Hallway Décor Ideas

Often overlooked, hallways are more than utilitarian ways to get from one room to another. They’re also an added opportunity to infuse personality into your home or tie rooms together. Plus, hallways get a lot of foot traffic, so why leave the walls blank? To tap into your hallway’s potential, check out this roundup of stylish ideas to get your inspiration flowing.

Hang Wall Art

Instantly liven up bare walls with a large, oversized piece of wall art or a few smaller pieces. If textiles are more your style, consider a piece of tapestry instead of a framed print. 

Create a Gallery Wall

A hallway is the perfect spot for displaying family or vacation photos, framed mementos or collectibles. (A helpful hint: rather than eyeballing a layout, trace the shape of the frames on craft paper, cut them out and tape them to the wall with painter’s tape—then rearrange until you’re happy with the look.)

Upgrade with Wallpaper or Paint

Use wallpaper or paint to create an accent wall. Go bold or add patterns if other areas of your home are more subdued, or tone things down with a neutral palette if your rooms have pop. If you love the look of wallpaper and you have a decent amount of wall space, you might also consider using mural wallpaper.

Add a Credenza or Side Table

A credenza or side table works double duty as a statement piece for displaying vases with seasonal blooms, books or a unique table lamp, as well as a functional element for extra storage.

Include a Bench

A bench is a good alternative to a side table, especially if you’re looking to fill space in an entryway hall. A bench here is the ideal spot for putting on shoes (or taking them off).

Lay Down a Runner Rug

A narrow runner not only protects flooring, it also adds texture and dimension to a hallway. And it’s another easy way to jazz up a ho-hum space with color or pattern.

Bring in Greenery

Does your hallway receive a fair amount of natural light? If so, liven things up with a houseplant or two. If your hallway is on the darker side, a quality artificial plant is a good substitute.

Hang a Mirror

Another pick-me-up for a darker—or a small—hallway is a mirror. Hanging a mirror helps reflect light and make the space feel bigger. You could try one large mirror or mix things up with an arrangement of smaller mirrors.

Swap Out Lighting Fixtures

Good lighting is a must-have for every hallway—but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for spartan fixtures. Replace standard flush mount fixtures with striking flush or semi-flush fixtures. If you have tall, 10-foot ceilings, try swapping standard fixtures for eye-catching pendants.