22 Brilliant Hallway and Staircase Ideas You’ll Love

Your hallway should be an inviting place to welcome you home at the end of a long day – but when it comes to decorating, it’s surprising how often we overlook these spaces.

 

The hallway is often the first chance you have to make an impression on your guests, too, setting the tone for what’s to come throughout the rest of your home.

 

Whether you’re in the market for a full renovation or just a few simple tweaks, you can make a beautiful and memorable entrance to your home.

 

Ready to give yours a makeover? Get inspired with our list of 21 brilliant hallway and staircase ideas you’ll love.

 

1. Wallpaper Your Stairs

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Show your stairs some love. Instead of using carpet, add colour and pattern by wallpapering your risers.

 

A bold print can transform your hallway and create a unique focal point. It’s also a great way to use roll leftover from another room.

 

2. Rainbow Stairs

[caption id="attachment_3496" align="aligncenter" width="400"] NINE THE AVENUE[/caption]

Give your stairs a colourful makeover with paint. Paint the treads, skirting boards and spindles white, and add life with a beautiful kaleidoscope of colour on the risers.

 

Keep your walls neutral to allow your staircase to pop and bring in the colours through your artwork, too.

 

3. Rainbow Ombre Wall

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Why choose one colour when you could have them all? Rejuvenate your entrance with a powerful ombre wall – it’s a look that’s sure to wow everyone who comes to your door.

 

Choose a rainbow of colours for the ultimate playful design, and balance the scheme by painting your remaining walls white.

 

4. Gallery Wall

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Show your personality in your hallway with a gorgeous gallery wall. Pack the main wall of your staircase with framed prints – don’t be afraid to mix frame materials, sizes, and colours, as this will only add to the effect.

 

Introduce extra texture with some macrame or wire words, too. Choose art that has meaning to you, and you’ll have a look that will never go out of style.

 

5. Pink Stairs

[caption id="attachment_3499" align="aligncenter" width="400"] PINK HOUSE LIVING[/caption]

Get playful and add a pop of colour in your hallway by painting your stairs. Choose a neutral runner and paint the whole stairs on either side a bold colour for a striking and unexpected look.

 

Bring the scheme together by including your accent colour in floor tiles or accessories, too.

 

6. Seasonal Styling

[caption id="attachment_3500" align="aligncenter" width="400"] COME DOWN TO THE WOODS[/caption]

Show off your creative side and keep your hallway looking fresh by hanging some seasonal styling on your staircase. Using garlands and paper decorations is a great way to do this – and they’re not just for Christmas either.

 

I love this display that brings in cosy autumn colours through the foliage. In summer, you could decorate with a colourful pom-pom garland and complement it with a pom-pom wreath on your door.

 

7. Include a Versatile Bench

Make the most of a compact hallway and solve your storage woes with a bench. A panelled bench is a fantastic way to add character to your hallway, and it provides a handy place to perch and take your shoes off.

 

Include some coat hooks above to maximise your space.

 

8. Bold Tiles

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Make a statement in your hallway with bold floor tiles. Whether your house is old or new, geometric patterns are an excellent choice for adding depth and style.

 

This monochrome pattern brings visual interest, and it’s complemented by black and white painted stairs – by keeping the stairs simple, it helps to balance the tiles.

 

9. Go Monochrome

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Create a clean and contemporary entrance with a monochrome scheme in your hallway. Painting your walls and ceiling white will reflect light and enhance even the smallest of spaces.

 

Choose white tiled flooring for an even brighter look and to open your hallway up further. Add contrast by painting your entire staircase matte black and complement it with black planters, frames and accessories.

 

I love the use of black vertical panels in this space – it’s simple yet incredibly effective for adding depth.

 

10. Embrace Maximalism

[caption id="attachment_3503" align="aligncenter" width="400"] LEMON LEOPARD INTERIOR DESIGN[/caption]

Your hallway is one of the most used areas in your home – and a space most callers see – so why not use it to make a big impression?

 

Maximalism is having a major moment in the design scene, and it’s a great way to show your personality and have fun. Combine bold paint with dramatic prints and plenty of artwork, statement lighting and accessories for a space you’ll never tire of looking at.

 

11. Panelling and Painted Stairs

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Add interest to an enclosed staircase with panelling and painted stairs. This gorgeous pink half-wall of panelling brings instant warmth and character to this modern home, while the painted white stairs help reflect light and open the space up.

 

Lifting your carpets and painting your staircase a light, bright colour will help breathe new life into your space. Consider painting your staircase, skirting boards, and panelling the same colour to give extra height.

 

12. Choose a Runner

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Revamp your staircase and hallway with a stylish runner. From adding subtle textures with a neutral runner or making a statement with a bold stripe, there’s no end to the possibilities.

 

A runner is great for softening the transition between flooring types, too – perfect if you have carpet upstairs but hardwood flooring in your hallway. Create contrast by painting your stairs white and choosing a dark trim for your runner.

