The hallway is the first room that guests see when they enter our home, making it the first impression of our house. However, the entrance area directly behind the front door is often overlooked when it comes to designing and furnishing. To help you with some inspiration, we have gathered 17 great ideas and examples from our experts that showcase how you can create a functional, inviting, and stylish hallway at the same time.
The hallway is perfect for making a statement with bold style decisions and at the same time preparing visitors for what awaits them in the rest of the house. The entrance area can be striking, but at the same time, the style should not deviate too much from the furnishings of the other rooms. This example shows an extremely successful hallway design that relies on the contrast of black and white and puts the eye-catching tiled floor in focus.
If you want to set up a hallway, you can't avoid the issue of storage space, because shoes, jackets, accessories, etc. need to be stored in the entrance area. A particularly tidy look is created with built-in furniture that holds everything we get rid of when we enter the house and don't necessarily want to have in sight all the time afterwards. A great solution is a wardrobe like this, which is placed precisely under the stairs and thus makes optimal use of every free corner in the room.
If you want to have furniture in your hallway that you can't find in every entrance area, you can use a tailor-made shoe cabinet like this. It keeps the hallway tidy and at the same time shows off your favourite shoes. Another highlight is the integrated bench, which you can sit down on comfortably while putting on your shoes.
The most important feature in every hallway is the coat rack. Whether you design it open or closed is entirely up to personal taste, but a storage option for jackets and the like is a must. Here, various coat rack rails were used to make optimal use of the space in the hallway and offer residents and guests a variety of options.
If you have enough space in the hallway, you should think about a place to sit, because an armchair like the one seen here or a bench, a stool or something similar not only looks homely but is also super practical when you want to put on your shoes or are waiting for someone.
When it comes to colour schemes for hallways and entrances, there are no limits to personal taste. However, you should make sure that the entrance area does not appear too dark or garish. Experts recommend bright, friendly colours, especially in narrow hallways without windows, because otherwise, the overall picture can quickly appear very depressing.
Very few of us have a spacious entrance like in a manor house. Especially in rented apartments, the hallway is often very small. If you want to make it appear larger, you can use tricks. For example, small hallways should always be decorated in light colours. In addition, large-format wall mirrors can work wonders and make the entire room appear much more spacious.
Narrow hallways are a particular challenge when it comes to furnishing and design. Massive, bulky furniture and dark wall colours are an absolute no-go here. Narrow pieces of furniture, large mirrors and light colours are ideal, as they visually enlarge the tube-like hallway and counteract a feeling of cramped space.
In modern apartments and houses with an open floor plan, the hallway is often open and flows almost seamlessly into the living area. In such cases, it is important to make the entrance cosy and to match the style of the rest of the house. Good storage solutions are also essential here to achieve a tidy, harmonious overall appearance.
Cluttered hallways look anything but inviting and friendly. That's why experts recommend that when furnishing the entrance area, you follow the motto less is more
. This applies to furniture as well as accessories and decorations. In general, the design of this important room should remain functional to avoid chaos and disorder.
Here is a view of a modern hallway in which bright white plays the main role. This makes the windowless room appear bright and friendly. Clear lines and a light grey tiled floor complement this. Decorations and accessories have been largely omitted. They are only displayed in specific places and thus unfold their full effect.
Especially in old houses with creaky wooden floors and lots of historical charm, you can make the hallway a little more cosy and rustic. In this case, a narrow bookshelf on the wall creates an inviting and homely atmosphere that greets you as soon as you enter the apartment and invites you to linger.
This hallway draws everyone's attention with its elegant colour scheme. The smoky grey blue on the walls and doors makes a statement without being too intrusive or loud. This is complemented by high-quality wooden furniture and selected art on the wall. A combination that makes you curious about the rest of the apartment.
The hallway must be designed in the same style as the rest of the house to achieve a consistent, harmonious effect. The country house style was chosen here, which is reflected in the white solid wood staircase, the chest of drawers and the comfortable wing chair and is also picked up in the wallpaper and the wooden floor.
A hallway can also be designed in the trendy industrial style. Suitable materials for this are unplastered concrete or exposed brick walls, steel beams, exposed screed floors and other rough materials, furniture and accessories that underline the industrial factory style, even if the house is not a loft.
The minimalist interior design style is currently enjoying particular popularity and ensures a clean, airy and fresh reception area, especially in the hallway. Less is more here and everything that is not necessary is omitted. Essentials are well-hidden storage solutions and a successful mix of materials, which ensures that the whole thing does not come across as too cold and sterile.
Finally, we took a look into a classic old building hallway, where a green Chesterfield sofa and the striking tiled floor play the main role. Both elements fit perfectly with the large double doors and the marble staircase with the wrought iron railing. The lamp, on the other hand, is the modern interpretation of a classic chandelier and brings a fresh, contemporary touch into play—a mixture that arouses curiosity about the rest of the house.
You can find even more inspiration on how to decorate your hallway in this article: 37 Modern Design Ideas for your Hallway