Home is not a place, it’s a feeling – and when you create a welcoming hallway, it sets that feeling!
First impressions count, there’s no getting away from it. Whether it’s your appearance or your house, there are no second chances. The hall and entryway is the first thing you see as you come in the front door so it’s important to create a welcoming atmosphere that sets the tone for what else is to come. It tells an instant story of who lives there and what they like.
Most of us focus our time and energy on planning the main living areas of the home. The hallway is often overlooked and seen as a thoroughfare, however it’s arguably one of the most important spaces in the home!
Whether you are greeting guests for the first time or returning home after a long day, a warm inviting hallway will create a nice welcome and good first impression every time.
Let me take you through the essential elements of a welcoming hall and entryway…
Create a welcoming hallway – the 12 elements you need to get right!
The Front Door
Exterior – think kerb appeal! Choose a front door you love in a colour that brings you joy and is in keeping with the style of the property. Keep it clean and add a doormat to remove dirt from shoes before entering.
Wreaths are extremely popular at the moment and add a nice welcoming touch. Ensure the area around your front door is swept regularly and kept free of weeds, leaves and debris. Add fresh greenery and a pop of colour to beds and planters with seasonal flowers, bulbs and shrubs.
Interior – it’s usually best to choose a light colour for the inside of your front door such as white or off-white, whatever goes with the rest of your interior doors. A glazed panel in opaque or stained glass will provide both natural light and privacy.
Flooring
Dirt management is your top priority here. The first metre inside your front door is where 90% of the dirt from your shoes is deposited. It goes without saying that a cream carpet is not the best choice for a hallway! In fact, carpets in general are not the best choice.
Choose hard flooring in a wood finish, stone or tile. Add a good quality doormat to remove dirt from shoes on entering. A rug or runner will add colour, pattern and texture but also acts as a second form of defense against any remaining dirt on shoes.
Lighting
Lighting is an extremely important element in any room when trying to create the right atmosphere. Layer up the lighting in your hallway to combine function and style with ambiance.
Starting at the top, think about adding functional LED downlights in your ceiling. They will provide bright, clear light when you need it for tasks such as tying shoe laces or finding your keys!
An overhead pendant light is your chance to add some flair and design to the space. Understated, contemporary or traditional chandelier styles will all give the wow factor and create a stunning focal point. Just make sure it hangs no lower than 7 feet (84 inches) from the floor to allow for head clearance.
Wall lights are back in style so whether your hallway is grand and traditional or small and modern, it might be a nice option for you.
Finally, to add real ambience to your hallway, all you need is a humble table lamp. Or maybe two! It will create a lovely soothing glow which is warm and inviting. A candle flickering away will create an additional layer to your lighting and add an extra cosy vibe.
Storage
Shoes, coats, bags, keys…
There are so many things we need to store in or near the hallway and sadly not all homes have good built-in storage that can facilitate this. Add storage where you can if space allows.
Slim storage units are widely available that not only provide a home for shoes and accessories, but also a surface to display photos and treasured items. Ikea has a great range.
A coat stand or hooks on the wall are perfect for coats and jackets and an umbrella stand is stylish and practical.
Look for multipurpose furniture such as a bench or console table with storage inside or below. Consoles often have slim drawers and look lovely with pretty baskets in the space underneath them.
Seating
Providing somewhere to sit in your hallway can make it look inviting and feel like a nice place to be. A place to pause and spend time rather than just passing through. Or even just a spot to sit and take off your shoes. Beats balancing on one leg or leaning against the wall if you don’t have any stairs!
A corner chair, small sofa or simple bench will add comfort and warmth and can be styled with cushions and blankets in colours and textures that show off your personal style.
Radiator
Radiators provide warmth but they often don’t look very appealing. If you want to uplevel the look of your hallway and the radiator is letting you down, you can fix this in one of two ways.
- You could upgrade and replace your current radiator to a modern design or new version of a traditional design.
- You could hide an ugly radiator with a radiator cover.
The latter is a lot cheaper and can also provide a nice shelf for displaying personal items. Win win!
Mirror
A mirror in your hallway will reflect the light and brighten the space. Leaning full length on the floor or wall-mounted near the door, it will provide the perfect spot for popping on your lipstick and checking your appearance before you leave the house.
Artwork
As hallways are often small and narrow, the walls are an important feature to be taken advantage of. Whether you have a statement art piece or want to create a gallery wall, it’s the perfect finishing touch to a well-designed entryway.
Art and framed photographs will add elegance and style to your space.
Fresh Flowers & Greenery
There’s nothing like fresh flowers and greenery for freshening up your home and adding a touch of luxe. Orchids and houseplants are a great choice too.
If fresh flowers and real plants aren’t in your budget, there are lots of very realistic artificial options available now too. They will give the same effect and last forever.
Scenting
Let the fresh air in. Open the windows and doors every day even if only for a short time. It will freshen up the space and allow any lingering smells to leave.
Aroma diffusers, scented candles and reed diffusers are easy ways to add both style and fragrance to a space. Find a scent you love and enjoy the atmosphere it creates. Different scents evoke different moods and fragrance has the power to lift a mood or kill it. Keep this in mind when choosing scents for your hallway.
You could try seasonal scents or introduce one signature scent throughout your home.
Styling
Complete the styling of your entryway with a few personal items that bring you joy. Photographs that bring back happy memories, travel pics, favourite books, a trinket from your travels – things that tell your story.
Clutter-free Zone
This is a non-negotiable and applies to every room in the house!
If you want to create a calm and welcoming space you feel relaxed in, it goes without saying that it should be free of clutter and chaos.
Clutter can easily build up in a hallway and stop it from looking and smelling its best. The most common culprits? Shoes, bags, toys, wet jackets, you know what I’m talking about! Our sense of smell is there to help us enjoy life. Let’s not trigger our guests’ sense of smell for the wrong reasons.
Remove everything that doesn’t belong in the entryway. Avoid keeping dirty or smelly shoes there, even if they are hidden inside a storage unit. Allow jackets and umbrellas to dry out properly before returning them to coat hooks and stands.
Keep clutter at bay by tidying things away regularly and ensuring there are organised systems in place – everything in your home needs a place to live.
“Nobody is more full of false hope than a mum who places items on the stairs for her family members to carry up.”
chaosandquietblog
When everything has a home and systems are in place, there will be nothing placed on the stairs. Can you imagine how good that would feel?!?
(For more tips on how to stop your children’s toys cluttering your home, see HERE.)
I hope that gives you some ideas for how to create a lovely hallway that welcomes you with open arms.
It might not be possible to include every element mentioned here but clearing clutter and making one or two changes will make a positive difference straight away. I’m away to work on the gallery wall I’ve been dreaming about starting for years! How about you? Where will you begin?