Certain areas of the home have to work much harder than others, sometimes due to the fact that they have to accommodate lots of people at once, other times due to the highly practical role they play, as well as their importance in establishing the overall vibe of your home – in the case of entrance halls, all three of these apply, meaning getting your hallway design spot on is no mean feat.
Simon Tchiernak, senior designer at Neville Johnson, explains just why paying attention to the most common hallway design mistakes is so important. "The hallway sets the architectural and emotional tone for the entire home. It is the transition zone where you decompress from the outside world and the first space that welcomes your guests. When designed thoughtfully, it creates an effortless sense of calm – when overlooked, it quickly becomes an overwhelming bottleneck of visual clutter."
If your current hallway set-up just isn't working, or you are about to embark on a redesign, check out what the experts had to say about the most common errors they see when it comes to this all-important space to ensure yours provides the warm welcome you want.
Simon Tcherniak is a Senior Designer at Neville Johnson. With a background in both cabinet making and sales, Simon works closely with residential clients and interior designers to create unique pieces every time. Simon joined Neville Johnson in 2010 and has since won Neville Johnson Furniture Sales Designer of the Year six times.
1. Failing to tailor storage to your needs
I don't know about you, but for a space that needs to hold numerous bulky, dirty items – coats, footwear, dog-walking essentials to name just a few – my own hallway is seriously lacking in anything that comes close to good storage.
According to Gail Bignell, head of design at Sharps, bad planning when it comes to hallway storage is all too common. "The biggest hallway mistake is asking, 'How much storage can we squeeze in?' before looking at how the space actually needs to work. I always think about those first 60 seconds after you walk through the door, because that tells you far more than the floorplan ever will.
"You come in with bags in your hands, shoes on your feet, maybe a dog lead wrapped around your wrist, and quite often someone else is trying to come through the door behind you. That is the reality the hallway has to deal with. If it does not support that moment, even a space with lots of storage can still feel chaotic," she warns. "One of the most useful things you can do is protect what I call the 'arrival space'. That is the clear bit of floor just inside the door where you can step in, put something down, take your coat off and let somebody else pass. People often put storage exactly where the clutter already gathers, but that can make the problem worse.
"I tend to think of hallway clutter in three groups," continues Gail. "The things you need to grab every day, such as keys and school bags; things you want close by but out of sight, such as coats and shoes; and things that have somehow ended up living in the hallway simply because nobody has given them a proper home. Treating all three in the same way rarely works," she notes.
"Depth makes a huge difference too," adds Gail. "In a narrow hallway, every centimetre counts, so there is no reason every cupboard needs to be the same depth. Shoes and everyday items can sit very happily in shallower storage, while coats need more generous hanging space. Varying the depth can make the whole run feel lighter and much less imposing."
Shop hallway storage saviours
Looking far more pricey than it really is, this slimline console table measures 29.5cm in depth making it ideal for narrow spaces, yet it provides plenty of room for storage baskets and so on. It's made from 100% solid wood too making it a durable choice.
Sure to make the morning rush run much smoother, this hall tree looks modern thanks to its white metal frame and features plenty of useful shelving for shoes, as well as multiple hooks for coats and bags – the bench is a useful extra too.
Available in two shades, sage green and greige, this useful storage bench has a comfortable padded seat and three sturdy yet stylish woven seagrass drawers for housing anything from shoes to winter essentials such as hats and gloves.
With a deep understanding of how people really live, Gail helps shape Sharps’ design direction across bedrooms, home offices and living spaces. Her work focuses on creating fitted furniture that makes better use of space, while feeling natural to the home and the people who live there.
2. Overcrowding the hallway with bulky furniture
While good storage is obviously a key element in any successful hallway, it is important to avoid the temptation to squeeze in too much, as interior designer Holly Scott of Holly Scott Interior Design explains. "Hallways are often relatively narrow, so furniture really needs to earn its place. A deep console or bulky piece of furniture can quickly make the route through the house feel cramped. Think about how people actually move through the space, especially when several people are coming in with coats, bags or shopping. A slim console, wall-mounted shelf or carefully chosen cabinet can give you that lovely styled moment without compromising the flow."
Kate Palmer, creative director at The Painted Furniture Company, agrees that, just as when dealing with landing storage, it is important not to try to shoehorn too many storage pieces into a hallway. "Rather than trying to squeeze in lots of small storage solutions, think about what you really need to keep in the hallway and choose one well-designed piece of furniture that can accommodate it all. A dresser, cupboard or bench with storage can make a big difference, particularly if it combines concealed storage with somewhere to keep everyday items within easy reach."
