59 beautiful hallways to make the perfect entrance

Create a fabulous first impression

The hallway is the most regularly-used room in a home so it deserves to look good. But, it also needs to work hard on a practical level, providing useful storage and being able to withstand heavy traffic.

Read on for clever entryway ideas that will help you design a foyer space that’s both beautiful, functional and welcoming...

Grow a tree

If you love houseplants in the home, why not supersize your hallway plant display with a statement tree?

A good botanical species to start with is the olive tree as the Mediterranean plants are comfortable in warm spots. Pop in a textured basket and place next to a chunky rustic-style console for full effect.

Turn heads with terrazzo

Characterised by colourful chips of marble and granite set within concrete, terrazzo makes a fun choice as hallway flooring in modern homes. These striking creamy coarse terrazzo tiles are flecked with pink, green, black and gold and look super chic teamed with warming wood panelled walls.

Get a linear look

A stylish way to add panelling to hallways for both protective and aesthetic reasons is with modern slat wall panels.

For a Scandi-fresh vibe, install the panels halfway and allow upper white walls to balance the scheme and keep the narrow space feeling open and bright. Opt for a ready-cut style to avoid fiddly measuring or cutting.

Light up the look with window film

Window film is ideal if your home is located on a busy street. It's so easy to apply too, with just soapy water and the tool provided. This stained glass inspired pattern will let plenty of light in, look stylish and keep prying eyes out.

Two-tone the walls

Give visitors something to talk about with a new and exciting paint effect.

Two-tone walls with a darker block colour at the bottom creates a smart and refined finish that is durable. The technique works particularly well in hallways where white walls can get dirty quickly. An earthy tone will offer a practical and warming welcome.

Elongate with stripes

A smart striped carpet in the hallway is not only great for disguising dirt, but the subtle pattern creates the illusion that there is more length (or width, if it's laid horizontally) to the room.

Double the impact by paring back the rest of the scheme with a neutral colour palette that will help draw the eye down to the carpet and make it the star of the show.

Lay a chequerboard floor

The striking chequerboard trend will never go out of style and will make a striking statement in the hallway. Large format or small, black and white porcelain tiles will undoubtably upgrade your hallway.

If tiles seem expensive try vinyl or painting a tiled effect hallway floor can be a fun and cheaper alternative. Here, the painted black staircase and metal framed console table ties the scheme effortlessly together.

Keep the space clean

Hallways naturally get a lot of traffic with people coming and going in dirty footwear, and can be difficult to keep clean.

Combat this by laying suitable heavy-duty mats over hardfloors – pop a rubber mat outside and a coir one inside and you'll notice a difference. Continue the look up the staircase with a heavy-duty floor runner.

Add a statement chair

Need a home for that much-loved new statement chair? Don't rule out the hallway – it's a great choice as not only will it be the first thing guests see when they enter your home, but it also makes putting on shoes that much easier!

Ideal for a larger hallways, this green velvet occasional chair and natural circular rug adds texture and warmth to the eclectic space.

Choose a light and bright scheme

Hallways benefit from being light and bright, which is why Scandi schemes are particularly well suited to this space.

Glass front doors allow in plenty of light and are an easy way to make any room feel bigger, while white and pale wood furniture pieces are clean and stylish. Eye-catching touches of greenery in oversized vases add a touch of nature.

Bring in a touch of Barbiecore

Ensure your small apartment entryway is bursting with character with a hallway that's pretty in pink.

A bespoke slatwall coat hook and storage bench is a striking and clever idea, that's full of personality. Pair with a glamourously girly candy striped floor for a look that's envy-enducing.

Keep out the chill

As the weather gets colder and the cost of living is soaring now is an excellent time to keep draughts out of hallways.

This heavy, rich golden wheat-toned curtain is stylishly colour-matched to the earthy green tone of the painted front door. Choose a fabric long enough to reach right to the floor to ensure your home is cosy for the autumn.

Highlight with wall lights

Need some light in your hallway but are short on space? Opt for wall sconces, which attach directly to the wall, meaning they take up less floor space, and create ambient lighting that directs either up or down, depending on your choice of design.

This striking smoky crystal and brass sconce becomes the ultimate wall feature when echoed with a glass decanter and candle display.

Brighten up with a doormat

Nothing transforms a hallway more easily and cost-effectively than a new doormat. With so many shapes, colours and designs to choose from, you can completely change the vibe of your entrance in an instant, whether it's a new season change or simply a style refresh.

Just remember to check that it's made of a hardwearing material, such as coir or jute like this colourful doomat, for optimum shoe-wiping capabilities!

Curate a photo wall

Take inspiration from family TV shows such as Modern Family and start a family photo gallery on the blank staircase wall. Framing options and layout ideas are endless.

