The top priority on all of our clients’ wish lists is for their home to make them happy. They want to feel joy from the moment they open their front door. So if your home needs a lift, what better place to start than your entrance hall. Here are seven easy updates to instantly add impact.
Plan your decor carefully
Entrance halls are one of the most heavily trafficked zones in any home. But when it comes to decorating, this busy space can be a bit of an afterthought. Your entrance hall will set the tone for the rest of the house, so it’s essential to give it as much thought as other rooms when redecorating.
Use lighting to create impact
Entrance halls often have little natural light, so they are one area of the house where properly-planned lighting can make a dramatic difference. The trick is to get the balance of artificial and natural light right. Too much artificial light will result in a space that feels clinical, but if it is underlit, everything will appear gloomy and uninviting.
Brighten woodwork with a coat of paint
Natural timber entrance doors are beautiful, but they can look a bit dull internally. To instantly brighten up your hallway, consider painting the inside of your front door a bright neutral like off-white. You will be amazed how this simple alteration can transform your hallway.
Add a decorative feature.
If your hallway lacks period features, why not consider introducing a dado rail or panelling. This is an inexpensive and easy way to add character and will allow you to introduce more than one colour to your walls. You could go for wallpaper above the panelling or dado rail, which is a lovely way to add personality to your entrance hall.
Create a mini gallery
Hallways are the perfect place for showcasing artworks or collectables. Floating shelves to display sculptures and picture lights to show off paintings make elegant statements.
Create a vista
Think about the view from your front door; if it’s a doorway, consider making this a glass-panelled door to maximise the amount of light in the hallway. This is especially effective if it allows a glimpse of the garden from the hallway. Or jazz up a blank wall with a striking wallpaper.
No hallway – no problem
If your front door opens directly into your living space, consider creating an entrance hall.
We refurbished a Victorian terraced house where the ground floor was completely open plan. It was a beautiful space, but the hall door opened straight into the living space from the street. Our brief was to create an entrance hall by screening off the living area without blocking light.
Our solution was to build an open-sided shelving unit to act as a screen and provide essential storage space.
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