Help - what should I do with this hallway?

[tessdurbyfield]

I have the most awkward lay out in my landing/stair, mostly due to two windows on the landing and hallway. The wall run is so boring and needs something to add interest and dimension but I cannot figure out for the life of my how to make panelling work, as it would have to run through the windows. Any advice or panelling alternative?

The layout diagram helps understand what's happening.

• Pictures - unless they're very small postcard sized), they won't look right without the space to view them.
• Mirrors - will look odd in that space.

Because it's very narrow shelves don't really work either. Unless you can recess them into the wall as part of adding fixed storage to bedroom that shares the wall with the corridor. Cubby-hole/niche shelves with recessed LED lighting.

Could you put a window in the outside wall? I know you don't need the light, but it will add interest and break up the plainness of the walls.

@Eyesopenwideawake yes but at waist height. I think they are picture rails when they are high up.

Down the line, window is a great shout. Unfortunately the rest of the house is a building site due to new kitchen, new living room, RSJ's etc so need something short term to jzuj it up!

Chandelier is a nice idea. I don't particularly want it to look like anything other than a narrow hallway, I just don't like the expanse of light coloured wall as it's very boring

You could replace the ceiling lamp with a linear light fitting. At the moment the conventional lamp-and-shade just draws attention to the long-boring-corridor effect.

Or you could go full-on night club corridor..

I'm into it. Reckon B&Q do those light fittings? 😂

I would make it very clean, calm and neutral, with shaker pegs along one wall and hang some bits on there.

Panelling doesn't have to be horizontal or squares... Look up theboardroomaccentwalls on Instagram, they have some interesting patterns (diagonals, regular or random) for ideas that might work in that space to break up the plain wall, and could be designed to not affect the radiator or continue through windows. I've seen people make focal points by using e.g. mirrors or pictures or wallpaper within the random panelling... it might not be to everyone's taste but it seems like it might work here. Many of the ones I've seen paint the panelling the same colour as the wall itself, but you could paint the panels a different colour to break it up. Could be fun!

What about a large panel rather than panelling? Like the image. Something with interest but that doesn't stick out to make space narrower as pictures would.

@Thepartnersdesk looks interesting. Or could you move your bedroom door about halfway down the hallway so that it shortens hallway and create an entrance inside the bedroom?