Hallway size

[Northernmum1980]

We are having a side extension, and although the plans say the hallway should be 1200, today the builder suggested to my husband that this was too big and that 900 would be sufficient and would give my daughter more space in her bedroom.

My issue is, I have always been vocal about not wanting a hallway that is too narrow and looks weird, and I'm worried that I will always think it looks too narrow and like a rat run.

Does anyone have any experience in this area to give me advice on what to do ? I'm thinking of asking the builder to move it out to 1,000mm but now feel selfish because my daughter has seen her current room size and was happy and is asking me to leave it as is 🫣

Is this the main entrance to the house where people might store coats and shoes and bags? Or just a corridor to one room?

No its up stairs , and runs from the hall way down to a new bedroom at the end , making a new wall for my daughters bedroom. So making my current room smaller which my daughter will soon move in to ( currently it's room, my daughters is currently in a a much smaller box room )

What else is along this corridor? Are people likely to have to pass each other in it, or does it lead to just one person's bedroom? How is it lit? Any windows?

It will also have a door to my daughters new room on the side and our new room at the end. No window , just a radiator

IMO 90cm is too narrow if people are going to be passing each other, especially when you will lose even more width because of the radiator. The 10 or 20cm to make the corridor more comfortable is a significant proportion of the corridor with, but is insignificant compared to the overall width of the bedroom.

For an upstairs corridor leading only to bedrooms (so not used all that often) I would say 90cm is fine and would definitely prioritise extra bedroom space.

Can you create a sort of window effect to break it up… I’m thinking a mirror recessed into the wall (so as not to narrow the space further) with spotlights down onto it.

I don't think so, the new hallway is being made through the existing bedroom and will sit in between another bedroom ( my sons ) and what will be my daughters new bedroom.
Perhaps having the radiator removed would make it look better. I just don't want to allow it to continue and then in the end think it looks too narrow and wish I had asked them to move it to 1000 🤷‍♀️😩 ... but then it's just feel really bad for taking space from my daughters new room to make a hallway wider !!

If it’s a new stud wall you can definitely create recesses in it for a mirror or even recess the radiator. But it’s a lot easier if done at the time the stud wall is created.

I would suggest the same width as other hallways in the house to ensure it looks in keeping. Large hallways are a massive bonus imo and change the whole feeling of a house.

Make sure you can fit furniture down the new hall, beds, wardrobes and desks can be big especially if there is a radiator that will narrow space even more. Also if long and narrow there won't be an angle to get things into room.

What do you think about the bedroom size for your daughter? Surely that will govern your decision. The builder may not value circulation space like you do. If you think your daughters bedroom is a good size then that's your decision. I like a good size landing and hall way but there would be a point where I'd say the room size trumps that.

My daughters bedroom will still be a decent size, although it will take a little off the width but would be ok, especially as we are knocking an arch way through to her existing bedroom which will effectively become a walk in wardrobe.

I just know, if I don't ask him to move it out, even just to 1000 instead of 1200 on the plans and it's fully built i will kick myself , if It does look narrow .

Or should I just leave well enough alone , still feel like I'm being selfish wanting the wider hallway at the bedrooms expense....mum guilt 😔

Go for the larger hall way, you'll all benefit from the feeling of space, that's if there is room to get round her bed comfortably.

It's YOUR house OP, don't be railroaded by a tradesman. He may prefer a narrow hall and bigger bedroom but it's you who has to live with it.

A larger hallway will give the house a feeling of space and intentionality. A narrow hallway is dark and gloomy and screams extension.

Just tell him you've had some time and actually you DO want it 1200 afterall.

Loads of kids have to share small rooms let alone have their own. Your daughter will survive. Of course she'd choose a bigger bedroom but this is a grown up decision based on a wider perspective that your DD won't have.

She'll soon forget all about it.

Are there any building regulations that stipulate the landing area (it’s not a hallway, sorry 😃) should be 1200?

in any case I feel 900 is too narrow, it’s one and a half kitchen cupboards as comparison which is skinny.

Your daughter will grow up and leave home.
You may or may not stay in the house, but if you do then once she has left home will you regret not having the wider hallway?

I'm going to take and share a picture & dimensions of mine (narrow) shortly.

I'm leaning towards bigger corridor but without knowing your daughters bedroom size I can't tell if it literally just fits the furniture or was a bit spacious.
The walk in wardrobe space makes me feel it was big enough.

Width 83cm.
Length 370cm.

Doors either end are kids bedrooms.
Then on the left, airing cupboard, bathroom, stairwell.
On the right, main bedroom.
Other end of landing (where I've taken the picture from) is another bedroom.

It IS narrow, and windowless.
But it absolutely maximise the space in the rooms.

@Chasingsquirrels that looks like a normal width to me.

I live in a tiny 19th century terraced house. My actual entrance hallway is 90cm wide: it feels pretty narrow for a main entrance - there's no space for coats, shoes, or even even a shelf or radiator, and it can be awkward with your welcoming people into the house or waving them off. However, for access to one bedroom, I think it would be fine.
PS My staircase is only 75cm wide and that is narrow in the extreme!

Thanks everyone, just looking back at the plans and it says it should have been 1140 so think I will ask the builder to push it out from 900 to 1000, which i think is a compromise and gives my daughter a bit extra and me a hallway/ landing that doesn't look too narrow....I have added a screen shot of the plans to give you a better idea what I'm talking about.
Just worried it will make my daughters room too narrow

Is that the top floor or is there a floor above? If it’s the top floor look at putting in a skylight or light tunnel to bring light to the corridor - a corridor feels much less narrow if it has good natural light.

Is your daughter’s bedroom the one with the dressing room - if so it does look quite narrow on the plans with 1140 corridor, would be quite tight around the bed if she plans to have a double bed as shown. 1000 will be better certainly

Yes its the top floor , i can't do a sky light as we have just had a whole new roof fitted across the existing house and extension

Yes it's the one with the dressing room, the builder has set it to 900 instead as he said the same but i just think 900 is too narrow. 1000 would feel more comfortable and allow us to get furniture etc down there. But obviously this takes extra space from my daughters room which is pants..... especially now the wood seems are up and she can see it 🙈

The main hallway in my house is 90cm. It goes between the living room and the kitchen. It's fine, easy to pass each other (though we are not large people).