 

13. Timeless Style

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Create a hallway with timeless elegance by introducing classic features. Traditional parquet flooring is an excellent and durable choice for busy hallways – not to mention, it looks beautiful, too.

 

Complement it with a stylish stair runner and rug, and paint your staircase white for contrast against the warm wood tones. Add traditional-style panelling up to picture-rail height for instant character.

 

14. Textured Wallpaper

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Looking to create subtle visual interest in your hallway? Textured wallpaper is making a comeback, and it’s fantastic for adding another layer of depth to the walls of your space.

 

Use textured paper up to dado-level height and paint your entire wall and woodwork one colour to create an intriguing aesthetic. Paint your stairs the same colour for a look with instant impact.

 

15. Clever Storage

Maximise your space with clever under-stair storage. Installing pull-out cupboards or drawers that look like decorative panels is an ingenious way of adding style and practicality to your hallway.

 

They provide a convenient space for shoes, coats, hats and gloves, leaving your hallway neat and clutter-free. Keep your drawers the same colour as your stairs and spindles for a seamless finish.

 

16. Cohesive Design

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Every element of this hallway has been carefully considered to make a space that flows. The black-painted staircase complements black industrial doors and the black industrial mirror on the stairs, while monochrome tiles connect the space.

 

Look to the rooms off your hallway for inspiration – bringing in the same colours and materials into your hallway will create a cohesive scheme that enhances your whole ground floor.

 

17. Dramatic Entrance

[caption id="attachment_3509" align="aligncenter" width="450"] COME DOWN TO THE WOODS[/caption]

Make a dramatic entrance by choosing deep, moody colours for your hallway and stairs.

 

Choose a patterned wallpaper with dark accents and complement it with navy or black stairs and spindles. Using wood flooring will add warmth and help ensure the scheme isn’t dreary.

 

18. Add a Pop of Colour

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Add a pop of colour to a neutral hallway with a colourful runner and matching rug. It’s a great way of softening the look of wood flooring and painted stairs – and an easy way to totally transform your space.

 

Choose pale blue for an elegant and classic style or mustard for a warm and homely welcome.

 

19. Stair Lighting

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Lighting can transform any space – and the same is true of your hallway. Installing under-stair lights will create a beautiful feature and add instant warmth to your entrance. It’s perfect for enhancing dark or enclosed staircases too.

 

If you have spindles, make the most of the light and open your space up by replacing them with glass panels for an ultra-contemporary finish.

 

20. Update Your Spindles

Breathe new life into your hallway décor by replacing your old wooden spindles. There are a host of designs available, from simple, vertical spindles, to Deco-inspired shapes.

 

Choose decorative iron spindles to add a sense of luxury to your hallway. If you’re looking for something different, try horizontal spindles for a truly modern aesthetic.

 

21. Add a Chair

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Make your hallway a destination with a comfortable chair. So often we just pass through our hallways, but if your space has room for cosy seating, why not indulge?

 

It will make a really handy place to sit and get ready for the day, or somewhere to just sit and relax. Create a feature with a colourful accent chair – think fantastical jungle prints, bold stripes, or a pop of hot pink or bright orange.

 

Don’t worry about the chair matching your hall décor perfectly – the more playful, the better.

 

22. Under-Stairs Toilet

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Repurpose that unloved junk cupboard under your stairs by turning it into a convenient downstairs loo. Being positioned in your hallway, it’s a really handy place for guests to spend a penny without needing to trail through your whole home.

 

Complement your hallway by having the door blend into your staircase and decorate your loo with patterned wallpaper. It’s a fantastic chance to be playful and show your creative side.

 

 

How Do I Make My Hallway Look Welcoming?

Make a welcoming hallway with statement lighting, accessories, and the personal touch. Lighting adds instant warmth and creates ambience in hallways.

 

Hanging a mirror will help reflect light and create a sense of space, too. Gallery walls are also a sure-fire way of creating an interesting and welcoming space – whether it’s your favourite artwork, family photos, meaningful souvenirs, or a mix.

 

How Do You Decorate a Hallway and Stairs?

Your hallway should reflect your personality – after all, you’re the one who will see it several times a day. Make it beautiful and visually interesting for a space you’ll never tire of. If you love colour and character, mix panelling with wallpaper.

 

Or, if simplicity is your thing, create an understated yet elegant space with white walls and neutral floor coverings. You can add personality to neutral schemes with a runner and a gallery wall on your stairs.

 

How Do You Brighten an Enclosed Staircase?

There are several things you can do to brighten an enclosed staircase. Firstly, think about painting your walls white to reflect light. You could also consider a colourful striped carpet – the stripes help make the space look larger.

 

Alternatively, you could lift your carpets altogether and paint your whole staircase white to further enhance the sense of space.