17 Beautiful Victorian Hallway Ideas to Inspire Your Space

There’s no question that Victorian homes are full of charm and character, but curating the perfect entrance can be tricky.

Victorian hallways are often narrow and have low natural light levels, so it’s easy to see why you might struggle to choose the best décor. And because most of Britain’s housing was built before 1900, you’re in good company.

But don’t despair – we’ve rounded up some of our favourite Victorian hallway ideas to spark your imagination. From bold colour schemes to elegant flooring designs, there are plenty of options to enhance your Victorian hallway.

1. Lay Traditional Monochrome Tiles

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Give your hallway an authentically Victorian finish with striking monochrome tiles. They were a popular choice for period homes of the Victorian era, providing a durable yet eye-catching floor covering.

They can transform even the narrowest hallways into dazzling decorative spaces. But perhaps the best thing about these beautiful tiles is they complement a variety of interiors.

So you can rest assured that they’ll stand the test of time no matter how often you change your colour scheme.

2. Introduce a Colour Pop

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Looking for a way to introduce some colour to your Victorian hallway? Think beyond the walls. This striking front door has been painted deep pink on the inside, giving this hallway a quirky and charming twist.

Painting your front door is a great way to add just the right amount of colour without overpowering your space – and it’s a quick and easy way to refresh a tired door.

For a high-impact finish, paint your woodwork a deeper hue to create contrast and frame your colourful door.

3. Give It a Modern Twist With Geo Tiles

I love how these Ca’Pietra tiles provide a modern update on the traditional monochrome mosaics. They give this gorgeous hallway a fresh finish while nodding to the home’s history.

Geometric patterns like this are a fantastic way to breathe new life into a period property – pair geometric tiles with crisp white walls for a striking entrance.

4. Brighten Up Your Hall With White

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A classic, all-white scheme is a fantastic solution for brightening up a dark hallway.

With few windows, many Victorian hallways can be short on natural light. If this sounds familiar, consider whitewashing your whole space – including the walls, doors, woodwork, and even the stairs.

White paint has excellent reflective properties and will help to make the most of the light in any space. You can also add visual interest and texture with a half-wall of white panelling, proving white is anything but ordinary.

5. Add Character With Parquet

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Traditional parquet flooring is the perfect way to add character and warmth to your hallway. It’s authentic, durable and sure to bring bags of charm – plus, it complements a variety of interior styles.

You can sometimes pick up reclaimed flooring online or from reclamation yards, but you can also buy new tumbled blocks to create an authentic, lived-in look.

Complement your natural wood flooring with white skirting boards and doorframes for a fresh and timeless finish.

6. Balance Patterned Flooring With Plain Walls

If you’re lucky enough to have original Minton tiles in your hallway, you’ll want to make sure they’re the centre of attention. Balance your colourful patterned flooring with plain walls and let the tiles draw the eye in.

The simple white walls and woodwork in this hallway complement the decorative tiles while helping make the space appear lighter and brighter.

7. Hang Authentic Wallpaper

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The Victorians showcased their love of nature through their interiors. If you’re looking for an authentic look that will enhance the period charm of your home, wallpaper your hallway with an eye-catching floral design.

This colour revamp of Morris & Co’s classic Blackthorn print by Ben Pentreath is the perfect partner to exposed floorboards and fresh white woodwork in this characterful home.

Though traditional in style, the colour palette provides a vibrant finish, giving energy to the space.

8. Curate an Eclectic Gallery Wall

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I love a period home with personality. This eclectic gallery wall is the perfect centrepiece for this Victorian hallway, with a quirky mix of artwork, photographs, mirrors, and antiques.

Why not create something totally unique and use your gallery wall to nod to the history of your home? Consider including artwork of the time, old photographs, maps, and small antiques for a wall that will entertain and delight everyone who passes by.

9. Paint Your Stairs Dark

Enhance your home’s entrance and bring drama by painting your entire staircase black. This hallway colour scheme is simple yet incredibly effective, with bold, black stairs taking centre stage beside neutral walls and natural wood floorboards.

