Entrance Hallway Design Solutions

ABOVE: A glazed doorway ensures a light-filled hall

Heating Your Hallway: Where space is at a premium, traditional panel or column radiators will take up more room than is necessary. Opt for either underfloor heating, which leaves walls nice and clear, or a contemporary slimline radiator instead. Many vertical radiators also come with hanging hooks and make the ideal place to keep coats and scarves cosy for when you go out, whilst more unusual radiators, such the Partito Bench Radiator and Matrix Mirror from Feature Radiators (featureradiators.co.uk) also work well in hallways, combining heating with seating and a mirror respectively.

ABOVE, LEFT: Wool Mississippi Stripe runner from Crucial Trading, £52m² (01562 743747) RIGHT: Feature Radiators’ Classic Radiator (01274 567789)

Create a Sense of Space: Those renovating an old house, particularly owners of terraced homes, often find space is restricted in the entrance hall. There are several ways to make the space feel less claustrophobic, however. Keep paint colours light and neutral and continue them up the stairs to create a sense of continuity. Draw the eye up and away from a tight space by making your staircase more of a focal point. Using a stair runner featuring vertical stripes is the ideal way to do this. Keep handrails and any balustrades sleek and simple, as using chunky, heavy designs will only encroach on the already limited space.

Storage Ideas for Hallways

ABOVE: 1. The Elton corner unit from John Lewis, £171 (johnlewis.com); 2. The Tetbury Hall and Shelf Unit from The Cotswold Company, £398 (cotswoldco.com); 4. Bookcase and staircase combined by Levitate Architecture & Design Studios (020 7833 4455)

Further reading:

• Creating the Perfect Entrance Hall
• A Guide to Internal Finishes
• Entrance Hall Design Ideas