First impressions are everything, and your home's hallway entrance is no exception. Follow these simple tips, and you'll be well on the way to a beautifully decorated hallway that your visitors will appreciate. By Jane Drew.
1. Screen it off
It’s a good idea to put up some sort of barrier between your interior and the front door. You can use an etched glass panel, a wooden grid or low partition to define the entrance space without closing it off completely. Where space is really tight, simply hang a curtain or suspend some light sheers across the doorway.
2. Stick to the essentials
Any entrance requires a number of basic furnishings to keep it tidy. Limit yourself to the essentials — particularly in a confined space; an umbrella stand, a mirror and a small table on which to leave mail, messages, newspapers and keys. Look for a slender task-specific console that won’t impede the flow of traffic.
3. Provide storage
An in-built closet is always useful in an entrance hall and it provides additional storage for essential household items. Where space is limited, opt instead for a hat stand, or install coat hooks behind the door. In most local homes, a shoe cabinet is also a must and wherever possible this should be combined with a chair. (read more tips on
storage)
4. Think out of the box
In practical terms, there are myriad ways in which under-utilised and overlooked hallways can be transformed into useful overflow areas. A wall of shelving turns an entrance into an instant library; a desk in one corner allows the space to double as a home office and a simple picture rail creates a dramatic home gallery.
5. Factor in the flooring
Carpeting guarantees a plush and luxurious entrance, but make sure you use a high-quality weave with stain-resistant features. Rugs or runners, which can be pulled up for regular cleaning, are a practical alternative. If your taste runs to natural fibre matting, choose one of the tougher varieties such as sisal or coir, and avoid fine weaves like rush, sea grass or maize.
6. Make a statement
First impressions linger and it’s essential that the entrance to your home makes a punchy decorative statement. A practical thoroughfare, it’s also a formal greeting area where you receive visitors and friends, so don’t underestimate its power to get a design scheme off to the right start.
7. Offer a warm welcome
Serving as an introduction to the rest of the home, a hallway should adhere to the design style within. But regardless of its size, it’s essential to enliven the entrance and give it an identity. An arrangement of flowers is always a welcoming feature in any entry; a low pendant light or a couple of candles create an inviting glow.
8. Look to the lobby
Don’t forget the “entrance” just outside your front door. It makes all the difference to have a plant or a piece of artwork outside to welcome guests. It is also a mark of personality in what may be a dull and lifeless communal area.
9. Lighten up
In a narrow hall, a low pendant lamp will get in the way. Try ceiling-recessed down lights to give an impression of space, or position tungsten wall lights to give a soft, semi-directional glow. Never direct light into the faces of visitors as they come through the front door, but ensure that the hallway is sufficiently well lit to be inviting.
10. Create a division
Of course many Hong Kong apartments have no formal entry area — the front door opens directly onto the living room. Here, even a small square or circle of contrasting flooring will demarcate the space, creating an immediate distinction between it and the living area. Lay a section of hardwearing, easy-to-clean marble to introduce an element of grandeur.