Sophie Chapman, interior designer and associate at The Vawdrey House, also points out the importance of only including what you need. "Avoid filling every available wall or corner. Hallways need breathing space. A home should feel like a journey, with key views and features drawing you through it, rather than an obstacle course of furniture."
Holly Scott is an award-winning interior designer based in Oxfordshire and the founder of Holly Scott Interior Design. She has over 20 years of experience designing interiors and dressing spaces for leading luxury brands including Harrods, Ralph Lauren, Liberty, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols. After years working in luxury retail and brand environments, Holly brought that expertise into residential interior design, where she now helps homeowners make confident decisions and create homes that feel both elegant and liveable.
A founding member of The Vawdrey House, Sophie oversees the design team bringing her trademark energy & creativity to projects. With a BA in Interior Design & Environmental Architecture, Sophie develops unique furniture packages, styles projects & loves sourcing trips to antique fairs & French brocantes.
Kate Palmer is the creative director at The Painted Furniture Company. With a background in fashion design and passion for colour and interiors, Kate has helped many customers to achieve the exact look they desired for their home.
3. Playing it too safe with decor choices
All too often hallway design ideas are just not given the attention they deserve – but this is not just a practical space, it is also one that sets the tone for what lies beyond, making its decor much more important than you might think.
"Because hallways are transitional spaces, they’re actually a brilliant place to be a little braver with colour, wallpaper or pattern. Your hallway is the first glimpse people get of your home and the people who live there, so it should say something about you. Also, you don’t sit in a hallway for hours, so it can cope beautifully with a stronger design idea," points out Holly Scott.
"It’s very easy to recreate the classic console, mirror and lamp combination because we’ve seen it work elsewhere, but I’d always add something personal, whether that’s artwork, an unexpected colour, a fabulous hallway wallpaper or a piece of furniture you love. Ultimately, I think a successful hallway should make you feel happy to be home the moment you walk through the door."
Debbie Leigh, design manager at ILIV, goes on to explain that even in small hallways, there is no need to play it safe. "One of the most common mistakes in a hallway is being too cautious with your choice of patterns and textures, particularly if your hall is narrow or lacks natural light. It’s easy to assume that keeping everything plain will make the hallway feel larger, but actually this can sometimes leave it feeling a little flat. Patterned fabrics in soft, neutral tones will make your hall feel welcoming and homely, while adding in some different textures helps to give a feeling of warmth."
Provide somewhere for a last minute check that breakfast isn't stuck in your hair as well as giving you somewhere to hang your keys and store bits and bobs with this pretty mirror with scalloped shelf.
Debbie is an expert in creating beautifully coordinated fabric collections that can be easily combined to create harmonious interior schemes. With more than 30 years of experience, she takes every design from conception right through to the finished textile – inspired by the latest trends and techniques from every continent.
4. Choosing a flooring that can't handle high traffic
As a transitional space between inside and out, the hallway needs to feature durable, easy-to-clean surfaces and the hallway flooring you choose has to be capable of handling high levels of foot traffic and dirt.
Lesley Taylor, founder of Baked Tiles, explains where to start when choosing the right flooring for this space. "Hallways are not precious spaces – they are hardworking spaces. You want something that has character when it is beautifully clean, but that can also cope with muddy shoes, shopping bags and real life without making you panic every time somebody comes through the door.
"This is the room where grit, rain, mud and footprints first arrive – a very flat, uniform floor can show absolutely everything," she warns. "Tonal variation is your friend here. It gives the floor life, but it also means you are not looking at every tiny speck between cleans."
Ian Tomlinson, managing director at Chaunceys Timber Flooring, has some advice on choosing the best types of wooden flooring for hallways that lie on the narrower side of the scale. "The best flooring choice for a narrow hallway depends largely on the property’s style and décor. If the space lacks natural light, lighter-toned oak flooring is an excellent option to brighten the area and create a more open feel. Opting for wide, extra-long planks can further enhance the sense of space by reducing the number of visible joints, making the hallway feel less confined. Alternatively, herringbone flooring is a timeless and stylish pattern that works beautifully in narrow hallways."
