Four Staples to Transform Your Hallway

Pictured: Sessa Console Table - Antique Blue & Free Flow Bench with Storage - White

Hallways can be a tricky part of your home to decorate and are, as such, often overlooked. They're generally narrower than other room in your home and can stretch on leaving you with a large length of blank, uninterrupted wall space. Resultantly, many will choose to leave their hallways untouched or halfheartedly hang a photo or two. There are, however, a number of hallway design ideas and tips that can help you transform your space into something inspiring. After all, your hallway is the first part of your home that you, your family and guests see when they first walk in. Surely, you want to ensure you put your best design foot forward and make a good first home impression with a cohesive and tastefully decorated entryway.

While there is a myriad of home style and furnishing ideas, there are four core hallway décor staples that can easily be incorporated into any hallway on any budget.

A Console Table

Every hallway needs some kind of table. Regardless of its shape, size, style or colour, a small hall table—typically called a console table—is extremely useful for storing all of your everyday essentials, such as keys, and useful knick-knacks, such as batteries or flashlights. These tables are useful as an initial spot for you and your guests to set their belongings down as they remove their shoes, or stop to chat. As one of the main pieces in your hallway, the style and colour of your console table will set the tone for the rest of the space. A bold and brightly coloured table will give the impression of a fun and inviting home; a rustic or vintage-inspired model can exude character and charm; a more elegant or streamlined option can be intriguing and sophisticated; the possibilities are quite literally endless.

Style your console table with a collection of interesting books or magazines, a vase full of flowers, a collection of candles or an artistic sculpture. Maximize storage space by opting for a table that has a built-in cabinet at the bottom. Regardless of the style you opt for, ensure your table is placed strategically near the door to offer convenient access, but not so close that it hinders entries and exits. You should also choose a table proportionate to the width of your hallway, so as to avoid having to squeeze around it to access your home.

Pictured: Blossom Console Table

A Cozy Rug

A rug in your entryway is the perfect staple to bring comfort and style into your hallway that will tie all of your design elements together. They're also a stylish way to protect your floors, especially if you live in a period home or have delicate hardwood or porcelain floors. Given that a rug is something that you and other members of your household will walk over, it's important to choose one that suits your lifestyle and aesthetic. A bold coloured or patterned rug is a great option if the rest of your hallway décor is neutral, and vertical stripes can often elongate your space. Sticking to neutral or tonal shades will create an elegant and sophisticated vibe that will likely complement the rest of your home's style. Shag rugs—a design staple of the 1960s and 1970s—are a great option for hall rugs, as they look chic and provide a warm and cozy welcome into your home. As with choosing the right console table, the rug you choose for your hallway should be proportionate to the length and width of the space you're working with. A good rule of thumb is to ensure you have between four and five inches of flooring visible on all sides.

Pictured: Waldorf Beige Area Rug

A Perfect Picture

Your hallway is the perfect place to display photos of you and your family and friends, your favourite works of art, mirrors, or even eccentric wall coverings. Incorporating wall art is definitely a staple to creating an inviting atmosphere, as these are the first pieces of décor you and others will see upon stepping into your home. Hallways typically offer up large stretches of empty wall space, giving you lots of room with which to work and flaunt your propensity for design. Choosing the right wall art for your space largely depends upon the aesthetic that best suits your style and home. A gallery wall full of family and friends' photos is welcoming and a constant reminder of the love and affection you share; large, beautiful paintings offer that initial "wow" factor that adds character and intrigue to your space; choosing a mirror will give the illusion of a larger space, and serves as a functional piece when you're leaving your home for the day. While the placement of your wall décor is completely up to you, ensure that the sizes of frames, painting or mirrors should be proportionate to your space and work in tandem with your console table.

Pictured: Cali Vibes Acrylic Wall Art

The Right Light

Good lighting is an important feature for any room in your home and your hallway is no exception. Chic lighting fixtures add both a stylish and functional design element to your hallways, and there is no shortage of options to complement any space. If your hallway is long and narrow, you may consider opting for a ceiling fixture that runs the length of your hallway either in a straight, wavy or interspersed fashion. These fixtures can be close to the ceiling, or low-hanging depending on your preference. High ceilings offer more flexibility in terms of fixture options and are great for hanging a glistening centrepiece chandelier. If you're tight on space, wall fixtures or lamps that can be set upon your console table are great options.

Perhaps contrary to popular belief, hallways actually afford you a lot of design flexibility. The very fact that you don't have much space with which to work forces you to be creative and think outside of traditional design norms. Regardless of the style for which you opt, or the amount of space you have, these four elements are key to any chic and functional entryway into your home. Furniture staples, such as console tables, lighting and rugs; and accents, such as mirrors, wall art, and photographs are simple yet effective pieces that will instantly give your hallway the attention and refresh it probably needs.