Dark hallway - paint help!!

[MamaJaye]

I have a long narrow hallway which lets very little light in. There unfortunately is no way of getting extra light in (already a frosted glass door at either end. The hall is also an L shape.

Currently painted a very pale grey which looks blue. I thought having a light colour would make the brighter but it doesn't. Woodwork and ceiling is all painted brilliant white.

I hate it. It's dark and cold looking.

I have a rug which is colourful that I would prefer to keep (red/pinks/yellow/blues) if possible.

Colour suggestions please!!

[thenewaveragebear1983]

There's a dulux range called 'light and space' I think which has all colours that bounce light around and maximise it. As for actual colours, I am pretty rubbish at that, but I was once told to look up and down the colour charts when choosing- as in , you choose a colour but look to see what is in its spectrum. Magnolia for example, is actually a very light brown, so in shadow will look beige and suck light out of the space.

Someone more knowledgeable will be along soon I'm sure!

[staceyturnbull1989]

I used this app when decorating my home and it was excellent! If your worried about getting it wrong then this will certainly help. You just take a photo of your room on your phone and choose from a range of colours.

www.crownpaints.co.uk/inspiration/articles/2017/03/choosing-colour-for-your-home

[GlitteryFluff]

I've got a similar hallway but has another bend in it like a zigzag / z shape (iyswim?)
No windows, only the one in the front door. I'm in the middle of doing something with it now.
I've painted it all white, white woodwork, ceilings and walls. I already have a beige carpet I can't get rid of at the mo but I like anyway. My plan is to get some mirrors strategically placed to bounce light about and look at swapping my light fittings for something that gives off more light.
Not sure what else I can do!

[yecartmannew]

I have mirrors and they work to bounce the light round and brighten it up. I have a full length one at the top of my stairs which reflects the light from the front door at the bottom into the landing at the top.

[FurbysMakeSexNoises]

I have little Greene Aged Ivory in my hall and it's warm and has red/yellow tones- I love it.

[PickAChew]

A warm colour would work best. Ours is a sunny yellow. Lovely and cheerful, even on a filthy day like today.

We discovered, by trial and error,vthat even warm beiges just look grey at the front of the house, which is North facing.

[EpoxyResin]

Any way you could reconsider the electric lighting in there? You might not be doing yourself any favours with certain types of fitting, shade, wattage or colour temperature.

[grasspigeons]

I think the theory is you need a deep colour you can see without much light bouncing off it. Like that yellow pp suggested.
Mustard seems very in?