A small hallway is the first impression of your home, but it often becomes a real headache when renovating. It seems that it is difficult to maneuver in a limited space, and the choice of wallpaper boils down to something as neutral and practical as possible. However, this is not the case.
In fact, well-chosen wallpaper can work wonders: visually expand the space, add light, hide flaws, and set the right mood. The main thing is to know a few key principles and not be afraid to experiment.
In this article, we will discuss which colors, patterns, and techniques work well in narrow hallways, and what is best to avoid. You will see that even the most modest hallway can become stylish and cozy if you choose the right “clothing” for the walls.
Rules for organizing a small space
Before bringing your idea for the most exquisite and cozy hallway to life, you should pay attention to the general rules for organizing a small room:
- Walls should be a light base color.
- Wallpaper with vertical lines is used to increase the height of the walls.
- Horizontal stripes visually expand the space.
- A small hallway should not be cluttered with furniture and accessories. Instead, it is appropriate to use one bright piece of furniture—an armchair, a table, a lampshade—combining it in color and shape with additional accessories.
Ways to expand a narrow room
Small, compact hallways can look more spacious if you use techniques that visually enlarge the space.
- Light colors in the room's decor. Light-colored walls and ceilings bring “air” to a small room. The distance between the walls, as well as the ceiling and floor, seems greater.
- Use certain types of patterns in the decor. Wallpaper with a small pattern and vertical lines virtually expands the space.
- Use contrasting colors in the decor. Black and white hallways, as well as rooms decorated in a combination of black, white, and red, can take on a whole new look and turn a small hallway into a cozy and stylish space.
- Glossy surfaces. Not only smooth surfaces of furniture and objects can serve to expand the space, but also wallpaper with a mirror effect, which includes coverings with a metallic sheen.
When choosing interior design options for a small hallway, as well as a hallway in a Khrushchev-era apartment, it is best to avoid dark colors in the decor. Dark wallpaper with large patterns is also not a good choice.
Large patterns are acceptable if a small, narrow room has a narrow corridor and very high ceilings—in this case, a large pattern can compensate for the extra centimeters and make the room look neater and cozier.
Low ceilings can be made to look higher by using darker wallpaper for the walls. Embossed wallpaper and textured wall coverings also help to visually enlarge a small room.
What wallpaper to choose?
For compact hallways and narrow corridors, choose durable, long-lasting coverings that allow you to keep the walls clean without much effort. The environmental friendliness of the material is also very important. Small hallways are usually enclosed spaces without windows, so the wallpaper should be breathable and not emit substances that are harmful to human health.
When choosing wallpaper for a hallway, various characteristics of the material are taken into account:
- Practicality. Wall coverings should be dense and have a surface that is resistant to mechanical abrasion. These can be thick, smooth wallpapers from which stains and dirt can be easily removed.
- Environmental friendliness and safety for health. Preference is given to natural-based finishing materials that are “breathable,” do not contribute to the appearance of mold on the walls, and are safe in composition.
- Trendy design. The choice falls on options that offer a wide range of possibilities for combining with other types of wall coverings, furniture, and interior items. Interesting textures and textural solutions are selected.
In the photo, a small hallway and corridor are decorated with a combination of patterned and striped wallpaper. The alternation of blue and gold stripes creates a rhythmic pattern that expands the space.
A small hallway is not a death sentence: with the right wallpaper, it will immediately become brighter, more spacious, and cozier. The main thing is not to be afraid of colors and patterns, but to choose wisely: light shades will visually expand the space, a small or vertical pattern will add height, and an accent wall will add character. This article presents 70 real-life ideas that prove that even in two square meters, you can create a stylish and comfortable corner at the entrance.
Types of wallpaper
The most suitable wallpapers for small hallways are paper, non-woven, and bamboo. Such rooms can also be decorated with vinyl, textile, and cork wallpapers.
| Vinyl | They differ in density, which allows you to create perfectly flat wall surfaces. Vinyl wallpaper can have smooth, almost mirror-like surfaces and looks impressive in small hallways of both classic and modern styles. They last up to twenty years, do not fade, and retain their attractive appearance for a long time. |
| Paper | These are affordable and environmentally friendly. Recently, two-layer paper wallpaper has been produced. This type of product has an additional layer that protects it from wear and damage. |
| Textile | These also have two layers. The base of this finishing material is paper. The top layer consists of textile fibers. In addition to their decorative functions, these wallpapers also provide thermal insulation. |
| Non-woven | Non-woven wall coverings can have a vinyl layer and also serve as a base for subsequent painting of the walls in the desired colors. The advantages of non-woven wall coverings include durability, breathability, and low flammability. |
| Bamboo |
Completely natural, made from plant-based raw materials without the use of harmful chemicals. They have a natural color, which can vary depending on the country where the plant grows – milky white, golden, pistachio, a rich palette of brown and red shades. Bamboo wallpaper can be used to cover an entire wall or to design small hallways by combining different materials. |
Color scheme
Light-colored wallpaper and a small amount of furniture and accessories are one of the basic principles of decorating a small hallway.
Wallpaper is often used in combination with other materials—brick and stone panels, wood paneling, plastering with paint. The variety of shades, textures, and patterns allows them to be used in the design of an accent wall, which, in turn, sets the tone and mood for the entire room.
