Can you help me with ideas to cheer up a hallway that has little natural light?

[notafish]

Our 30s semi has no hallway or landing window because we are joined to our neighbours beside the stairs. I love our house in the summer months but coming home during the winter months puts me in a low mood because I am met by a dark, dingy hallway as I enter the house.

It's painted in pointing which is supposed to be light reflective but I guess it doesn't have many places from which to reflect the light. I've thought about adding a few more mirrors. Am I missing something that would make the hallway feel more cheerful and welcoming? Perhaps it's not just the light issue. It's a wider than usual hall for a 30s semi.

[godricshollow]

I always thought (while counterintuitive) it was not recommended to paint a room with little light in white (or similar) as it just looks dingy.
If you scroll to the bottom www.farrow-ball.com/using-colour/content/fcp-content it suggests a bolder colour or wallpaper which is what I'd do I think.

[puffylovett]

Agree, I would pick a colour. Borrowed light is beautiful and does exactly as it says on the tin. You could make a feature mirror wall with several 30s style mirrors hung together, one opppsite to reflect light. Add a glazed door to rooms off the hall. A lamp on a timer and some plants as already suggested.

Agree, we have a very dark house and so I have completely embraced the cosy and gone quite dark, although I am now finding myself moving back to lighter colours.

[rowenaj86]

wow, that looks great

[Yika]

Yellow is said to work better than white at warming up a dark space. You could also embrace the dark with a dramatically dark colour and good strong bright lights.

[notafish]

Thanks. It is not an option to paint the hallway again as it was repainted just 2 years ago to go over the poor choice of colour I made 2 years previous to that

I really like the idea of clustering some 30s mirrors, will investigate getting power to the other side of the hallway so I can have a lamp on a timer and will also buy a plant.