8 Small Hallway Ideas to Make Your Space Look Bigger
Simple, impactful decorating changes and DIY-able small hallway ideas you can do to instantly make a small hallway look more spacious.
We finally put together some small hallway ideas after months of living through water mitigation and construction tarps in our upstairs! I swear, 3 months ago, this place looked like a scene from Dexter.
I never realized this hallway connecting our stairs to our bedrooms had such a huge impact on my inner peace and mental well-being every day, but after living through the mess, I’m more thankful for this space now more than ever.
Small hallways like this one are spaces that always seem to be overlooked and end up last on the punch list of decorating to-dos, but if its especially a hall that receives a lot of frequent foot traffic, making it feel welcoming definitely matters.
This is what our hallway looked like when we first moved in:
Our surroundings affect our moods, even when it’s not necessarily a living room and we only see those surroundings in passing. If there’s anything these last few months of renovating have taught me, it’s that one huge lesson.
Home is where our souls can find rest, and hallways totally count in helping with that.
So if you have a small hallway that’s sort of forgotten, here are a few simple small hallway ideas to help it feel more spacious and inviting.
8 Small Hallway Ideas to Make Your Space Look Bigger
1. Choose Either the Top or Bottom Paint Colors on the Paint Sample Strip
If you have small, closed off, dark hallways, painting them a light color will reflect light to help the spaces feel more open and creates the illusion of more space. In contrast, painting a small hallway an extremely dark color can make the space feel more cozy.
Decide which mood you want to set the tone, then choose your paint color accordingly. Just avoid mid-tones, if possible.
Our hallway is painted Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.
TIP: Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect paint color for your space.
2. Paint Your Trim and Wall the Same Color in a Small Hallway
To draw the eye further up, paint your trim the same color as the wall. This creates the illusion of more height and space.
3. Paint Your Doors a Contrasting Color
Add some interest to a boring hallway by playing with contrasting colors on the doors. Try navy, dark charcoal, black, or deep earth tones. (Our doors are painted Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron.)
TIP: See how to paint interior doors here.
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4. Choose a Light Fixture That Adds Interest
Add personality by playing around with interesting lighting to make a small space feel personable. If you have the ceiling height, consider adding a pendant light.
I love this flush mount light fixture that feels classic and adds a touch of warmth with the satin brass against all of the crisp white.
5. Incorporate Secondary Lighting in a Small Hallway
Opt for sconce lights or a lamp on a console table to add a layer of ambience. You can even use wireless lights like these, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of hiring an electrician to install sconces.
(You can get these free printable landscape art prints here.)
6. Add Art for Personality
Go big with statement making art, a wall covering tapestry, or create a gallery wall / art grouping on a large wall space for a punch of color and texture that expresses your personal style.
TIP: See my favorite trick for putting together the perfect gallery wall or art grouping here.
7. Roll Out a Runner
Not only does it feel more comfortable under foot, it adds an extra statement and texture. I love the feel of this flatweave runner to break up our wood floors.
8. Use a Plant or Two
Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can incorporate a punch of greenery with an artificial tree or small plant on a plant stand. (I made this plant stand out of a thrifted piano stool.) Just one plant can add life to an otherwise boring space.
I still can’t get over this before and after sometimes. Doesn’t this narrow hallway look so much bigger now?!
To be fair, it helps that I have the doors open in this second photo with better natural lighting, but still… it’s a world of improvement, right?
Proof that paint changes and incorporating some simple home decor changes everything in a small hallway.
Do you have any other small hallway decorating ideas? What do you have in your hallways to add some interest?
Hallway Sources
- Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
- Door Color: Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron
- Runner
- Flush Mount Light Fixture
- Large Landscape Art
- Matted Wall Frames
- Small Landscape Art Prints
- Eucalyptus Tree
- Olive Plant
- Plant Stand Stool
- Wireless Picture Light