Adam Robertson, managing director at Urbane Living, explains how your flooring can also help when it comes to ensuring the hallway feels like a natural part of the rest of the house. "If the hallway connects to other rooms or staircases, continuity is key. A seamless floor finish across adjoining spaces creates visual flow and prevents the landing from feeling boxed in. Where possible, opt for wide planks or a subtle herringbone pattern to elongate the space and draw the eye through."
Lesley Taylor is an designer with more than 25 years’ experience across both residential and commercial property. A registered member of BIID – the British Institute of Interior Design – Lesley has authored 10 books on interior design.
Chaunceys Timber Flooring is a family-run company based in Bristol with Ian becoming the Managing Director in 2012. They have been supplying sustainable, high-quality timber flooring to homeowners, award-winning architects, design and build companies, and renowned interior designers since 1988.
Adam Robertson is the co-founder and managing director of Urbane Living, a specialist flooring company recognised for its expertise in parquet, bespoke carpets and runners. With a background in design and a strong eye for detail, Adam is passionate about all things related to quality timber, from floorboards to wall panels.
5. Failing to provide a dedicated 'dumping spot'
Entrance hallways are busy spaces and, at particular times of the day, such as when rushing out of the house for the school run, or when welcoming in a group of guests, they can feel particularly chaotic.
This is why it is so important to carve out spaces that can cope with a sudden influx of clutter easily, as Simon Tchiernak explains. "Don't overlook the 'daily drop zone'. Not designing dedicated, enclosed storage for the small items that cause the most day-to-day stress – keys, mail, dog leads, school bags, and laptops – means that these inevitably end up strewn across surfaces or the floor."
So what does Simon suggest? "Integrate smart, shallow transitional storage. A bespoke slimline console with concealed drawers gives mail and keys an immediate home without eating into walking space. If floor area allows, some built-in storage ideas such as dedicated, closed cabinetry tailored with internal charging points and cubbies for work and school bags ensures the morning rush is seamless and the floor remains entirely clear."
6. Leaving lighting as an afterthought
Just because you might not be spending lots of time in your hallway, it doesn't mean the lighting design isn't still an important aspect of the space.
"One of the biggest hallway mistakes is relying on a single overhead light. Hallways benefit from layered lighting just like any other room," says Holly Scott. "Wall lights, table lamps and decorative fittings create a much warmer welcome, and pairing lighting with a mirror can help bounce light around the space too. Think about how you want your home to feel when you walk through the front door in the evening, rather than simply making the hallway bright."
Sophie Chapman also points out the importance of considering natural light along with your artificial hallway lighting ideas. "Hallways can struggle for natural light, particularly in period homes, so relying on one ceiling pendant can leave them feeling gloomy. Wall lights, discreet ceiling lighting and lamps where space allows can make a huge difference. We also look for opportunities to borrow daylight from adjoining rooms through glazed doors or openings, and to create clear sightlines towards a window, garden or interesting feature beyond."
"Position a statement mirror adjacent to or opposite a doorway or window to bounce incoming daylight deeper into the space – doubling as a well-lit spot for last-minute checks on your way out," adds Simon Tcherniak.
Shop hallway lighting
Available in a white or green glass finish, this super-stylish wall light, with its on-trend scalloped design, will add instant warmth and interest to a hallway – plus, there are a range of matching ceiling and floor lamps available.
Perfect for adding a welcoming glow to your entrance hall, this stylish lamp features an eye-catching metal patterned base and a rustic linen shade – it is also available in both the brown finish here or a white marbled design.
This 3-way spotlight can either be ceiling- or wall-mounted and each light can be directed to wherever illumination is required. The fitting can be used with either LED or conventional bulbs and lends a clean, modern look.
7. Treating it as separate from the rest of the house
Creating a natural sense of 'flow' throughout your home is so important – otherwise it will be left feeling like a set of awkward, disjointed spaces. You hallway might be an airlock between outside and in, but that doesn't mean it can't also feel like part of the rest of the layout.
"When I’m designing a hallway, I don’t just look at the hallway itself. I think about what you see when you open the front door and also the views through into adjoining rooms," reveals Holly Scott. "Those little glimpses of colour, wallpaper or artwork can help draw you through the house and make the whole scheme feel connected. Your hallway is often the thread that links several rooms together, so those sightlines really matter."
Eloise Pfeiffer, interior designer at Pfeiffer Design, agrees that the hallway needs to feel like an integral part of your space and that your hallway paint ideas should be included in that. "The hallway should be considered as part of the wider home – good spatial planning, thoughtful storage and a cohesive palette can make it feel purposeful and welcoming, rather than simply a passage between rooms."
