The hallway is an oft-neglected space in the home, somewhere to pass through rather than linger. And yet, as the place you and your guests see as soon as you enter, it deserves some love.
Paint is one way to give the hallway a quick update; another is choosing a beautiful wallpaper that will add warmth and interest, and help create a seamless transition between the entrance and the rest of the house. Use these ideas to transform your hallway. Then, discover more of our hallway ideas.
- Once you've made your all-important choice, check out our guide to how to wallpaper
1. Add a flamboyant touch with exotic wallpaper
Hallways are a great space to use a statement wallpaper like this Flamingo design from Cole & Son. For a really smart look, consider using another wallpaper from the same collection or in the same colour palette in a room that’s off your hallway.
Flamingos, £85 , Glastonbury Stripe Marquee Stripes (in background), £65, Cole & Son
2. Soften the look of your hallway with a pastel design
Perfect for brightening up a dark hallway, Sandberg's Kira design, with all over chevron pattern in pastel-shaded tones will complement an otherwise neutral scheme.
Kira in red/pink/purple, £75, Sandberg
3. Add texture with wood effect wallpaper
If you like the classic look of wood panelling, you will love the realistic wood lookalike Mahogany wood wallpaper from Arthouse. Easier to put up than cladding, it's more affordable, too – yet gives you the same warm, textural finish. Bonus.
Mahogany wood wallpaper, £16, Arthouse
4. Go for a contemporary twist on a vintage design
Designed by Arne Jacobsen, the Trapez 1778 from Borastapeter is based on a 1950s design, with the muted colour scheme giving it a contemporary, Scandi twist. Perfectly understated and chic – and ideal for a brightening a dark hallway.
Trapez 1778 from Borastapeter
5. Give a nod to nautical chic with a striped design
Stripes never go out of fashion – why not utilise their universal appeal in the hallway? The Emilia from Sandberg takes its cue from Breton stripes and will complement a contemporary home with nautical accents.
Emilia grey black stripe, £85, Sandberg
6. Mix and match two styles from the same collection
Using wallpaper from the same collection means you can easily mix two designs together without them clashing. In this hallway, the front walls are papered in Wonder Pink, while the back wall of the hall and staircase are papered in Rebecca, a bolder design with a diagonal stripe. Even the ceiling's got a look-in. Both from Graham & Brown.
7. Add interest with an abstract pattern
Mimicking the natural randomness of terrazzo tiles, the Terrazzo wallpaper by Ferm Living is a great choice for hallways that can otherwise look dark and sombre. It has a touch of sheen to it, too, creating a shimmering texture.
Terrazzo wallpaper in grey, £65, Ferm Living
8. Choose vintage florals for an opulent look
Give your hallway a vintage boudoir touch with the ornate Loriini design from Little Greene. With its grey colour scheme and subtle colour accents, it's surprisingly versatile, so long as botanical wallpaper is your thing.
9. Bring the outside in with a woodland motif
The botanical home decor trend shows no signs of going away – and for a reason. Picking botanical designs for your home is a great way to create a calm oasis in your home even if you have no plants; plant-themed wallpaper also adds plenty of texture to otherwise characterless areas of the home, such as the hallway.
Our pick is the detailed and delicate Woodland Toile by Sanderson.
Woodland Toile by Sanderson, £60, Style Library
10. Mix contemporary and botanical trends
Likee the Scandi trend? Then you’re sure to love the Lundby abstract tree design by John Lewis, inspired by the forests of Scandinavia.
Lundby in citrine, £23, John Lewis