Keep your walls neutral, and paint your architraves and skirting boards black for a truly classic look. Hang bold prints to add pops of colour to your space.

10. Add Colour With Two-Tone Paint

If your hallway is on the small side, you might be nervous about adding colour. But the good news is a pop of colour can enhance even the smallest of spaces.

If you’re hesitant to paint your entire room, have the best of both worlds and choose a two-tone colour scheme for your walls. Paint the lower half of your walls a deeper hue and the upper half a lighter neutral to create a sense of light and height.

This deep green hue creates a homely and calming feel without darkening the room.

11. Make a Statement With a Mural

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This monochrome jungle wall mural makes for an enchanting entrance. Alongside white walls, black stairs, and monochrome tiles, it’s a beautifully cohesive space you’d never tire of looking at.

Do something different in your hallway and add a mural to your walls – it’s a creative way to make a big impression. Choose a nature-themed print to celebrate the Victorians’ love of the natural world.

12. Embrace Nature With Houseplants

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No Victorian hallway is quite complete without a houseplant – or five. The fashion for houseplants peaked in the nineteenth century, with Victorians adorning their homes with new tropical plants from across the world.

For a truly authentic touch, choose ferns, palms, and English ivy. Place trailing plants on shelves or in hanging planters to draw the eye up and create extra visual interest in your hallway.

13. Combine Pattern With Panelling

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This vibrant hallway is brimming with beautiful features. By combining a bold pattern with panelling, it creates a colourful and intriguing entrance. Get creative and use a half-wall of panelling and wallpaper to bring personality to your own space.

Select an accent colour for your panels based on your patterned paper for a cohesive look. Continue your half-wall of panelling up the stairs to create extra interest and draw the eye up.

14. Get Playful With Colour

Having a Victorian home doesn’t mean you need to stick to Victorian design conventions. This colourful hallway brings pure joy – from the sunshine yellow stairs to the hot pink radiator cover.

So, why not get creative with colour and breathe life into your home? Because your hallway is a high-traffic area that people pass through relatively quickly, it’s a great place to experiment and have fun with your design.

Try painting your woodwork a bright colour and adding colourful prints and accessories.

15. Go All Out

Maximalist interiors are really having a moment – and older homes come alive with unique and quirky interiors. This fabulous period home packs a punch with an abundance of patterns and colours on display.

I especially love the revamped cinema chairs – not only do they provide a beautiful feature, but they are clever space savers, too. So, if you’re ready to walk on the wild side, go bold with your décor for a hallway you can’t wait to get home to.

Layer glamorous metallics, playful prints, and quirky accessories, and you’ll have a truly magical space.

16. Choose Statement Lighting

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Show off those tall ceilings with some statement lighting in your hallway. Whether you opt for traditional chandeliers or contemporary shades, it’s a brilliant way to create interest and draw the eye up.

I love these colourful, tropical pendant lights – they bring a fun and quirky edge to this beautiful period home.

17. Add a Stair Runner

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If your floor coverings need a refresh, consider adding a stair runner. They’re fantastic for helping to bridge the gap between hard flooring and carpets – and they add extra character and elegance to your hallway, too.

This neutral runner sets off the black stairs beautifully, but you could also use your runner to add pops of colour and pattern. Complement your runner by painting your stairs bright white to lighten your space.

How to Decorate a Victorian Hallway?

Think about what you want to achieve with your décor. If you want to brighten your space, paint your walls neutral and keep your staircase white. On the other hand, if you want to embrace the bold side – go for it.

Colourful and dramatic interiors can be incredibly effective, bringing extra character to your period home. Think about installing panelling and wallpaper for a distinctly Victorian vibe.

How to Decorate a Narrow Victorian Hallway?

Enhance a narrow hallway by getting clever with paint. Consider painting the lower half of your walls a deeper hue with a lighter neutral above – this gives the space depth and interest.

The right accessories can go a long way too. Adding a striped runner and hanging a large mirror will both make your hallway appear larger.