Black and white snaps with black frames will create a smart and minimalist vibe, whereas various frames and photographs will look relaxed and interesting. Here, a rich purple tone acts as a dramatic backdrop to a family photograph display.

Focus on the front door

A bright and colourful front door always increases kerb appeal. But painted both sides, the update will give your hallway a stunning transformation too.

This contemporary-style door is painted a happy yellow shade. We love the striking contrast it creates against the black central panel and handle.

Go dark and dramatic

If your hallway has lots of natural light, use the benefit wisely by going for a glamorous dark colour scheme.

Paint the door and staircase a dark tone and team with a warming wood floor and gold-toned accessories. Or, for a contemporary take install modern slat wall panels up the stairwell for a bold and sophisticated look.

Keep coats organised

Coats, shoes, scarves and hats need to be kept orderly and to a minimum in the hallway or the small space could soon resemble a jumble sale.

Keep seasonal outwear stored in a hallway unit and on hooks only and switch as the weather changes. Include a storage bench, baskets and boxes for smaller accessories such as gloves and scarves.

Decorate the hallway last

If you are renovating a property it makes sense to leave the hallway décor until last. Why? With a steady traffic flow of workers moving heavy furniture coupled with dust, a house renovation is bound to leave their marks in the hallway, so making it the final place to decorate means it won't need to be done twice.

Top tip: Nick Parsons, Technical Manager at Harris says: Should you want a break mid-project, there isn't a need to clean the brushes or rollers straight away. Simply lightly load the brush or roller with paint then cover with an airtight wrap such as clingfilm if you are leaving them for longer than 20 minutes."

Create a home office under the stairs

It's easy to reserve the space under your stairs for the vacuum cleaner and broom, but why not transform it into a home office with a desk, cupboards, shelves and a noticeboard instead?

If you have enough room to pull up a chair and comfortably walk behind it, then there's plenty of space for a desk. Or, commission a carpenter to use every inch of space by building a bespoke fitted home office with storage.

Use vintage luggage racks

Railway-style luggage racks are an excellent choice for a narrow hallway, giving you a spot to hang coats and hats without taking up too much room.

You can hunt down beautiful vintage luggage racks at flea markets and online, often at bargain prices, but modern recreations may give you the bonus of extra features, like additional coat hooks.

Put up cladding

Wood panelling is a practical and characterful choice for your hallway walls as it's robust and quick to wipe down and easy to repaint should it become too scuffed.

It will work in most rooms, but looks particularly fitting in rustic country or coastal schemes.  The cosy 'cabin' vibe looks particulary inviting when tongue and groove is painted in darker shades. Balance the scheme is paler vintage-style patterned flooring and painted woodwork.

Inject with personality and colour

Make the most of a plain entryway with stand-out colour tones. This long and narrow hallway scheme starts with a neutral backdrop and is then layered with bright and pretty textiles and tones that create a fun and happy welcome.

Personality bursts out of the bright Parisan print Roman blind and looks divine set against the sunny yellow dresser that looks as though it was custom made for the space. Jenny Hamilton, the artist who created Toile de Paris, for Hillarys says: “Drawing influence from the rich tradition of toile de jouy, I wanted to capture this essence of discovery in a contemporary interpretation, bringing a touch of Parisian charm and storytelling into your home.”

Purify with greenery

Don't just use the hallway as a place to dump your bag and shoes at the end of the day – give it the same love and attention that you would any room.

Adding greenery will make it feel like a more homely space and is great for your wellbeing, too, giving you a nice welcome as you walk through the door. To ensure happy plants arrange them in a sunny spot on a hallway bench or plant stand ensuring the hallway has plenty of light, or display as close to windows as possible.

Create a boot room vibe

Give your hallway a 'cottagecore' vibe with shiplap panels and fabric wallpaper for added protection. A wooden bench and boot stand will add to the county scheme.

Natural wood floors and country-style door will enhance the rustic charm. Rural staples like a boot stand and a basket of chopped wood will seal the deal.

Jazz up a tiny hallway with wallpaper

If your hallway resembles a cupboard rather than a through-room, use the enclosed space to your advantage by transforming it into a dazzling corner full of colour.

Hang a beautiful wallpaper on one wall – with only one or two rolls to purchase you can afford to up the budget to something designer or handprinted. Then, pick out the tones with a few simple extras. This bedside table works beautifully as a hallway console against the green wallpaper. Finish with a full-length mirror to enhance the compact area.

Build a storage bench

A lidded bench will be a wise investment in a hallway where practical storage is vital. Shoes and boots can be hidden inside while a padded seat and extra cushions in coordinating fabrics on top will create a cosy and welcoming feel.