The limited space of small, compact entryways in Russian city apartments, especially in Khrushchev-era buildings, requires combining two tasks in the wall design: visually enlarging the room and adding originality. The first is achieved through the use of light colors, contrast, zoning of the room, and other techniques.
The most popular color scheme in modern hallways is various shades of beige. Combined with a classic style in the design of the entire room, this design leaves a pleasant impression – a feeling of peace, order, and grandeur. Beige looks noble, is not irritating, and goes well with the solid natural texture of wooden furniture and doors in a small hallway.
Choosing a style
Classic
To give a fresh look to a tried-and-true classic, as well as to visually enlarge the area of a small hallway, wallpaper is combined with painting the ceiling white and dividing the walls into sections decorated in different colors.
Minimalism
The noble classic style, loved by most apartment owners, can compete with another equally popular style—minimalism. It is especially relevant for small spaces. Wallpaper for a small hallway in a minimalist style can be bright, plain, or with a pronounced print, geometric, or floral ornament.
A room decorated in a minimalist style has little furniture and interior items. Wall “clothing” plays an important role in creating the atmosphere of the room.
The photo shows a small hallway in a minimalist style. The laconic color scheme gives the room a strict atmosphere, while the brown color of the wallpaper adds volume.
Other styles can also be used in interior design for small hallways.
Provence and country
Provence is characterized by lightness, airiness, and light, natural tones. Provence-style wallpaper can have a floral pattern, as well as a texture similar to natural materials such as stone and wood.
Unlike Provence, country interiors feature rustic accessories such as solid wood stools and coarse woven rugs. Wallpaper in this style can have dark shades to match the wood and stone used to build country houses.
High-tech
The metallic sheen of surfaces, strict geometric shapes, and new functional solutions in furniture and accessories are the distinctive features of this style. Wallpaper for a small hallway in high-tech style can be metallic in color, as well as all kinds of “acid” tones in a stylish combination with classic, calm shades.
Scandinavian
Characterized by restraint, minimalism, and calm color solutions. The main color is white. Wallpaper for a small hallway in a Scandinavian style can be white, light gray, and other, predominantly pastel tones.
Patterns and design
Each interior style has its own wallpaper design, from small patterns to large patterns. Certain styles require wallpaper with a texture that reflects the overall theme of the room.
- Plain wallpaper is suitable for hallways in English, classic, and minimalist styles. It allows you to use brighter details in the rest of the interior design, such as furniture and accessories.
- Wallpaper with large patterns and ornaments in the form of rosettes and monograms is characteristic of the classic style. Often, this type of covering is combined with gilding or wooden slats, which bring greater elegance and a touch of luxury to the design of a small room.
- Books make an interior more cozy and create the impression of a lived-in space. That's why professionals often use them as decorative elements. Large books with beautiful covers look stylish; they can be sorted by spine color and arranged on shelves or open shelving. Alternatively, you can add a few bright books to the decorative composition on a chest of drawers or coffee table. The same trick can be repeated with magazines. Do you want your home to look stylish and well-groomed, like something out of a glossy magazine? You don't need to be a professional — just use the simple techniques that decorators use. This includes the correct placement of furniture, the right lighting, textures, and accents on the walls. The main thing is attention to detail: pillows, rugs, frames, plants, and even tidiness play a role. This article contains 14 practical tips and 50 real photos that will inspire you and show you how easy it is to make your interior expressive and cozy without unnecessary expenses. Design: Riksbyggen
- Textured wallpaper helps create a more lively and interesting backdrop for decorating a small hallway in contemporary styles such as high-tech. The pattern can be abstract and blurred, but it can set the tone for the atmosphere of the room.
When choosing wallpaper for a small hallway, the overall style of the room should be taken into account. Wallpaper with a distinctive pattern can be hung on one wall, thereby emphasizing the stylistic affiliation of the interior.
Design: Nadia Zotova
Combination
Design: Alexander Bezvushko
- 10. Use books and magazines in your interior design
- Voluminous cornices and baseboards combined with contrasting wallpaper delineate the space and give it a sense of completeness.
- Horizontal division of walls using different shades of wallpaper allows you to control the visual effect. Dark wallpaper at the bottom of the wall—an “apron” from the floor to the middle of the wall—and light shades of the same color at the top. This division will help avoid the monotony, massiveness, and heaviness that arise when walls are decorated in a single color.
- The best solution for colored walls is a combination of three colors. You need to choose one base tone, which will occupy most of the space. Wallpaper for a small hallway should be a light shade, and this is the base color. Two additional colors can be used in furniture, accessories, and textiles.
Choosing wallpaper for a small hallway is an exciting creative process, not a difficult task. The main thing is to remember about balance: visually expand the space, add character to it, but at the same time do not overload it and make it cramped.
Don't be afraid to experiment with geometry, color, and texture. Even in the most modest room, you can create a stylish and memorable look. The most successful solutions are often born at the intersection of practicality and bold ideas.
Ultimately, the best wallpaper for your hallway is the one that will delight you every day when you come home. It should reflect your taste and create the first impression you want to make on guests and, more importantly, on yourself.
