Any ideas for a boring hallway

Sheryl K
by Sheryl K
Info. Under photo.
Long boring hallway. Carpet is going. We have 2 med. non shedding dogs. Doors on left are linen/coat closet ,bathroom,bedroom. Right, basement, small office & master bedroom. Reall needs help!
  48 answers
  • Change the paint color! The wood doors are beautiful and if you put in a soft grey to pick up the color in the rock. Bring home samples and find colors without the yellow which blend in with the doors. At the end of hallway, the table works but you need a pop of color there and on the wall. Is that a picture? or mirror? Paint the frame something bright. You could also have some fun with a gallery wall and find all kinds of frames in different sizes and shapes and paint them all black and add some interest to the walls. You could choose one wall that is opposite the stone for family pics if that is a staircase coming up. Choose pics that bring back memories for the family. Another wall maybe choose photos that you took of nature and put them in black and white.
  • Anangloinquebec Anangloinquebec on Jan 09, 2014
    I agree with the above comment. You have too much of the same going on in this space. The yellow tones are all blending together to create a very plain hallway space. I also think that the artwork (?) at the end of the hall is making the hall look even narrower than it probably is. I would go with something much more dynamic and wider on that wall. I would not go with too many different pieces on that end wall though as it will create too much chaos at the end. Not sure about your taste and also not sure about your wall height but I would play with the lighting in that hallway. I am hoping that you are putting in a lovely wood flooring? Depending on what your "style preferences" are there are a lot of fabulous pendant lights that could be hanging in that space. Saw this on Pinterest, gives you an idea as to how they treated a long hallway. You could include 2 hanging pendants which would look fabulous. I think in hallways, less is more so I would go with wood floors, 2 hanging pendants and a large colourful painting at the end of the hallway. Depending on your flooring and its colour I would paint the walls out in a creamy white to compliment the doors. Be sure to consider the colour of the flooring in your overall design. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/263671753157996145/
  • Sharon E. Hines Sharon E. Hines on Jan 09, 2014
    changing the paint color would really make the beauty of those wood doors stand out... a crisp, white or a soft shad of gray could work. Whether you keep the carpet or are planning on changing it to wood or tile, a runner would add some texture and color. And completely agree with @Anangloinquebec about the hanging pendants. Planning to do that myself. Good luck!
  • Diane Woods Diane Woods on Jan 09, 2014
    I think the issue in this hall is it is narrow and full of doors. Although they are beautiful, none of them are an architectural asset. If it were my hallway I'd paint everything a lighter color, including the doors to make them blend in. I'd put some wood flooring or dark flooring, some lighting that is beautiful and stands out...black maybe. On the far wall I would paint a different color and stencil, or put a piece of artwork that you love. Then the floor, light and artwork would be the stars, not all the doors.
  • Valeria Blackburn Valeria Blackburn on Jan 09, 2014
    I think some snazzy horizontal stripes would help widen this space, a chunkier table at the end, an important piece of art or wall sculpture above the table, and a gallery wall on the longest wall on the right. Here are some photos in the links below. http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Entryways--Halls/Horizontal-Striped-Hallway/detail.esi?oid=1426513 http://stardust-decorstyle.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-hall-update-horizontal-stripes.html http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Living-Rooms/Striped-hallway-off-my-living-/detail.esi?oid=23600647
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jan 09, 2014
    Beautiful doors I would not paint. I think I would find a light neutral color that does not have yellow in it...something on the LIGHT dove gray side. Then I would put in a flat chair rail on both sides (some may not like this, but it would add another light color...white and gray go so well together and there would be no complicated cuts). At the end of the hallway, paint a tree with lots of branches and put up small favorite photos in simple frames or frames made of heavy cardboard! Include pets and special moments...an every changing or crowded montage! Fun! (or put flat strips of molding about 6" apart and put photos in rows!
  • Moxie Moxie on Jan 09, 2014
    I think you need some illusion here.. something to go with the stone....I think something of interest at the end like a cellar stencil (Dressler stencils has a few amazing ones that look like there is a continuation of the hall and stair off to the side) and perhaps stencil the hall floor to match that. I think if you have space to move the contents of the closet I would remove the doors and trim and create an alcove of interest. I also saw one a very narrow hall where the home owner painting everything pretty much white and hung some twinkle lights and neat stuff from the ceiling..it was nice.