Based in Sussex, Pfeiffer Design was founded by Susie Pfeiffer and has over 30 years of experience in the high-end residential and boutique commercial sectors. The close-knit, multi-disciplinary team of designers, project coordinators and technical specialists work together to create inspirational spaces in the home counties, London and even abroad.
8. Leaving it without an adequate heat source
Hallways can be cold spaces thanks to the fact that they are often left open to the elements for periods of time – plus draught proofing and proper insulation can also get overlooked here.
My own hallway is one of the coldest rooms in the house, largely due to the ill-fitting front door and the fact that the radiator is usually covered by the coats that hang above it. According to Nick Duggan, director at The Radiator Centre, this lack of attention to hallway radiators is a common one. "One mistake that’s easily made is choosing your radiator without thinking about what else needs to go in the hallway. It’s easy to use the first available piece of wall, but once you add some hooks, a bench or some storage for example, you can quickly find that your radiator is being blocked by coats or furniture. Ideally, try to think about the whole layout before deciding where it should go, and try to keep the area around the radiator clear so that the heat can circulate properly.
"Don’t assume your radiator has to be something you hide away though," continues Nick. "There are plenty of attractive shapes and finishes available, from bold colours to mirrored designs, so the radiator can become part of your whole scheme rather than just an afterthought. A well-chosen radiator can be a really nice finishing touch to a hallway, besides a practical necessity."
Nick has over 20 years of experience in central heating and radiators, leading the team at one of the UK's largest independent suppliers.
9. Letting awkward spaces go to waste
And, finally, it is common to encounter some pretty awkward spaces within a hallway – but it is important not to let them turn into wasted space or to view them as only good for additional or understairs storage – sometimes it is better to think a little creatively.
"Hallways often have awkward corners or areas beneath stairs that get completely overlooked. They don’t always need to be filled with storage," picks up Holly Scott. "If storage isn’t an issue, an unused area can become a lovely little design moment with a chair, artwork, a lamp or a beautiful cabinet. It gives the hallway personality and makes it feel considered rather than simply somewhere you walk through."
However, if you really do need additional storage, Simon Tchiernak has some advice on how to maximise these tricky spaces. "Use the vertical height of the room. Custom, floor-to-ceiling fitted joinery can make use of awkward alcoves, under-stair angles, and high ceiling space with a much shallower footprint than freestanding pieces. By blending storage finishes into the wall palette, the cabinetry recedes into the background, leaving the hallway feeling wider, brighter, and effortlessly composed."
FAQs
What is the best way to store coats in a hallway?
In my own hallway it tends to be the coats that take over the space. They hang from a rail of hooks which is totally overcrowded – so I asked the experts how they suggest coping with this issue.
"The problem with hallway hooks is that people tend to choose them when the wall is empty. That is when everything looks beautifully neat. The real question is what happens once six coats, a couple of bags and a dog lead are hanging from them," says Gareth Hull, design lead at Hendel & Hendel. "A hook might only project a few centimetres from the wall, but the coat hanging on it can project much further, and in a narrow hallway, those few centimetres really matter.
"Spacing is just as important as the hook itself," adds Gareth. "I would not automatically line everything up at equal intervals simply because it looks tidy on paper. Think about what is actually going there. A heavy winter coat needs more room than a tote bag, while a lower hook can be far more useful for children or for something you want to grab quickly on the way out."
Finally, Simon Tchiernak suggests trying to scale back on what you actually store in the hallway if things are getting a little overcrowded. "Overloading open hooks and racks creates visual noise and makes the entryway feel tight and chaotic. Practice seasonal curation. Hallways should only host high-rotation, current-season essentials – coats, everyday shoes and the bags you need today. Off-season items, heavy sporting gear, and occasional footwear should be housed elsewhere."
Gareth Hull is the Design Lead at Hendel & Hendel, a leading UK hardware brand. He leads on the design direction for the brand’s collections and interior styling. With a background in product development and a keen eye for detail, Gareth's approach seamlessly blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics and his work emphasises refined forms, elevated materials, and a balance between contemporary, traditional and transitional pieces.
Boot rooms work in a similar way to entrance hallways, although arguably need to be even more hardwearing. Make sure you are familiar with the most common boot room mistakes before getting stuck into the design process to ensure your boot room ideas well for you.
