How do I make my hallway more welcoming?

[HateSummer]

We moved here last summer and I still don’t get a happy welcoming feeling when I come home. I need some ideas about colours and what to do to make it nicer. I’ve tried Pinterest but the hallways are so big I couldn’t emulate anything on there.

Would wallpaper look nice in a narrowish hallway with no sunlight? What else can I do to make things more welcoming? I have nothing on the walls.

We've got a large mirror that helps it feel bigger, and pictures up. A real mishmash of subjects but the frames are all similar so that helps. Also have a table with a lamp that is on a timer so it feels arm and welcoming when get in on winter.

A bit like this but ours isn't as classy

I don’t have space for a table but like the idea of a mirror...I have no idea what I’d put on the walls..might have to take a trip to some charity shops. The walls are magnolia and I hate them but then I’m too much of a wuss to change the colour.

I like that picture, I wouldn’t be daring enough to paint a wall that dark!

I'd say mirrors, a monks bench always looks good and handy for storage, a chalk board or slate with Chalk for reminders is homely, candles ivory and dove grey are nice shades with silver highlights.

Give it a go with r paint. It's cheap so it's way to try.

We put up framed family photos on one wall. Tk maxx has nice frames and you can get mounts cut cheaply at picture framers if the frames don't have them. Would you have room for a standard lamp.

Can you post a photo so we can see what you are working with?

Ok I suppose there is some light. Please don’t judge😆 it looks really shit...I have so many plans and then i chicken out. I was going to get understairs storage last year and then didn’t bother. Still I have no idea how to make it look nice...there’s no space for tables as there are doors and stairs in the way. We take our coats and bags straight upstairs atm. We have a lovely wooden coat hook that could go next to the door.

It’s not too bad! I think a big mirror above the radiator by the door and some kind of picture on the wall at the end would make a big difference... you need to find a picture that makes you feel smiley to welcome you home!

Fairy lights on a branch in a vase?

Colour (green / blue / grey) Put a radiator cover over the radiator and put a mirror above it. Some pictures on the end wall and then something at the bottom of the stairs (a basket maybe) for the shoes, bags etc but if you can get away with it.. avoid using the entrance for clutter, mine is a mess but we don't seem to have anywhere else to put sports kit, instruments, shoes, coats and try to put them in the understairs cupboard but things leak out!!

A radiator shelf and mirror above.

Nice display of photos on far wall as shown in previous poster. Have that wall in a different colour.

Can coats be hung to right of front door?

Large mirror over the radiator. End wall painted diff colour and some photos on or a large picture. Perhaps a runner rug too?

Have a look in Dunelm they have some good stuff.

You have a great blank canvas OP it would be easy to transform it, I see you have no space for a table but you could put a radiator cover on with a mirror above. Lighting is very important so if you could put a couple of small lamps on the cover that would give a lovely soft warm welcoming feel I would paint the end wall a dark striking colour with a gallery of different size pictures or another large mirror to bounce the light around and a rug to add softness. One final thing I hate hallways where people hang coats and bags on the stairs! It’s a real bug bear of mine as it creates a feeling of clutter, lack of space and mess as soon as you walk in, ban all that to your understairs cupboard if you have space.

I think i just see the end of a light bulb in second photo.
Get a real statement shade for it (again I recommend dunelm)
The contrast wall with pictures that someone posted would look good on end blank wall facing door.
Don't put a mirror there, it will make you think there's someone there every time you open the front door!

Yes breakfast I did think that when I posted it but I’m terribly vain so would find it very useful

I agree with others. Radiator covers to hold pretty nick nacks, mirror above the radiator cover to bounce light around.

Get some light and space paint on the walls - the colours are all pale but will add a sense that the space is cared for.

Whether you paint the far wall a brighter colour is up to you, but using it to display pictures and artwork is a great idea as it's the first thing you'll see as you walk in.

Then look at little pops of colour that you could add in the nick nacks, frames and light fixtures.

Start slowly, you don't have to get it all done on one go. Paint the walls first and build from there.

I would put a full length mirror on a navy wall facing the door to lengthen it. What’s under the stairs? If it’s not a loo just a cupboard then open this up to create the idea of a wider hall (if the floor is easy to replicate) and have a rail there that is more likely to be used without a door and forces you to not dump stuff inside.
Have a picture shelf over the radiator for personal pictures and add texture with some funky anaglypta wallpaper painted a warm grey!
Well that was a nice diversion from my blocked drains :-)

I absolutely LOVE the idea of a radiator cover/shelf and a mirror too, so that’s something I will definitely do! Thank you everyone! I also love dunelm so will plan a trip during half term although it does overwhelm me! I’ll have to go with a strict idea of what I want.

Not sure what kind of colour I could do at the end, I really like the dark grey, but afraid it will make everything look smaller and squashed. I also like the idea of art work at the end. Wondering whether blowing up some of my kids artwork on canvas will look weird? If I did choose something it would have green/blue as I love these colours together.

Thanks for all the brill ideas, I’m going to look at some radiators covers online now! And yy to cluttered hallway...I’m thinking whether I should go ahead and book the understairs storage 🤔..and yes!

Sorry didn’t finish: and yes! That lightbulb is ugly, I would definitely like a shade there.

I'd paint it a soft buttery yellow. agree with the radiator cover. I'd put a large canvas at the end - love the idea of blowing up a kids painting.

The nice thing about a dark grey or dark blue for the end wall is that it makes all the pictures you put on it really 'pop'.... we've just painted one room Hague Blue and the pictures and the telly look amazing suddenly....

Navy is the new grey!

Wow I’ve just looked at some Hague blue living rooms on Pinterest...I love it.

Love the idea of kids art work - original cheap and really fills a gap.

You need to go and look at cushion covers (I know!) Look at what colours the designers are putting together - take a few pics of the ones you like and use this as your pallet - so the paler color for the walls and the accent colours dor pictures and mirrors, light shade, niknaks