“Neutral hues provide optimal versatility and flexibility between the hallway and the rooms it connects to,” says Arianna Cesa, color and design expert at
Neutral colours are a classic and versatile choice for hallways. These shades effortlessly coordinate with the colour schemes in adjoining rooms. If the walls and woodwork in your hallway are in neutral shades, your staircase is an excellent place to introduce a colour highlight.
According to top interior designers, the best hallway wall colors are neutral off-whites, natural tones of blue or green, and light gray or beige.
Another way to sink into pure peace is to slather your hallway walls in blue. Along with imbuing a sense of tranquillity, blue has a friendly quality to welcome guests and makes kicking your shoes off all the more satisfying.
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.
An important area, hallways are the connection between all of the other spaces in your home. You may wish to use neutral paint colors to tie the rooms together. Hallway areas may be darker there aren't windows to add light. So consider using lighter paint colors to reflect light and keep your hallways brighter.
There are many different colour options available for your staircase wall, depending on your overall interior theme and mood. You could opt for an earthy neutral, such as oatmeal or beige, to blend in with your rustic scheme, or opt for navy blue or bottle green to give a more sultry and seductive vibe.
'There are no rules about painting the hallway and living room the same color but it is a really interesting new trend that creates a smooth, inviting visual flow from one room to the other and can make both spaces appear larger by association,' says Marianne.
Orange: the warm hallway paint colour
Orange is a brave choice, but it's also really fun. A splash of orange adds instant warmth. It's so uplifting and vibrant that it gives an instant energy boost. A pop of bright orange is enough to do the trick.
Background tones like these earthy grays, easy going beiges and fresh-canvas whites will set the stage for any and all decor you bring home and partner beautifully with feature walls. So feel free to work them into any color palette — these hard-working neutral paint colors play very well with others.
In general, lighter colours will make your hallway appear bigger with the illusion of more light and open space. Small, narrow hallways tend to suit a white, cream, or pale grey colour scheme, whereas darker shades are often used in larger, wider hallway entrances to add warmth and depth.
When that natural light isn't present, your room can end up seeming darker and duller. Instead, you want to look for more saturated colors with lower levels of black in the base. Warm toned neutrals are always a great choice for dark hallways. Think soft grays, powder blues, and warm blush tones.
A light, mid-tone neutral, like Benjamin Moore's Copley Gray, connects transitional spaces in homes with modern or traditional aesthetics. "Often, hallways become a central point in the home with adjacent rooms in different colors, making a neutral color a solid choice," says Magno.
You don't need an exact match to make your stairs and floors look cohesive. For example, if you have a dark hardwood floor, you might choose a slightly lighter stain for the stair treads. This creates contrast without making the overall look too busy.
Patterned wallpaper can add depth and intensity to a wide hallway. If you want to stick with light or neutral walls and flooring in your hallway, adding dark furniture or pictures can create a striking contrast. Use similar styles of art and decorations throughout the hallway to enhance the flow of your home.
Paint your walls off-white
But when it comes to narrow entryways, a colour so highly light reflecting as white can optically widen the space. But the best white paint for a hallway is actually off-white as it comes without the clinical look and instead is equipped with warm undertones.
Hallway etiquette means being respectful of other people in the hall, and it means being aware that other people need to get around you and to class. Having good hallway etiquette is very simple, and I have five tips to help you practice it. Having a conversation with a friend? Move to the side of the hallway.
Start small and smile at him, say hello to him. See if he smiles back or says hello back. If he does then try to bump into him more or maybe one day, if possible, stop him and compliment him (on anything- his shoes, smile, shirt, whatever).
In order to not overpower your room's color scheme, professionals use a little rule called the 60-30-10 wall color rule to maintain the space's color balance. Simply put, 60% of your room will have the dominant color, 30% should primarily be the secondary color, and 10% the accent color.
Much like white, soft grey and taupe paint colours can add an element of ease and openness to small hallway spaces. If you're not a fan of crisp, pure white, a softer neutral shade is a great colour for narrow hallways, as it'll have the same brightening and widening effect.
Grey is the perfect choice for a calming space. Timeless and elegant, light grey works well in all hallways, helping the area feel bright and airy. Alternatively, a dark grey hallway is ideal for a dramatic look, making the adjoining rooms feel more spacious.
Most people opt for satin or semi-gloss finishes when it comes to the best paint for stairs, as both are durable and look good on hardwood floors.