Would extending the hallway improve flow without making the living room too small?

[HettyMeg]

Would you extend the hallway here? Living room is the thoroughfare through house at the moment, effectively. Considering building a stud wall to take hallway through to the kitchen diner at the back.

I'd definitely do that. It will help loads.

Yes definitely. I would also block up the existing door to the undstairs cupboard, take out the left hand side of it, to create a little area to sit and take off shoes, and store them and coats. Or have a door there if you want it all shut away.

Your lounge might feel small initially because of what you're used to but it would bring it to about the same width as ours I think which we find comfortable

Was there originally a wall there? What do the neighbours have?

I'd consider removing the doorway from the lounge into the rear room (is it a kitchen diner?). You will have a hallway with a doorway into the other room. That will then give you the maximum amount of wall options to place sofas and furniture. It also keeps your lounge as a completely separate space. What you lose in width will be made up by the better use of the space.

If you make a corridor you'll either have 2 doors in the kitchen (if you keep the door from living room) or every time you need to go into the kitchen you'll need to go out the living room door and along the corridor.
If you make the corridor, move the living room entrance door to be near the end of the corridor, then you'll keep easy access to the kitchen.
Whatever you do check with council planning as you may need to make it a certain width for wheelchair access since your changing layout.

Yes, probably it used to be like that and someone thought they were creating a bigger living room by changing it, but actually converted the living room into a corridor.

We extended our hallway and took some space from the living room. Not for the same layout or flow reasons but made a massive difference so I’d say go for it

This.

Used to live in a house like this I presume that a door to the kitchen so I know what you mean
I’d start by moving the door opposite the lounge door to save everyone cutting diagonally across the room to see if that makes it better
then you still have to option of putting a wall up

Thank you, hadn't thought of the point re the cupboard

Believe it or not, no - all the houses around here are the same. Porch / small hallway then open into the living room.

Yes I thought of that as well because don't want to end up with limited wall space for couch etc

I would not make a corridor by putting in a wall, I would do it by simply moving the kitchen door to the right. You would arrange the furniture to leave the ‘corridor’ free, while retaining the visual space of the existing living room. I agree re the understairs cupboard: unless you need the storage in the kitchen, close the door to the kitchen and open up the wall to the living room.

I would, and I’d put a very tall glazed door between the hallway and the kitchen at the end to bring lots of light in. You’ve then got space to hang coats and shoes in the hallway that aren't in your lounge.

Do you have a downstairs loo? Maybe you could put one under the stairs if it’s coming off a hallway?