Want to upgrade your space this year? Our new series of blogs taps into the minds of some of Ireland’s top interior designers to get their top trends and space-maximising tips for 2024.
Think your hall, stairs and landing are a boring space to decorate? Think again. Hallway decor ideas are a great way to expand your personal style and make your home a welcoming place for guests. Want to know how? Read on for several tips for Ireland’s interior design community.
Don’t fall for the usual storage traps
“Irish homes are really poor at accommodating space in hallways for coats and shoe storage, so hallways can become chaotic places in family homes,” says Niamh McKenna of NMcK Design. “I find traditional wall hooks for coats to be inefficient, so consider storing a wall rail instead where coats can be hung from hangers. A shelf can be placed above with baskets for things like hats and gloves, and a shoe rack underneath for shoes. You couldan also consider storing these elsewhere if there is no room in the hallway, like a downstairs bathroom with space to create a ