How to Create a Welcoming Hallway in a New Build House
I've got a bit of a backlog of room reveals so I thought I’d share two! I've already introduced you to both of these new build houses - the living room, kids' rooms and kitchen-diner at the Lightcliffe house, and the open-plan family space at the Northowram project. Today, I'm showing you how we transformed the entrance halls in each property with two different looks and I'll be sharing my top tips for how to make a hallway in a new build feel welcoming. Getting your hallway design right is really important because it's usually the first thing people see when they enter your home. First impressions matter, and a well designed hallway sets the tone for the rest of the house.
Before - the Lightcliffe hallway
Before - the Northowram hallway
Previously, both hallways felt flat and uninviting. There also wasn't enough storage which meant that shoes and coats often ended up being thrown on the floor. Unlike period homes, new build hallways don't have original features like encaustic tiled floors or deep skirting boards so we needed to find other ways of injecting character and personality to bring them to life. We also needed clever storage solutions to make sure that they worked on a practical level.
So here are the finished hallways and my top tips for creating a welcoming hallway in a new build property!
1. Colour Scheme
The best way to change the look and feel of a space is with a fresh coat of paint. Most hallways lack natural light which needs to be taken into account when choosing paint colours. There are two different options that both work really well, depending on which look you prefer.
Light and warm
After - Lightcliffe hallway
If you'd like a light look, stay away from pure white walls and make sure you choose a warm neutral shade. In the Lightcliffe house, we painted the hallway walls in Little Greene's Light Beauvais - a neutral stone colour with a peachy feel. Either colour drench the woodwork and ceilings in the same colour as the walls or go for a coordinating white like we did here (they’re painted in Flint). We also painted the stair posts and spindles in Farrow and Ball's Oval Room Blue to add more interest.
Two toned wall
Northowram hallway
Another great option is the two toned, or half painted, wall which works brilliantly in a new build hallway for a few reasons:
A dark colour at the bottom hides scuff marks and little hand prints
Painting the top half of the walls in the same colour as the ceiling blurs the line between them and creates the illusion of height.
It adds colour and character without overpowering.
In the Northowram hallway, we painted the bottom of the walls and the woodwork in Little Greene's Marine Blue, with the top of the walls and ceiling in Slaked Lime - a soft, warm white. The front door is painted in a colour pop - Charlotte’s Locks by Farrow and Ball.
2. Flooring
Introducing patterned tiles in a contemporary design is a great way of adding character to a new build hallway. Black tiles work especially well if you've gone for a light colour on the walls because they add contrast and depth to ground the space which stops it from looking washed out. In the Lightcliffe hallway, I chose the Semaphore tiles by Claybrook Studio in a monochrome colourway but we swapped out one in every eight tiles for a blue one to add more interest and tie in with the blue spindles.
Wood flooring is also a great idea. Add softness underfoot and introduce accent colours with a long runner. In the Northowram project, the clients kept their existing wood effect vinyl and we added an abstract runner from Next in warm colours to contrast with the blue on the walls.
3. Storage
In most homes, the hallway is a very busy, high traffic area so having enough storage is really important. In both these hallways, we had built-in storage installed under the stairs with a mixture of drawers and cupboards for storing shoes and coats - they make a fantastic use of the space. They were built by Clever Closet who can customised them to suit your storage needs.
In the Nothowram project, the client also asked for a small amount of shoe and coat storage to be located nearer to the front door. As those of us with boys will know, the effort required to walk a few extra steps to reach a storage cupboard means that things instead end up strewn all over the floor.
A console table is really handy for storing keys and other small items that need easy access. As new build hallways are usually narrow spaces, go for a slimline furniture style to save on space.
4. Wall art and decorative accessories
Additional decor is really important for adding interest and personality.
Large mirrors are great for bouncing light around while creating the illusion of more space. Bring the outside in and create a fresh and inviting feel by styling with house plants.
Halls and landings usually have lots of empty wall space so adding wall art with single framed pieces or a gallery wall of photos and prints is a good idea. When working on client projects, a really important part of the consultation is finding out about my clients' hobbies and interests so that I can use them as inspiration for finishing touches and artwork.
The Northowram hallway is a really good example of how using artwork that tells your story can add lots of personality to a space. From tickets and posters of concerts they've been to, to colourful travel posters of places they like to visit, the wall art really gives the family a warm welcome.
5. Lighting
As new homes often have low ceilings, opt for flush style pendant lights and add a wall light or small table lamp to create a cosy glow in the evenings.
I hope you've found these hallway decor ideas helpful - let me know in the comments! I'm a West Yorkshire based interior designer and I also offer an online design service - if you're starting a project and would like some help, please get in touch.
