Although the houseproud among us lavish huge amounts of love and care on sitting rooms, kitchens and bathrooms, the hallway is all too often seen as a dumping ground.
However, in an ideal world, a hall will make an aesthetic statement. ‘It should be filled with things you enjoy,’ says the designer Sophie Conran.
‘The hall not only makes the first impression on your guests, it’s also the room that welcomes you back.’
There are a few essentials (a table for letters and parcels, dog leads, keys and umbrellas), but it’s the less prosaic elements that tend to be the most fun – pictures, collections and wall hangings that create a distinctive mood.
Sophie is a fan of mirrors in a hallway, not just because they maximise the amount of natural light in a space, but for a quick check of your appearance (‘no scrambled egg on your chin before you go out’).
Floors
Given that the hall is likely to see plenty of coming and going, hardwearing flooring is the best choice. Make the most of original flagstones or encaustic floor tiles if you’re lucky enough to have them, otherwise there are plenty of highly durable natural stone and porcelain floor tiles available.
Wood and rugs or runners is a combination that offers warmth, texture and comfort – just be sure to avoid pale colours if you have mud-loving children and dogs.
Colour
‘Elegant and restful colours help the space to interact with the adjacent rooms, but there is a good case to be made for throwing caution to the wind and creating a bold, dramatic opening statement,’ suggests interior designer Janine Stone. ‘This can add to the “wow factor” and punctuate the energy of the home with real verve.’
Much depends on personal choice and your furniture and paintings. For example, a restrained colour scheme may create a neutral backdrop to striking antique pieces or a sculptural staircase, although punchier or dark wall colours may work well in creating an individual identity.
‘Why not be brave in ways that you would never dream of in a sitting room or kitchen, which you use all day’ suggests interior designer Emma Sims Hilditch. ‘You could paint the walls charcoal or a beautiful bright blue to create real impact.’
She recommends using just a thread of the colour to run through a stair runner or in sitting-room curtains, for example, to create a cohesive feel to the whole house.
Lighting
‘It’s important to have a variety of levels of light to help create several atmospheres at different times,’ advises Emma, who recommends a combination of a ceiling light, such as a chandelier or lantern, mid-height light from table lamps or wall lights and low-level light, such as step lights.
‘And think about scale – a tall candlestick lamp or an extra-large lantern will have amazing impact.’
Credit: Alamy
Best wellington boots: The finest wellies you can buy
There's nothing quite so vital to life in the countryside as a decent pair of wellies. Country Life's luxury editor
Country Life Top 10: Fireplaces – The best hearths and chimneypieces you can buy
Giles Kime casts his eye over the finest fireplaces in the land.
Credit: Lighting top 10
Country Life Top 10: Lighting – The best lamps, chandeliers and lights you can buy
Our interiors expert Giles Kime guides you towards the most beautiful lighting on the market today.
-
A Georgian farmhouse that's an 'absolute gem' in an ancient village on Salisbury PlainJulie Harding takes a look at the beautiful West Farm in a gorgeous Wiltshire village.
-
Can you guess the landmark from its gingerbread copy cat? Take our quizToday's quiz takes a detailed look at the gingerbread works on display at London's The Gingerbread City — and asks if you can guess which iconic landmark they are.
-
Making space in a Georgian terraced Chelsea cottageGuy Goodfellow removed an internal wall to transform the sitting room of this Georgian terrace
-
Moths and memories of the Russian Revolution: Why it's worth saving that tired old rugDon’t consign that faded and tatty rug you inherited to the skip, warns Catriona Gray. A specialist repairer can work miracles on even the most unloved pieces
-
How one family went about creating a welcoming kitchen in one of England's neo-Palladian houses‘We were nervous about creating a kitchen in such a grand room.'
-
How do you make a 300-year-old Baronial castle fit for modern-day living?A mix of sympathetic colours and elegant furniture has brought new life to this impressive space at Aldourie Castle.
-
Oh, my gourd, it’s Hallowe’en: How best to decorate your home with pumpkins, squashes and moreAs the feast of All Hallow’s Eve approaches, Debora Robertson advises how best to decorate your home with autumn's edible bounty.
-
At the Snowdon Summer School, the future of design lies in the traditions of the past'It was the first time that I had ever been around people who shared my interest in making furniture at such a high level — and who shared my passion for fine furniture.'
-
It's a perfect storm for the revival of eclecticism, and we're in the middle of itIn design, periods of purism are often followed by a dramatic new mood. Now, the scene is set for an exciting revival of eclecticism.
-
For Rita Konig, interior design isn’t only about coherence and comfort — it should be a celebration of stuffGiles Kime charts the transatlantic career of the eclectic journalist-turned-designer.
