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The hallway is one of the most important rooms in the house and yet it often gets forgotten by people interested in home decorating who feel like investing in a new interior design scheme. This is a shame as it is the part of your property that can make the most impact. Think about it: this is the first room that any visitors you have will see and so it is what they will base their first impressions on. If you want to wow them, it is vital you put just as much effort into your planning and design of this room as your kitchen, bathroom or lounge. For inspiration on how to liven up your entranceway, read on. Make it practical Before you get carried away with designer flourishes, pay attention to what the core function of your hallway is. This is where the household and any visitors enter the home, so the layout should be simple and practical. Most hallways have a stairway in them so you should leave plenty of space around this, particularly if you have children. Never place furniture close to the final step as this could be an obstacle and should anyone fall down the stairs, they could be more severely injured if they crash into something at the bottom. Another feature present in most hallways is a set of coat pegs and, while this is practical, it is not the most attractive feature. Often you can end up with dozens of jackets piled on top of each other, which takes up valuable space in what is usually already a small room. If possible, store your outerwear out of sight in an under stairs closet but, if this is not an option, you could consider purchasing a coat stand. These are attractive pieces of furniture in their own right and could make a great focal point. Another tip is to sort out your coats so you only hang up the ones you need. For example, you could put away your heavy winter coats once spring arrives, and store your summer jackets when it starts to get cold. Shoes are other items that can clutter up a hallway, particularly if you prefer people to remove these when they enter your home. Make the space look tidier by purchasing a rack where you can tidy away all footwear. Of course, the most important feature of your hallway is the front door, so make sure there is plenty of space in front of it for people to come in and out. These are the items that every hallway has, but there are other fixtures present in many entrance ways that can ruin the look of them. Often, the electric meter or fuse box may be located here, but you could disguise these with panelling or even consider finding out whether it is possible for them to be relocated. Get decorating Now the layout is sorted you can get on with the fun part - decorating. This is a space where you can let your imagination run wild as, because you don't spend too much time in it, the more flamboyant you are, the greater the impact. A bold and patterned wallpaper may become grating in the living room as you have to look at it for long periods, but in the hallway it can make an impression for all the right reasons. In terms of colour, it is best to stick to a light palette. Hallways can sometimes be gloomy due to a lack of natural lighting and this, teamed with the small size, can make them seem dark and poky. Paint the ceiling white to make it look higher and choose bright colours for your walls that will ensure the room is as light as possible. Take the same steps with your flooring material - and be practical too. A pale carpet might look great in the showroom, but it won't look as swish once it is covered in mud from people walking through with dirty shoes. With this in mind, laminate or hardwood floors is the best option as they are easy to clean - and remember to invest in a doormat. Inject personality Once the decorating is complete, add a few additional elements to give your hallway personality. This will help to create a warm welcome for visitors and make you feel at home as soon as you step inside. You could frame a favourite poster and hang it up if you want to make a statement, or arrange several photographs and prints along the wall. If space allows, it is also worth placing extra furniture here to make it feel more like a room in its own right and less like a space you simply rush through on your way to somewhere else. You could put a chair here or even and old-fashioned telephone table. Resource If you're planning a home decorating scheme, post the job on Rated People. Through us, local painters can get in touch with you and help you out with the scheme.
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