  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jan 09, 2014
    I love mirrors in narrow spaces, and I love family pictures. The wood is great, so I would hesitate to paint it. I would however go with a lovely light gray - I've found color paint samples are so much better than the paper ones for judging what you really want and how it will go with the light and other factors in the space. Most recently, I had a firm thought (I thought) about which way I was going in a room. But, none of the shades of that color worked for me (and I painted several trial samples on the walls). Finally, I was visiting a relative and realized how much I liked the color of the living room there (a pale dove gray). I had never even considered that color before, but, ended up finding the shade I wanted by the second sample. Then, I used the other shade for the woodwork, since I liked that color also, but, it was darker by a shade or two. It's my favorite room in the house now. I think a wood floor would be quite elegant. To me, pendants are too busy. There are some lovely sculptured type lighting fixtures that are classic and elegant, yet, somehow modern. One I saw recently in a home, was a strip of lighting on the ceiling that was shaped like flowers, with swirls and other shape to them. Have fun!
  • Reinventing Space Reinventing Space on Jan 10, 2014
    I have a completely different take. Halls are to transport people from one room to another, I call them transition spaces of a home. Because of the age of your home, your hall is narrow as well. You can't linger down the hall looking at art or photos. A new hue would help, but I'm not sure what your home's color palette is. Instead, I would focus on A. your ceiling lighting, which I can't see in the photo. Maybe new fixtures, and B. The space at the end of the hall.A large, over-scale piece of art would be nice, in saturated hues, and a perhaps re-purpose the table by painting it a fun, pop color as well. Style the top with a fun storage box or table clock, no greenery.
  • Maria Maria on Jan 10, 2014
    Paint the doors black!
  • Kathy Sotomayor Kathy Sotomayor on Jan 10, 2014
    Black doors, white walls, collage frames in red or wine
  • Accentuations! Accentuations! on Jan 10, 2014
    Even tho I see lights on the ceiling, the hall appears dark. I would go with a lighter color to blend with the stone. Bring home some paint swatches and hang them up to see what color you like/or looks best. Do not paint the doors! I would consider new, more interesting lighting, a chair rail and a larger piece of art at the end. The tall, narrow piece gives the hall the same look...narrow! So art on the left wall would not hurt...keep the scale larger, tho!
  • Tanya Peterson Felsheim Tanya Peterson Felsheim on Jan 10, 2014
    I agree with so many on here...I would possibly put up molding at the ceiling, if all of your doors are the wood, I would keep them, but there are so many would be nice to have them blend in more rather than stand out...chair rail could also give an illusion of more space. good luck can't wait to see what you come up with--end of hall I thing deserves a grand size painting of some sort
  • Jyn Jyn on Jan 10, 2014
    If it were me, I would remove the carpeting from the hallway (if there is wood underneath) put in runner rugs and install track lighting on the ceiling. Im not a big fan of moulding that color- so you could paint it, but a faster, cheaper, easier way to make a difference is really to just change the floor and ceiling. This hallway looks almost identical to yours! See what they did? http://www.freckledlaundry.com/2011/08/hallway-makeover-reveal.html
  • SANDY SANDY on Jan 10, 2014
    My friend has a hall similar to this and she took a window pane (glass removed) with wooden munnions in it. The entire window looked like 4 seperate windows in one large frame. She had mirror cut to go behind the entire window and it reflects light and depending on what angle you are looking at it reflects different views. She did not hang it at the end of her hall she put it on a long sidewall.
  • Edith Tyler Edith Tyler on Jan 10, 2014
    interesting
  • Karen Karen on Jan 10, 2014
    I would paint the walls a nice neutral color, paint the woodwork, hang some photos, install a large mirror at the end of the hall
  • Letha Letha on Jan 11, 2014
    A small, interesting light fixture with softer lighting. Soft light paint and a bright painting, flowers or maybe mirror on the wall at the end of the hall.
  • Stacy Stacy on Jan 11, 2014
    my grandma always had a large floor mirror at the end of her hall. widens and brings light into it. with wall sconces on the side walls. always love it!
  • Jill E Jill E on Jan 11, 2014
    We had a similar situation and last winter we put in wainscotting, made a huge difference. I haven't done a full post on it but you can find before and after shots here http://www.my-outside-voice.com/2013/12/house-goals-20132014.html
  • Rose S Rose S on Jan 11, 2014
    I had the same problem, so I put a large mirror at the end and added stenciled vines surrounding the top and left side of the mirror. Then I placed old framed family photos on one of the long side walls. That added interest and folks didn't even notice the length and widths.
