the right hallway design. Ideas include using minimal furniture that can take up valuable floor space and impede walkways. 

We’d suggest favouring floating coat hooks and shelves rather than a bulky cupboard or console tables, with space underneath rather than bulky, solid pieces that go all the way to the floor. 

Similarly, if you want seating in your hallway for putting on shoes, opt for compact and shallow styles that sit flush to the widest part of the wall to best utilise the space. 

Small, square hallways

If you’re faced with a small, square hallway design and aren’t sure how to style it out, the key is to keep the design simple and functional. 

As with narrow hallways, avoid flooding the place with chunky furniture that will make it seem smaller. Instead, invest in slimline pieces that can sit flush into a cosy corner or along one of the walls. You could even go for some bespoke storage to ensure it perfectly fits the space you’re working with.

You can also maximise the use of space by creating specific zones, like a drop off area for shoes and coats tucked away in a corner nearest the door. This leaves you with more space for decorative touches like some pretty plants or even seating if space allows. 

If you have stairs leading off your compact hallway, you could even consider using a runner or painted stair risers to add contrast and depth beyond the cosy entrance area. 

Large, spacious entranceways

At the other end of the spectrum are large hallways. These can be equally as challenging to decorate as so much space can result in them feeling totally sparse or completely crammed. 

Obviously, there is greater scope to add more furniture to a large hallway, but you still need to strike the right balance. Creating zones is a great way to ensure that the overall design feels purposeful, stylish and welcoming. 

Have a designated space close to the door for storing coats, shoes and other outdoor gear. Pair with a feature console table opposite for dropping off keys and the like to add symmetry. If room allows, you can even create a dedicated seating area with a couple of comfy chairs and tables.

Whatever space you’re working with, the key to pulling off a good hallway layout is to ensure furniture pieces are in proportion. This will make sure the finish feels well put together and functional above everything else. 

Hallway decor design ideas

Your hallway has the ability to set the tone for the entire interior design of your house. Think of it as an actual room rather than just a place to get from A to B. 

With a unified approach to interior design throughout your home, including your all-important hallway, you’ll find a far better flow between areas, even if the styles are completely different. 

With that little nugget under your belt, it’s time to start thinking about what kind of hallway style best suits your taste and your home. 

Of course, we’re not just going to leave you to fend for yourself when looking for hallway inspiration. As promised, we have a few hallway design ideas to get your creative juices flowing. 

Classic hallway design styles

Let’s start by taking a look at some timeless, classic hallway design ideas that will deliver a finish you’ll never tire of. 

You may feel choosing classic hallway decor seems like a boring, safe option, but it doesn’t have to be. Best of all, with decor that ages well, you don’t need to fork out for interior updates every few years to keep it looking on trend. 

Nicely neutral

For hallways big and small, a neutral colour palette like white or cream can give you oodles of scope to create a serene hallway that never goes out of style. Neutral colours also offer endless versatility to partner with other colours if you don’t want a full white or cream extravaganza. 

Paler tones can also be a dream combination for small, dark hallways as they will naturally brighten the area. But one thing to keep in mind is that lighter hues will show more marks, so be prepared to clean off muck handprints, scuffs and mud.

Styling ideas

To keep things clean and simple, pair white or cream walls with oak wood-effect floor tiles. The wood-look design and darker shade will help to dilute the cream or white while still keeping the overall aesthetic light and airy. 

Keep furniture and decoration relatively sparse for a minimalist vibe, but feel free to add colour and character with artwork, mirrors, flowers and other decorative touches that match your chosen theme. 

Works well with:

• Scandi minimalism
• Classic country
• Traditional style
• Modest modern

Cool vintage

Vintage interiors continue to be a popular choice for home decor, and the hallway is no exception. While this theme works best in period properties, that doesn’t exclude homeowners with modern dwellings from jumping on the bandwagon too.  

Whether you opt for Victorian-style floor tiles or some antique furniture, with the right dose of retro you can create a hallway design that will stand the test of time with ease. 

Styling ideas

Encaustic patterned tiles are a must for this hallway design idea, providing a beautiful and decorative foundation to the rest of the aesthetic. For an authentic feel, patterns with blue, red and brown are a must, but if that doesn’t float your boat you can stick with a simple black and white. 

On the walls, go all-in for tradition with metro tiled walls up to hip height (that boast practical advantages too) or keep it simple with painted walls. This could be white and cream as above or you could use a colour that matches your tile pattern. 

Finish with antique furniture (dark wood or painted if you want it to feel lighter) and statement lighting and you’ll open your door to a vintage oasis every day.

Works well with:

• Vintage style
• Traditional decor
• Funky Scandinavian vibes

Funky hallway design ideas

If you’d prefer to inject a sense of en-vogue interiors into your hallway design, you’re in luck. Below you’ll find a handful of ideas that can transform your hallway from functional to fashion in no time. 

Bold colours

Many people stay clear of bold colours in hallways for the fear of them being too garish, but these modest, practical spaces can actually be a brilliant area of the home to experiment with some bold colours. 

With the ability to instantly elevate an interior, through the right blend of colours and textures you can put the emphasis on ‘fun’ in functional. 

Styling ideas

A popular decor theme for bold colours is to go all out with a monochrome theme, using various textures and shades of the same colour throughout. For hallways this can be a little full on, but you can use a vivid shade as your anchoring colour. Simply offset it with another subtler shade like white, cream or pale grey. 

The best way to use bold colours in hallways, though, is through accents. This could be brightly coloured tiles on the floors or split-coloured walls. One idea is to use a bold colour on the lower half of hallway walls paired with a paler shade that can help to elongate narrow spaces. 

Works well with:

• Maximalist interiors
• Luxury style
• Playful modern vibes

Powerful patterns

If you want your hallway to make a dramatic entrance, harnessing the power of patterns could be just what’s needed. Whether used on walls or floors, patterns have the ability to detract attention away from small proportions, creating a feature out of typical design elements. 

Styling ideas

As we touched on above, one way to bring patterns into your hallway design is to use it on your floors. From funky geometric shapes to pretty florals, your choice of design will draw the eye away from narrow walls towards a striking floor feature. 

You can also introduce patterns in other ways, including feature walls with printed wallpaper. We’d suggest limiting wallpaper to one wall so it doesn’t make the area feel small and busy and team it with simple, minimalist furniture. 

The other option is to use floor rugs or stair runners to inject a playful pattern into the space and bring plenty of texture and interest.

Works well with:

• Eclectic maximalism
• Funky retro
• Classic country
•  Vintage vibes

Hallways are often a neglected area when it comes to home improvement projects, but as the first thing you and your guest see when entering your home, they really shouldn’t be. 

Instead, use the above hallway design  ideas to give your hallway the TLC it deserves and create a welcoming, stylish entrance hall that makes a lasting impression. And if you need help choosing the right practical flooring for your hallway, our extensive floor tiles range has plenty of offers to give you hallway design inspiration. Just be sure you know how to tile a hallway before you get to work!