Match up curtains and blinds with complementary fabrics. Lots of fabric companies create fabric collections like this Kasbah Collection that are designed to enhance each other and so have done the hard work for you.

Choose narrow furniture

Narrow hallways require slimline furniture to ensure through traffic is not compromised. Open shelf storage will maximise the sense of space and is ideal for placing small storage boxes for your essentials and creating simple accessory displays.

Draw the eye with a blind

Create a visual target to draw the eye in a small or narrow space.

A piece of art or colourful window treatment like a pretty lime green and blue floral roller blind, will anchor the room to make the space feel larger and provide depth.

Put up a fun memo board

Blackboard walls may be a common sight in kitchens and children's rooms but this chalkboard vinyl wall sticker is a practical and fun idea too.

Peel and stick it to a smooth surface by the front door to write messages and reminders on – the kids will never leave the house without their PE kit again! 

Add a herringbone floor

A warm-toned herringbone floor will create a seamless flow in a large hallway. The soothing consistent pattern will naturally lead you towards other rooms leading from it.

If real wood in such an expansive space is too expensive vinyl options can be hardwearing, durable and look super realistic.

Paint the interior of a cupboard

Who says you need to take your contemporary hallway seriously? We love the colourful addition added to the storage cupboard of this modern entryway.

Hidden behind crisp white sliding doors here is an adventurous pink feature wall, painted in an exotic pink.

Add a table lamp

It’s always nice to be welcomed home to the cosy glow of soft lighting, especially on a dark, cold night and adding a hero lamp to your hallway gives you the option of layering your lighting according to need, so you don't always have to rely on your main light.

A good tip is to hook up your lamp to a switch by the front door, so you don’t have to fumble your way across the dark hallway to turn it on.

Display messages

Never come home without a smile and, if you need a reminder, a wall of uplifting greetings above a cosy and warm radiator as you step in the door will do the job.

Not only will the welcome put you in a happier mood, but it'll also bring joy to guests. Plus, it's a brilliant spot to display photographs, trinkets and other memorabilia.

Decorate with country classics

For a scheme that will stand the test of time and never go out of fashion, the classic country look is a trusted choice.

It works particularly well in a hallway when you add an elegant hat stand, shoe cupboard and storage bench set against pretty floral print wallpaper for a homely feel.

Use tile to dramatic effect

Hallways often end up far down the list of decorating jobs and can end up looking lacklustre and boring.

Instead, have fun with this space and use it to try out bold and bright schemes. The bold lilypad-effect pattern on these floor tiles makes a real statement.

Tile the walls

Hallways can bear the brunt of lots of 'in and out' activity, so help protect the walls from nicks and scrapes by tiling them midway, as you might in a bathroom.

These deep teal tiles have been laid in a timeless metro-style brick wall pattern, with a white accent colour to keep a refreshing balance and prevent the room from looking too dark.

Paint a stair runner

If you can’t stretch to a runner or aren’t so keen on carpet, a painted runner can look just as effective.

Add your all-over base colour to the stairs, then mark out where you want it to go, using a ruler and pencil, then follow your lines with masking tape before carefully painting the runner in your chosen colour.

Add interest with wall art

Add character to your hallway by creating a gallery wall that shows off favourite works of art. Because hallways are spaces that you tend to pass through, rather than spend time relaxing in, you can get away with bolder prints and colours than you might do in, say, a living room or bedroom.

If creating a gallery wall seems overwhelming why not buy a gallery collection that has been carefully matched and put together by brand designers, for a look you know will work?

Paint the staircase

Inject interest and colour to your staircase by painting the treads or risers an interesting pattern or colour.

There are many ideas to choose from. Get creative by painting your stairs with numbers, words, patterns, ombre or rainbow colours, or even trompe l’oeil designs – one particularly imaginative option is to paint the riser of each step as if it is the spine of a favourite book.

Tidy away with baskets

When it comes to storage, square baskets slid onto shelves, trunks stacked on the floor and belly baskets hung from peg rails all make easy solutions for winter gloves, scarves and hats – plus they can be moved around easily.

Choose organic materials to inject some natural texture and warmth into your hallway.  If you have room, larger belly baskets placed on the floor add a relaxed and bohemian vibe.

Protect with panels

Not only is panelling popular, but it also makes a practical solution for protecting walls in high traffic areas such as the entryway.

Use pre-cut panels to get this sophisticated and traditional look on a budget. It can also be an alternative method of adding a two-tone colour effect.

Zone the space

If your hallway opens directly into a reception room, why not define the different areas using furniture or flooring?

This modern herringbone tiled floor, for example, has been laid with bold monochrome chevrons to welcome guests as they enter the hallway, and then blends into a warm wood tone the further you go into the living space.