  • Tanya McQueen Tanya McQueen on Jan 11, 2014
    I would buy wall paper border that looks like books and fill the whole wall so it looks like a bookcase. Get hardboard and make curved arch or 2 arches like the top of a bookcase, a strip down the middle and strip across the bottom. The thin hardboard help the illusion of a bookcase full of books without taking up space. Paint hardboard a color to compliment the hall. Even though the wallpaper border was dark, I painted my hardboard white and it turned out great. I did mine on closet doors.
  • Lesa Lesa on Jan 11, 2014
    everyone has great ideas...a light shade of paint, (a very soft taupe grey...not a blue or black base grey) can't see light fixture but something that is not your standard round hall light...Look at outside fixtures or hit your thrift stores and paint it yourself. Also Mirrors Mirrors Mirrors..they enlarge and reflect light. Need a large tall one at the end of hall. I definitely would not paint the woodwork. It is way too much to got back to natural. Like your rock wall play off that. Go bright maybe a red orange frame on end of hall mirror and your light fixtures in color if you paint. Have fun with colors it's just paint.
  • Sara Sara on Jan 11, 2014
    what about the really pretty adhesive lettering? Maybe something big and bold or a few smaller ones? I have a similar color on my walls and when we moved here the previous family had gold lettering, I took it down and put black up, because I liked the bigger contrast
  • Karen Rossman Clark Karen Rossman Clark on Jan 11, 2014
    You have my hallway before I did a few things. I painted dark wood light, removed closet doors to build in shelves and then put a gallery wall all in black and white on the other wall. I also stenciled a design on the mirror at the end of the hall. We also replaced the stained dirty carpet with mfg. wood that won't be destroyed by galloping dogs (we have 3).
  • Diane Woods Diane Woods on Jan 11, 2014
    Just a thought about mirrors... I agree they add light and make a room feel bigger, however, they reflect what they are facing. If there is a mirror at the end of the hall you will have the reflection of the hallway, which is full of doors. I believe it will make it look like a longer tunnel of doors.
  • Jody Jody on Jan 11, 2014
    We just painted all our hollow core doors and added trim to make them look like your doors. I didnt go bright white its canvas and its not offf white. Your color is close to mine (Knightly Straw) Farrell & Calhoun brand. Its a brighter than yours. I could not believe the differance it made. If you want me to send you pics. Email me Jodyshandmadesoap@gmail.com
  • Scott Scott on Jan 11, 2014
    To match your stone wall you can do a stained wooden palet floor it's on Pinterest. my cousin did one an it turned out amazing! An you can paint the end wall a mossy green an the side walls a slate grey.
  • Carmen Carmen on Jan 11, 2014
    I have the same situation. What i'm planning to do is paint the wall at the end of the wall in matte turquoise color paint. I just love that color , makes me smile and feel happy.! Just sharing. :-)
  • I have used picture shelves and vinyl lettering to add nice touches to the hallway.
  • Patty Morgan Patty Morgan on Jan 12, 2014
    I love your doors. Your hallway is narrow so you are limited. Paint is the first thing I would change. Don't go too dark it already doesn't get much light. I would keep it on the light side. I would make the focal point at the end of the hall way like you did. It just needs change. I like to move around my paintings to give them new life. Lighting would be a nice feature with a full length mirror to make a more functional space. Remember less can be more at times.
  • Vickie Vickie on Jan 12, 2014
    I have seen a lot of people takin hall closets and turning them into a nice little reading nook. I think that would appear to be more open. And please don't paint that wood I love wood maybe stain it a different color but not paint. Also yes I would paint the walls a light color. And maybe even put in some wood flooring to make it look bigger.
  • Robin Miller Cresci Robin Miller Cresci on Jan 12, 2014
    I painted the end of our hallway with a slightly darker color than the walls, Our walls are a creamy white with a touch of mocha, so the end of the hallway is a mocha color, not too dark. And created a vignette like you have. One wall has a long narrow mirror with coat hooks, the other wall has some old pictures, and family photos. I am very picky about what I will make holes in my walls for! Oh, and our doors and trim are all white, we leave our doors open, so there is lots of natural light that comes in from the bedrooms. Would like to see your finished project!
