How to turn a dark hallway into a cosy one

A characteristic feature of a flat is the dark hallway. Such a room is often hard to change or improve, and it is even harder to bring light into it in a clever way. Even so, there are things you can do with a space like this.

The best tips for brightening a room

A light base

Make the most of colour! If your style allows it, don’t be afraid to go for it. White, ivory, beige or light grey work best. You can also make a real difference with a pastel colour; just be careful with the shade. Consider painting horizontal stripes on the wall to make the room seem wider, or vertical stripes to make your cosy hallway seem taller.

Mirror

A decorative mirror works wonders. It reflects natural and artificial light perfectly. As a result, the room will look much brighter during the day, and at night it will reflect the glow of the lamps, making the space feel larger.

A full-height mirror works best, as it automatically gives the room a sense of height and draws the eye upwards. Glazed doors fitted to built-in wardrobes are also perfect for small hallways.

Lighting

Striking lighting takes centre stage. It looks attractive and will transform a dark hallway. There are plenty of beautiful chandeliers, wall lights and LED lamps on the market in various sizes and shapes. Industrial lamps (spotlights), which have become very fashionable recently, are ideal for a hallway. A tall floor lamp is best placed in a dark, empty corner, and if you don’t want to take up space in the hallway, it is worth directing light there from a spotlight.

Picture gallery

Canvas paintings, posters or family portraits hung along a narrow hallway will make the space look bigger. Remember, though, that framed artwork should be in lighter colours! And how about frames with built-in lighting? Not only will they show off your gallery, but above all they will add more artificial light to a dark hallway.

Floor

High-gloss ceramic tiles work best in a small hallway (e.g. imitation white marble). They reflect light perfectly, but they have one drawback: they are very hard to clean. Another way to widen a hallway is to choose suitable rugs or runners. Rugs with horizontal stripes make a hallway look bigger, while a rug with vertical stripes makes it look considerably longer.

More of our tips

• Remember that a light hallway always looks bigger 
• choose suitable furniture for a narrow hallway  

A narrow hallway should always be kept tidy, so think about various cabinets and decorations. They will give any such room the flair it deserves.