Dark-coloured paint makes for a dark hallway. So, choose a shade that will help the space feel light and airy. A light grey like Rock Salt will lend your hallway a contemporary feel, like you might find in the reception of a boutique hotel. In fact, any kind of pale neutral would work well.
Mirrors across from your natural light source will lighten up the space. Hanging them and/or art from a picture hanging raid (made from decorative molding) that conceals a strip of pin lights will add light and give an interesting effect. Good luck with whatever you do.
For a bright entrance, move away from cumbersome furniture and dark colours, and instead, bring your space to life with large mirrors, layers of lighting and a smart approach to flooring. Lighting is one of the easiest ways to brighten up your hallway, and there are plenty of options out there.
The best lighting for a dark hallway is lighting that effectively lights the space while maintaining flow by not overwhelming the design of the space. Fixtures such as wall sconces, flush mounts and recessed lighting are effective as they are smaller.
Add a Mirror
Not only will a mirror make the space feel bigger but it will also reflect light, which will help brighten up the space. There are so many different mirrors out there so choose one that you love and hang it at the end of the hallway.
To mimic natural daylight with artificial lighting, opt for bulbs with a Kelvin rating between 5000k and 6500k. This provides the crisp quality of natural daylight. Aim for bulbs with a higher lumen output for areas such as home offices. This will help you feel more productive and comfortable when working.
When researching how to make your hallway look bigger a recurring idea will always be to paint your walls in a light colour. Brighter colours will help reflect the light, making your space appear bigger. Steer clear of brash tones and opt for neutral ones that fall somewhere on the white spectrum.
Painting your walls in bright, crisp hues like cream, primrose yellow or brilliant white will trick the eye into thinking the area is brighter and airier than it actually is. They'll also help to reflect the natural light that filters in throughout the day and enhance the artificial light during evening hours, too.
Use mirrors to reflect light
Just like painting the internal face of your front door, mirrors will reflect what light there is in your hallway. Place them strategically opposite light walls or in clusters to bounce light around the room.
Tunable-white and RGBW lights can simulate the color temperature of sunlight throughout the day, transitioning from neutral white (3500K) in the morning to daylight (5000K) midday and then warm white (2700K) as the day ends. This progression supports productivity and a healthy circadian rhythm.
Add decorative lighting
Installing decorative lighting is a quick way to make your room brighter without windows. When working with lighting for your windowless room, it's important to layer different types of lighting. The lights used for layered lighting range from striking pendant lamps to dainty fairy lights.
To set up artificial lights so they look like natural light is very simple: Make sure your lighting set up is diffused behind curtains, like the sheers I linked above. This will mimic windows, thus resulting in a natural light look. Lower lights via your stand so they're close to the ground.
By using a light-coloured or reflective surface, you can bounce light from the source back onto your photography scene or subject. The closer you are to the light source, or the larger your reflector, the more light you can bounce.
If you don't have enough wall space to fit another window in, you could always consider a sun room, conservatory, or an extension with roof windows. Because of their angle, roof windows are fantastic for letting in as much light as possible, so they're a great addition to any home in need of illumination.
Many people stick to white walls when decorating a dark hallway. While this approach will reflect light and open things up, it's not the most inspiring. A soft grey shade interspersed with a warming accent colour will help you maximise natural light, without compromising on character.
'Placing your mirror on a wall adjacent to a window or glass door will trick the eye into thinking your space is larger and will also bounce light into all corners of your space,' explains Yvonne Keal, senior product manager at Hillarys.
Wall lights are an excellent addition to almost any hallway, but particularly if your hallway has a low ceiling. You can add wall lights at regular intervals to illuminate your entire hallway. Uplighters and upward facing sconce (wall) lights will bounce light towards the ceiling, which creates a soft, diffused look.