  • Rozanne M Rozanne M on Jan 12, 2014
    Have you considered an art gallery? I have a very long hallway and we did a gallery of art for different places in the US, i.e. Niagra Falls, Chicago, San Fran, New York, New Orleans. In the small spaces we put a few pictures from our vacation to Hawaii and Alaska. For consistency all our frames are black and of simple design. You can add a mirror above your table or a decoration that is made of mirrors like you might find at Kirkland's, Pier 1, Home Goods, etc. We use a light warm beige paint. This hallway can be seen from the foyer and is now interesting and colorful instead of boring.
  • Carla Harrod Hampton Carla Harrod Hampton on Jan 12, 2014
    I love Karen Rossman Clark's ideas! Definitely think you need to paint your doors and trim white. It will make a dramatic difference! Also matted pictures with black frames would be a great idea. If you can't live without a closet as was her suggestion (as I'm sure I couldn't) you might think about having a built in bookcase actually attached to the outside of one of the doors, preferably on one of the doors at the end of the hall where it won't take up or obstruct to much of the already narrow hallway. I think it would ad visual interest and the painted trim would update the look. Love the idea of wainscoting in the hall too...it would break up the tunnel effect that a narrow hallway can sometimes have.
  • Karen I just recently moved so I don't have a pic of my home but got this online. I did a large shelf, a medium shelf and a small shelf. I also used the vinyl that sticks to the wall with words about my family (got from etsy).
  • Jay Taylor Jay Taylor on Feb 20, 2014
    We usually refer to hallways as welcoming parts of our homes. That’s why it’s really important to make them looks great. The combination of modern white shelves and vintage table make the hallway’s look very appealing.
  • Kat Kat on Feb 20, 2014
    what about a big stripe leading to the focal point? Plus add a cool runner!
  • Jim L Jim L on Feb 21, 2014
    Please DO NOT put a mirror at the end of the hall...that makes it look like a -l o n g- bowling alley! Hang a mirror on the opposite side of a door that comes from a room. You could add so small chandeliers in place of those small ceiling lights. On the large spans of wall, create a "rogues gallery"...on one side only. I like the idea of painting the trim white and how about the "room doors" a high gloss black...I would do this all over the house...adds a bit of drama and is a nice look.
  • Ann S Ann S on Feb 21, 2014
    i have pictures of family on both sides of my hallway and at the end i hung a small mirror
  • Sheryl K Sheryl K on Feb 22, 2014
    Thank you all for your great ideas. Some I will be using. I have to be careful with different styles due to the fact it's a log home with lots of wood. I'll post another photo. I haven't done anything yet except lay with the lights. Working on crafting some chandeliers.
    • Bonnie Bonnie on Oct 14, 2014
      @Sheryl K Log homes are WONderful...please don't paint the wood doors!! I love the idea of a photo/art gallery, and maybe you could do some vinyl stencils above the door frames. Also, old fashioned door plackards would look fun, sort of like an old passenger train hallway.
  • We did picture build ins at a frienda on the bath and decided to dp in our hall cut out and framed them with trim. Added a small art light to the top and it really made the hall.
  • Diana Ortiz Diana Ortiz on Oct 04, 2014
    I converted my boring hall into my hall of fame with all my family pics n painted my floor
  • Diana Ortiz Diana Ortiz on Oct 04, 2014
    Hall if fane
    • Bonnie Bonnie on Oct 14, 2014
      @Diana Ortiz I love the diamond shapes on the flooring!
  • Diana Ortiz Diana Ortiz on Oct 04, 2014
    Hall of fame n floor painted
  • The Porch The Porch on Oct 04, 2014
    A hallway should be a space we want to move into. That is why architects will often put a window, door, or skylight at the far end. We naturally move toward light. Now not everyone can do that, but in your case I would suggest making the end of the hall as inviting as possible. Let that be your focal point instead of putting stuff on the side walls that will make the walls appear to close in. Paint the end wall a beautiful contrasting color that complements a wonderful piece of art -- something big enough to be seen at the other end. Then put a spot light over the art to make it pop. I think you find it makes a huge difference. Than you can coordinate the flooring and the rest of wall color.
  • HoneyHomemaker HoneyHomemaker on Oct 05, 2014
    I suggest black chalkboard painted doors with the name of the room painted in white on one of the horizontal boards of the door ("Master Bedroom," Guest Room," Bath," etc.). Also, a lighter color on the walls, perhaps a creamy white or a light denim shade.
  • Peggy B Peggy B on Oct 13, 2014
    paint the doors/woodwork white. We used Moore atrium white. When we first built our home ( 1987) all the trim was stained. 8 years ago we painted it white--made a huge difference. It makes everything look so clean--and crisp.