Help! How can I make my hallway more welcoming?

[NachoNachoMan]

We've lived in our house quite a long time.

The front garden is nice, the door has recently been painted, there's tubs and a basket with seasonal flowers so always something in bloom.

But... the hallway is not very welcoming - it always feels cold and uninviting. I think the biggest problem is the flooring; we have cream tiles which run the entire length of the downstairs - hallwat, kitchen, utility and downstairs loo - and therefore would be a big expense and undertaking to replace, although looks good, it's flipping freezing underfoot. It's also not the brightest of hallways, and is quite darkly painted, it's the only room I've not redecorated as it's a big undertaking and I'm not sure what on earth to do!

Are carpet runners any good or are they always kicked about? What colour do I paint it? All my furniture (bookcase, console table, radiator cover and telephone table) are all matching white, so wouldn't want to replace those. Carpet in the stairs is chocolate brown so it needs to be something that matches that too.

Help me please!

Would you be able to share a photo?
I had a runner in a Victorian hallway, you need a heavy one with non slip underlay. It will make a big difference.
Do you have a mirror in the hall?

As PP said, a runner with a non slip mat underneath and a mirror. A slim console table if one would fit with a lamp and/or a vase of flowers?
If there's a radiator, how about a radiator cover? Losing heat isn't a big sacrifice as little time is spent in the hall anyway.

Oops, you've already got console and rad cover - Sorry.

Is the stair carpet a cool or a warm brown?

I'd get a large houseplant to reflect the planting outside and add a splash of colour and look at having a bunch of seasonal flowers in the hallway on the console table. If it's dark, especially for winter what about a lamp with a warm bulb or candle's.
A bowl filled with seasonal items, so now conkers and dried leaves, in winter a sprig of Holly.
If you've a wood fire what about a basket filled with logs to make people think if they just step in further it'll be warm and cosy

Sorry, can't post a pic as I know friends use MN and don't want to be identified!

Thanks for the suggestions, I guess the combination of a cold tile floor and a dark walls really don't help. Carpet is Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate colour, so think that again feels dark. I guess the biggest challenge is to find a warm, reflective colour for the walls. I was thinking a cornflower blue but worried that would still feel cold.

I don't have a mirror downstairs, I might try that actually although will have to lose a nice picture (we have a pocket door for the downstairs loo and store cupboard so that means a lot of the wall is unsuitable for drilling to hang pictures). Will try putting some plants in too... any suggestions for plants that are okay without too much light? The rest of the house is covered in plants as everywhere else is bright and airy, but worried how well plants would do in the hallway.

Thanks all

Oh and I'm going to bite the bullet and order a rug!

Your hallway is painted chocolate brown?! Yeah that’ll be your problem then!! Get some Farrow & Ball onto it. Is it north facing? Use a warm shade. Go for a mid tone - anything too pale will enhance the arctic vibe.

That and a runner with a nonslip mat underneath will do wonders.

Are you keeping the brown stair carpet? If so I'm not sure blue would go with it, unless you added some gold? What about a mustard yellow? That should work with the brown, white and light tiles.

Paint hallway walls a light almost white but with warm undertones in colour. www.mydomaine.com/best-warm-white-paint-colors-4776838

Agree you need a lovely multicolour, bright runner rug on a no skid thingy as well. Go for something that goes with your style. I’m partial to handmade Tibetan ones....they come in many different colours and patterns
www.etsy.com/listing/615142765/tibetannepali-24-x-98-runner-carpet-rug

Agree a mirror facing the doorway as well, so when door opens it catches and reflects the light making the space brighter and welcoming.

Oh. Can keep tiles and brown stair carpet.

I am a massive fan of yellow. I have just painted a room in a pale warm yellow and everyone who comes in there says how nice it is.

What’s on the walls? Have you considered fabric wall hangings? My friend did this in her huuuuge house and they really cosied and warmed it up

And re plants Aspidistras are great for areas with less light

@SuzieCarmichael

Your hallway is painted chocolate brown?! Yeah that’ll be your problem then!! Get some Farrow & Ball onto it. Is it north facing? Use a warm shade. Go for a mid tone - anything too pale will enhance the arctic vibe.

That and a runner with a nonslip mat underneath will do wonders.

No the carpet is brown, the walls are moss green. Which is lovely in the sunlight, but in the dark bits, not so much 😬

@PragmaticWench

Are you keeping the brown stair carpet? If so I'm not sure blue would go with it, unless you added some gold? What about a mustard yellow? That should work with the brown, white and light tiles.

Yes keeping the carpets, they are good quality and still in fab condition (I think they were laid just before we moved in). I think the yellow would look great where it's brighter, but not sure how good it would look in the dark areas of the stairs. Argh! I think I've just got to pick something, I've been umming and ahhing for years!

@MrsCrosbyNRTB

And re plants Aspidistras are great for areas with less light

Thank you. Will have a look in the garden centre.

I now have this in my head though!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=6XROMw3Z4e0

Pale blue looks lovely with all shades of brown. Have a look at Clear Skies by Dulux Heritage. I've got it in my kitchen and it's not at all cold.

Plus it would look great with your white furniture

Agree that pale or duck egg blue will look great with brown.

We have a very old house.. Floral /bird door curtains and the same fabric inside the radiator covers. Our hallway is 2 house widths long!!.

If you like the idea of blue, which I think sounds good with the carpet, I have the washable matt emulsion from little greene paint I have it in mid China blue it’s kind of like a wedgewood blue but warmer.

Not sure of the layout but could you have a nice yellow in the bright hallway and then a very light brown or dark cream going up the stair wall?

Then a light brown rug and brown wooden plant pots with plants in and a wood framed mirror and brown wooden feature lampshade.

I almost always think the most welcoming thing to have in a hallway is somewhere for guests to put their shoes and coats.