How to create a statement entrance hall
A beautiful home deserves a beautiful entrance hall – after all this space is the introduction to the whole home and should set the required tone from the outset. Here are some of our thoughts and hallway design inspirations for making a great entrance.
MAKING AN ENTRANCE
Ideally, an entrance hall will be designed at the same time as the rest of the house. The décor can be specified to draw all the elements of colour, texture and detail together that feature in the rest of the home. Equally, there may be times when the entrance hall is given a revamp as a stand-alone concept. Naturally, it will still need to work with other décor themes and ideas throughout the home. A successful premise is to include statement stairs within the scheme. There are plenty of striking staircase ideas around, including decorative spindles, newel posts, balustrades and handrails, which can be individually designed and made by our Joinery team. Sometimes our task may be to choose floor coverings for a staircase, in which case we may be looking for bespoke runners with interesting stair clips, rods and threshold strips. Occasionally our projects may include a completely new staircase, this may be because the entire house is being reconfigured, or because our clients may want to include a lift as well as a staircase. Designing a new staircase is a wonderful challenge and can bring an exciting new aspect to a home. We can work with designers to create spiral or straight stairways, which will include a combination of materials – joinery, metalwork and perhaps stone or marble treads. A new staircase can become a focal point of the home, literally creating a design theme that runs throughout the whole house from top to bottom. Our Joinery team can create a unique staircase to replace, refresh or update an entrance hall. Our designers can add extra features, such as under-stair storage for coats and shoes, and perhaps a built-in window seat. Panelling, architrave and other joineries, such as replacement skirting boards, dado rails or picture rails can all be incorporated into a new entrance hall. Bespoke joinery can streamline a layout, perhaps disguising recesses and creating a new and more aesthetically pleasing symmetrical look.
A BEAUTIFUL WELCOME
How do you make a hallway look welcoming? Well, when we design a hallway, we want it to look good in all conditions – from inside and out, in daylight and in evening light too. We want it to have somewhere for guests’ coats, we want it to feel elegant, perhaps with a beautiful display of flowers and scented candles or diffusers to promote a welcoming ambience. Warmer shades, such as rich creams, pinks, dark reds and burgundies are considered to be welcoming colours. They don’t have to be used throughout the hallway though, sometimes it’s enough to include the colours above or below dado rails or panelling, or perhaps use them for the flooring. Even touches of these ‘warm’ shades are enough, perhaps a velvet chair, ottoman or a console table can bring that warm glow into the scheme.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
How to decorate a dark hallway? Well, there are many ways to introduce light into what may at first appear to be a dark space. Sometimes our designers may suggest adding high-level glazed panels – most easily incorporated above the main front door, but also possible to add above the room doors leading off the hallway. This would of course depend on the level of alteration and development allowed – listed interiors will have their individual requirements. Another option is to replace solid doors with glazed doors to let light into the hallway from other rooms, but again this will depend on the listed status of the home. If it’s a contemporary home, internal glazed doors and even glazed room dividers are a very convenient way of allowing light to enter the hallway. Light fittings can be automated to switch on at dusk or whatever time is required. A central pendant light is a traditional choice in the hallway and of course, more than one pendant can be installed in longer halls! Wall lights are a flexible addition, especially if they are on dimmer switches or automatic operation and can be positioned to highlight architectural features such as cornice and plasterwork if directed upwards. If the hallway is panelled, wall lights can be positioned centrally in the panels or between panels. Our designers work with lighting and home automation specialists to get these aspects absolutely perfect.
FLOORING IDEAS
A hall floor is often quite expansive, with room for creativity and ingenuity. Many of our projects include entrance hall floors, so we come up with entrance hall tile ideas that may include interesting colour combinations and patterns to add interest to the space. Marble and stone tiles are always popular choices, and as designers, we enjoy creating dramatic patterns to set the scene and lead the way to the rest of the home. Borders play an important role and can bring two materials together, such as marble hallway tiles segue into hardwood flooring for the main living rooms. It’s important that the hall floor works with the entrance hall stairs and again, it will be a case of choosing carpets and flooring materials that work together visually as well as practically. If the staircase has exposed treads, perhaps in stone or timber, then a stair runner is a good choice, allowing the treads to be visible whilst providing comfort underfoot.
CONTEMPORARY LOOKS
Modern hallway ideas can be a lot more flexible for homes that don’t have to adhere to listed building requirements. There’s a trend for generously proportioned, wide hallways with large-scale contemporary style front doors, perhaps with glazed panels on either side. Yet, as with traditionally proportioned spaces, the hallway still needs to be welcoming and approachable. As far as modern entrance hall decorating ideas are concerned, we like the idea of including large, dramatic rugs and contemporary furniture and artworks. Statement lighting, such as cluster pendants and modern chandeliers can be exciting additions, too. Generally, modern entrance hall lighting ideas should include up-lighters and downlighters, and for a very contemporary and adventurous touch, perhaps bespoke integral lighting strips along with cabinetry, built-in shelving or panelling.