Cover the radiators

Sophisticated radiator covers not only keep old designs hidden, but their boxed nature means you have a ready-made slim shelf for displaying accessories, keeping a letter rack or even a handy key store.

Other plus points include noise reduction from the heating system and if designed and installed correctly, a radiator cover can boost energy efficiency.

Tuck in a small bench

Even the smallest of spaces can usually have a piece of furniture squeezed in to serve as a hallway station.

A tiny bench is perfect for perching on while you put your shoes on, and you can always give a plain design a splash of colour, like this one, for an inviting look.

Pick streamlined storage

If you need a lot of storage and space at a premium, avoid a cluttered look with colour coordinated solutions. Charcoal benches and wall-mounted coat hooks blend into the grey-painted walls behind in this narrow hallway.

Break up the block colour with photos and artwork above, for a homely finish.

Add a console table

A narrow table is the ultimate pretty-but-practical addition to a hallway.

It provides storage for keys and other bits and pieces, as well as a surface on which to display photographs, candles and trinkets. Frame the table with a vase or lamp and a mirror or piece of colourful wall art mounted overhead.

Opt for slimline storage

First impressions usually count and a stylish entryway will create a warm welcome, however, you don't have to spend a fortune to achieve this.

Slimline storage will keep shoes and keys in their place, while a wicker wastepaper bin in between will keep umbrellas and outdoor toys tidy. Add photos in black and white to make use of the blank space and cosy up a basic bench with a soft rug or blanket.

Choose hardwearing floors

For areas that will have a lot of footfall, hardwearing floors are best and you can't go wrong with solid, porcelain tiles that are extremely durable and easy to keep clean.

Realistic natural stone finish not only looks stunning but is a practical choice, too.

Give stair runners a go

The right carpet runner can transform your staircase from being a simple means of getting from A to B into a stand-out design feature that greets you when you walk in through the front door.

Some runners come as part of a matching carpet range, so you can continue the design on the floors of your hallway and landing as well.

Decorate in a neutral scheme

Open up a narrow hallway with a scheme in light and neutral colours.

Soft greys, combined with whites and gentle pastels, are ideal for this part of the home as they're soothing shades and not overpowering. This all white hallway looks ultra uplifting thanks to floor-to-ceiling fresh blue curtains either side of the front door.

Inject bold colour

Painting a wall is probably the easiest and most effective way to transform the mood of a room, especially small spaces like hallways.

While this Mellow Orange a warm reddish orange, might feel a bit much for a whole living room, it brings a splash of richness to this hallway and will raise a smile every time you walk past it.

Lay coherent flooring

To create a sense of cohesion throughout your home, use the same flooring from the hallway in other ground-level rooms. Wood and laminate are ideal for areas that get heavy footfall, as they are long-lasting and durable.

Our top tip when choosing straight patterns? Lay the planks so they run away from the door to increase that sense of space.

Add traditional tiles

We all know that tiles are a highly practical flooring option for the hallway, but they're also a great way to make a statement in one of the smaller rooms.

Victorian-style encaustic tiles are a timeless choice that won’t go out of style and will sit comfortably in both a classic or contemporary scheme for years to come.

Include an entrance table

If you're lucky enough to have a large hallway, but feel it's looking a little sparse, try adding a central round table for a traditional touch. A circular style is ideal, as it lacks any sharp corners to knock yourself on when you're coming or going.

Finish with a large bouquet of seasonal flowers that you can change for events and seasons.

Start with a well-being welcome

Create a calming environment from the moment you walk through the door. Keep only the bare minimum on show in the hallway by hiding shoes and coats out of sight in closed storage.

Choose surfaces and furniture in a coherent and soothing neutral tone, this ombre wallpaper is ultra subtle and warming. Finally, only display simple accessories that offer quality craftmanship or usefulness.

Choose chunky furniture

An old library cabinet, apothecary chest or sideboard table will add character and could be just the thing for storing all those annoying bits and bobs that don’t have anywhere else to live.

Keys, parking permits, gloves, spare change – all of these would fit neatly into their own dedicated compartments.

Make it child-friendly

Families can have a lot of stuff that often gets dumped as soon as you are through the front door, so keep it tidy by giving little ones their own special storage and encouraging them to use it.

Low-level hooks look funky and make it easy for kids to hang their own coats, while a bench beneath offers a practical place for the many shoes and boots you each own.

Coordinate storage

Your entryway probably requires flexible storage to meet many needs. Add plenty of stylish solutions by coordinating furniture and choosing a combination of open and closed cabinets to maximise the sense of space.

This budget-friendly yet practical furniture range transforms fits perfectly in the under stair alcoves and creates a refreshing contrast set against painted panelling.