How can i make my long narrow hall with high ceilings look wider

Dolliedoll
by Dolliedoll

My hallway is in two parts. The first part where the street door, frontroom and kitchen doors all fun off. There isn't any natural light and is so long and narrow with a high ceiling look brighter, warmer and not so narrow and long ??

  22 answers
  • Janice Janice on Oct 21, 2021

    Hi Dollie, my first thought is to add as much light as possible to decrease the darkness. It looks like you've got a good start by adding a mirror to reflect light. Here's an article that offers additional ideas, some of which might be able to be incorporated. In addition a seires of separate, colorful rugs might help to break up the floor area but be sure they don't cause a safety issue.

    Good luck!

    https://www.hunker.com/13400792/12-decor-ideas-to-make-narrow-hallways-look-bigger

    A nother thought is to space several upright (vertical) trim boards along the length of the hallway walls to further visually breakup the length of the allway. Perhaps painted in a slightly different color than the current walls or this could even be accompished more inexpensively by using paint rather than boards.

  • Maybe you could add lighting to the ceiling. Some sort of track lighting would be nice.

  • Annie Annie on Oct 21, 2021

    Hi Dollie, here's another link that might be of help to brighten up your narrow space there

    https://homeguides.sfgate.com/transform-long-hallway-53445.html


    The tip of putting wainscotting might make this more visually appealing.

  • Mogie Mogie on Oct 21, 2021

    You could add more light to the area by making and installing a fake window or sun tube.

    The fake window would be easier and cheaper.

    https://www.howtogeek.com/707537/how-to-build-your-own-artificial-natural-light-window/

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Oct 21, 2021

    I agree with the track lighting idea to spread out as much light as easily as possible. Painting the doors to add interest so its not all so much one tone could help too!

  • William William on Oct 21, 2021

    I also agree with track lighting bouncing off the walls. Crown molding would outline and lower the ceiling. Paint the crown molding, door trim, and basebaord one shade darker than the walls. This would take away the look of a narrow and long hallway.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Oct 21, 2021

    Agree with above increased lighting and making sure your walls are all painted the same bright light color would improve spacious feel.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Oct 21, 2021

    Change up the lighting with track lighting, paint the walls a light color you like, use a good interior latex paint that will reflect light and be very durable.

    • Ilc2138183 Ilc2138183 on Oct 24, 2021

      i would put mirrors on both sides it will look lighter and wider. kinda large mirrors with flat frame.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Oct 21, 2021

    Brighter lights. Add a chair rail trim and paint a darker color below with a lighter color above.

  • Maura White Maura White on Oct 21, 2021

    I would add a mirror or two - they always help make small space look bigger!

  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on Oct 21, 2021

    Add lights

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Oct 22, 2021

    What about mirrors? Maybe an artistic arrangement of a few different ones that look good together?

    also track lighting where you aim the lights at the walls vs straight down will help widen the feel of the hallway. :)

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Oct 22, 2021

    a lighter paint color would help some and put in more lights in the ceiling you could even use flurosent lights that give out more light

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 22, 2021

    Hi use mirrors and pictures with reflective glass in them. You could also panel or wallpaper the bottom half of the walls to give the hall a wider feel and look! Dark at the bottom, light at the top.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Oct 22, 2021

    What is on the other side of the hallways inside walls?

    I am wondering what the possibility might be of cutting out an opening in the wall. icon

    Either leave open completely, to allow light to pass through and to open up the area, or install glass.


    Here are some examples for inspiration:

  • We have the same issue. We painted the hallway a warm neutral tone and then painted the doors and trim in a bright white for contrast. Then we added high hat lighting and large mirrors. It made all the difference. It's no bigger, but feels that way. Good luck.

  • Debi53 Debi53 on Oct 24, 2021

    This is what we did with out hallway. It has gotten over 2 million views on Hometalk. Maybe it will give you some ideas. https://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/walls/stenciled-hallway-finally-finished-21898529

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Oct 24, 2021

    You could put a wall scone to Britten it up there are some that plug in.paint a lite color and do the trim in a little darker color so it looks like the hall goes on .

  • August December Home August December Home on Oct 25, 2021

    Pick a wall and fill it floor to ceiling with peel and stick mirror tiles. You can even put a black grid around the mirrors for a bit of an industrial modern feel. Pick a wall that you see when you open the door, and one that the door knob wont smack into. Mirrors make everything look bigger. Going right to the floor will give an illusion that your hardwood floor is double the current width too.

  • Lindsay Aratari Lindsay Aratari on Oct 26, 2021

    How about painting it a bright white color

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Oct 31, 2021

    most important thing is to add lights to your ceiling

  • I'd add lots of artwork in various sizes to the hall so that the art grabs your attention more than the physical shape of the hall.