July 23, 2004

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Publication Date: Friday, July 23, 2004

Lighten up

By Kit Davey

Hallways within most homes are often dimly lit, uninteresting spaces that we pass through without noticing. Don't overlook your hallway as a decorating opportunity! This space can be a pleasant part of your overall design with just a little attention.

Lighting

The biggest problem with most hallways is that they are poorly lit. You can instantly increase light by putting the maximum wattage bulbs allowed in your fixture and by cleaning the fixture's lens. If your budget allows, replace the fixture with one of higher wattage, or hire an electrician to install one.

A strip of canned lights or a series of recessed lights on a dimmer switch can add drama to your hallway. These fixtures create pools of light down the hall, creating a stepping-stone effect. You can also wash the light across your walls to illuminate your art; this has the added effect of increasing the apparent width of the hallway.

If you have a little more money to spend, install skylights or "sun tubes" to bring in natural light. You can even install lighting inside the skylight well so that you'll still have a sunlight effect at night.

If you can't afford new lighting or skylights, there are still a couple of tricks to bring in more light:

* Paint the walls and doors leading into the hall white or a very light color.

* Add a mirror at the end of the hall and keep doors leading into it open.

Wall treatment

For short, narrow halls, it's simplest and most effective to paint the walls white or a light color to expand the apparent amount of space.

Conversely, the walls of wide or long halls can be brought closer together by painting them in intense or darker colors.

To add a little more visual interest to the walls:

* Sponge the walls in light paints in your color scheme (and leave the ceiling white).

* Add a chair rail at waist height and paneling below. Get almost the same effect by using a wallpaper border at chair rail height, painting the lower portion in a darker color and papering above.

* Paint a trompe l'oeil scene, such as a picket fence and flowers below, with clouds, birds and butterfly above.

* Install a series of niches to display sculpture pieces.

* Paint the doorframes leading into the hall in a contrasting color.

Decor

If you're lucky enough to have a wide hallway, you may have space to place some furnishings. Try:

* a series of tall bookshelves lining one side. Intersperse interesting accessories or a collection with your books. Your guests will stop and linger to enjoy your display.

* a row of low or half bookshelves: Hang artwork above and use the top of the shelves to display your treasures.

* a bench or church pew loaded with colorful pillows.

* At the end of the hall, create a vignette with either a low bookshelf, a dresser, small desk or end table and a piece of art or a mirror hung above it. Dress the top of it with a pair of candlesticks or lamp, a bowl or a sculpture piece.

* the grandfather clock you've always wanted -- start saving your pennies!

If your hall is too narrow to accommodate furniture, you can spice it up with a little imagination. Search through your cabinets and drawers for something to make the journey down your hallway more interesting:

* Create an art gallery. You can display anything you want here: all the odd pieces of art that won't go anywhere else in your home, or your children's art, your plate collection, an antique quilt, a kimono, your grandmother's beaded-purse collection, masks, musical instruments, etc. The possibilities are limitless.

* Set up a rogue's gallery. Hang your family photos in a pleasing display.

* Install a pair of narrow shelves (two inches to three inches wide) along one wall and display small three-dimensional pieces, such as electric train cars, dolls, antique bottles, antique tools, etc.

Floor covering

Because the hall gets so much traffic, it's important to pick a flooring material that's resilient and easy to clean. Tile is practical, but a little cold. Hardwood looks rich, but can show wear unless protected. A low pile or looped carpet with a tight weave in a commercial-type grade may be the best choice here. Check with your local carpet company to ensure you pick the product best suited for this application.

You can add coziness and warmth by layering a hall runner over your wall-to-wall carpet. This will extend the life of the carpet as well as bring in color and texture.

Kit Davey, allied member, ASID, is a Redwood City-based interior designer who specializes in redecorating using only what you already own. You can call her at 367-7370, e-mail her at KitDavey@aol.com, or visit her Web site at AFreshLook.net.