Large hall but odd layout - how would you use it?

[ThePurpleOctopus]

We're one year into our new house, and I still don't really know what to do with the hall. I'm not sure if it's best to post here or in Home Decoration, so happy to move it over if this isn't appropriate.

Situation: our hall is large (about 4m x 5m). You go into it from the porch, and it has the staircase in it, as well as doors to other rooms.

Because of the layout, there is almost no wall space (see picture). What looks like wall space on the right-hand side is covered by a large radiator right in the middle. We could look into moving this to one side or the other, but it would be a reasonable faff and cost (very old heating system), and maybe not the most worthwhile. There isn't anywhere else for the radiator to go, and it's definitely needed as it's a cold and draughty house.

Now, because it's quite a large house, we don't necessarily 'need' something in the hall. We're not short of storage, and the porch is where shoes, keys, etc. live.

But it's a weird and empty room. The previous owners had a decorative table right in the middle, and also one against the wall between the two top doors (on the picture). Because we've got young kids, these would feel obstructive for our family, so I don't know if something right in the middle would work.

This is not a major problem, more something I ruminate on every now and then. Would love ideas if anyone has any.

How about a Grandfather clock or a coatstand? Or a shoe cabinet?

I would go with an enormous mirror, lots of tropical plants, and a console table

Oh if room for a piano - I would do this - if you or DH or DCs play - we have downsized and unfortunately no room for a piano - other I would go with cosy chair and bookshelves for a private nook.

I once went to view a house where they had a very formal dining table in the hall. Used for high days and holidays - other dining was kitchen or other rooms.

My parents' hall is like this, bigger perhaps. It has a polished floor, a large rug, and a console table on one wall.
Tbh they just have it as a statement entrance hall now as plenty of other rooms, but when we were kids, we strung our dressing gown cords across and played badminton in there! Granddaughter has enjoyed scooting around in there and dogs sleep there!

What about a piano? A nice one looks good and great for the kids to learn.

We have a large hall in a Victorian house we haven't finished it yet but my ideas are - large Victorian wardrobe for storing coats that we don't wear a lot i.e. formal type coats and my husbands suit jackets. I also want to get a glass fronted Victorian display cabinet and I'm going to put all our family Harry Potter and Star Wars Lego in it as I would like to display it but I hate dusting.

It's all also has a large vintage armchair in bright red which we already purchased and a fireplace and I intend to restore the floorboards, at the moment it has the worlds worst hideous pub carpet down.

How about something likethat? Displaying family treasures I don't care if it's a geeky stuff I like the mix of vintage and modern and the rest of the house is decorated more modern so I wanted to keep this room traditional and true to the age of the house

We are buying a house with a similarly large hall. The current owners use it as a dining room!

We are going to get some kind of small bench to sit on and take shoes on/off

We lived in a house like this once. Most people had it as a formal dining room

How high is the hall?
Something like a wooden climbing frame / adventure play set for the kids?

A tree in the middle?

A fabulous playhouse?

If you don't need the space for living but want the room to be memorable and/or used, think outside the box.

Without pics it is difficult to assist but assuming the radiator is in the centre of the wall opposite the stairs, I’d consider a bespoke console table to sit over the radiator which would make the wall and area more useable. Then sit lamps either end and place a statement mirror over the top. Then I’d add dramatic furniture such as a porters chair next to it. Tie picture frames leading up the stairs in with your scheme. Consider sculpture or something similar under the stairs if they are open underneath (or open them up?) Generous circulation spaces are a rare find and great for parties so I’d try not to clutter them up too much.

I think you could have a nice sitting room in that space. A couple of single chairs and / sofa away from the radiator wall. Googled small sitting room to see if I could find pics of what I'm thinking. These are sort of along the line of what I was thinking. Hard to say without seeing the space.

We have a similarly large hallway. We've bought a large fish tank which when everything is sorted should look amazing.

To really advise I do think a wider plan is necessary. Is there only one window? where are the existing electrical sockets and would you be prepared to add more if necessary?

We've always had a hallway that takes a large Christmas tree, so need to plan to accommodate that. Maybe you prefer yours elsewhere?

The way I'd start is to imagine arriving home, opening the front door and then, what do you do? what do you want to see? and go from there.

Definitely a piano

Those of you saying to put a console/table in front of the radiator with lamps - it's bizarre, but I never thought about putting something in front of the radiator! I think in my head I'd put the radiator section as 'off-limits' for furniture or furnishings.

We don't have any sockets on that wall (only one in the hall and it's behind the door, from the porch), but a table and mirror could still be good.

To answer other questions and thoughts....

• piano is a great idea. We have one in the living room. Wouldn't mind it being in the hall but sockets are an issue.

• we don't really need storage

• the ceiling is very high

• massive light/chandelier thing sounds very cool. I like this idea.

• full bright bookcases /library style sounds very cool too. I could even do one that has a ladder and be proper library-like!

@ColsterGalWorth - I do wonder if the best use we have for the room is as a 'gathering area' and part of getting ready to go out. I should probably keep that in mind and ensure we do things on the ceiling/walls, but not put too much in the main middle space. Thanks for this. And agree with @Mrsgordonselfridge about not cluttering up circulation spaces too much, now I'm thinking this through more.

@Buttercup72 - I like the grandfather clock idea! I adore clocks.

@SoonbeSpringtime - good idea about doing a 'walk in and what do you want to see?' kind of thought-exercise. It does make me realise I don't want something massive or right in the middle. And yes, we do currently have a massive Christmas tree in the hall. It's the only thing that has ever 'lived' in the hall except the internet router as the phone line is there. And I probably do want to keep enough space to have the tree there every year.

And sorry, here's the wider floor plan for that floor.....

'Dining room' is used as a playroom.

Aah, so you don't go straight into it from the front door? Then you can use it as any kind of room you want! I assumed as the hall it had the front door.
It will always be a 'corridor' to the rest of the house, but you can use it as a snug, 2nd living room/tv free living space, library/reading room etc. wouldn't recommend as an office though with everyone going through.
Or just dress it as a formal dining room to use on high days and holidays. Quite nice to be away from the kitchen and mess at Xmas dinner etc.