11 of the hottest decorating ideas for hallways

A chic monochrome palette sets the mood of this classic Haussmann apartment in Paris designed by Félix Millory. Large slabs of Calacatta Viola and Rosso Levanto marble are used to create a checkerboard pattern in the grand entrance, giving the space a relaxed elegance, while mirrors lining the walls extend the view down the corridor.

Casa Olabuenaga in Maui, Hawaii, is a rare private commission by Italian architect Ettore Sottsass. Completed in 1997, the two-level home is a masterclass in colour, starting with the hallway, where a tomato-red front door opens into a peachy-tiled lobby. Circles, squares and geometric shapes abound, while the playful pastel palette immediately makes guests feel welcome.

With its ‘Manos’ wallpaper by Schumacher and a pair of mop-topped stools by New York-based furniture studio Green River Project, the entry hall of designer Adam Charlap Hyman’s NYC apartment feels like a portal to a magical wonderland.

In the ELLE Decoration penthouse in Covent Garden, the generous corridor has a contemplative, gallery-like feel thanks to a totemic sculpture from MAH Gallery and an abstract mural wrapping around the curved internal wall, painted by Adriana Jaros, which draws the eye into the rest of the apartment.

Studio Rhonda gave this north-London home a joyful makeover, starting with the hallway, where the lower walls are painted in a broad stripe – the colours taken from the original quarry tiles on the floor – and a sunshine-hued bannister appears to ‘seep’ onto the stairs themselves. It’s a playful take on Victorian decorating traditions that perfectly demonstrates the transformative power of a lick of paint.

Fawn Galli used Calico Wallpaper’s ‘Aurora’ print in ‘Heaven’ to create an ethereal sunset (or sunrise?) in this hallway. The designer is a fan of using wallpapers to inject character and joy into functional spaces. Here, the tonal movement from peach through to lilac reflects the transitional nature of the space itself.

In the entrance of this Manhattan home, Kelly Wearstler ramps up the glamour with mixed-marble patchwork tiles in rich tones of chocolate, burgundy, cream and grey. The design nods to the historic features of the building, while the furry-material-topped bench and modern artwork add a contemporary edge to the scheme.

Visitors are enveloped by a tonal palette of reds in the hallway of this home by Kingston Lafferty Design, where colour washes the walls, console and an abstract artwork by Carlos Sangro. The scheme is grounded by the original floor tiles, while a striking ceiling pendant and brass mirror bounce light around the space.

An entrance hall should set the mood in a home. So, when the husband-and-wife duo behind Istanbul-based design studio Gülmen Interiors wanted to preserve the memories in this old house, they set out to create a ‘classic but new’ feeling, starting with this space’s retro nautical aesthetic. There’s plenty of storage and a coat rack, but it’s the seating area, with its Wes Anderson vibes, that we’re drawn to.

The owner of this south-London home tasked Gruff Architects with designing a hallway inspired by fashion house Celine’s London store. While the rest of the interiors stick to a monochrome palette, this space is injected with a shot of subtle colour, with marble parquet tiles, hand-picked at marble experts Diespeker & Co’s showroom.

In this Manhattan apartment designed by Danny Forster & Architecture, the entryway serves to build a sense of anticipation before astonishing views of Central Park are revealed through picture windows in the room beyond. American designer Kelly Wearstler’s ‘Graffito’ wallpaper in grey creates a cocooning feel, while the dark, painted ceiling adds extra drama.