Dark corner

[ToastMama]

What would you do with this corner? It's in our hallway, north facing and dark. Very dark. There's no window, so it would be good to have something that lightens the space up... I was thinking a big off-white squishy armchair, fill in the dark shelf/recess and hang photos/prints above the existing fireplace (which I was thinking we should keep as it's an original feature, but I don't love it...). I feel like I'm missing something - does it need a rug? This gloomy corner is the first thing you see when you come into the house, any thoughts on how to brighten it up would be very welcome!

[ChopsticksandChilliCrab]

Do you ever use the fireplace? Without it you could have a big armchair with cheerful cushions on.

Or if you do want to keep it how about just opting for a cheerful cushion on the existing chair and a cheerful rug? I think they would make a huge difference.

I was going to suggest hanging mirrors to let light in but I don't think it is possible given the angles and small space.

[ChopsticksandChilliCrab]

I got rather carried away with my cheerfuls, sorry!

[ToastMama]

Haha, well it needs a heck of a lot of cheer...! Thanks, I like the idea of covering up the fireplace with a large chair. We never use it due to small children. I keep trying to work out how to fit a lamp in there somewhere - maybe a floor one leaning over a sofa/snuggler type chair would work. The house is Arts & Crafts and I'm really struggling with it!

[ChopsticksandChilliCrab]

Your house sounds and looks lovely. If it is an original feature you wouldn't want to get rid of the fireplace and you might want to use it in the future.

I do like fireplaces. We have a fireplace in our hall but it uses the same chimney as the fireplace that backs onto it in the sitting room so we can only use one of them for real fires.

[CallMeMousie]

Oh it's lovely! How about painting one of the walls a dark colour (green or red?) and putting in a squashier armchair, a rug and a picture light and making it a reading snug? Embrace the darkness rather than fighting it? You could fill the shelf above the fireplace with old bound books. It'd be such a shame to have a lovely little fireplace and hide it!

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

You could box the whole lot in to create a large cupboard under the stairs. Not that keen on the little fireplace it looks a bit odd there.

[brassbrass]

I'm not keen on the fireplace or the alcove they look incongruous. I would remove them and put a console table there with lamps and use it for keys, mail, flowers etc. More practical too for a hallway.

[ToastMama]

That fireplace is such a funny thing, seems to completely divide people! If the hall wasn't so dark, I think I'd like it more... and I do like it in isolation, just not there. Chopsticks - it sounds similar to your hallway fireplace as it shares a chimney with our dining room, so I doubt we'll ever light it. I hate removing original features but it's so hard to work with - might have to settle for hiding it for now. I'd like to keep the little cupboard behind the chair as it's an interesting little wine hole cellar thing, so that writes off boxing it all in to creating under stairs storage. Plus there's a cloakroom to the right of the stairs so I'd only end up hoarding stuff to fill the cupboards! CallMe - I did try filling the alcove with nice vintage books, but it's awkwardly shallow! Hence the naff clock...

[Chipsahoy]

Personally I'd make it like a reading nook. I'd add book shelf, foot stool, blanket and some fairy lights. A wall lamp too of needs be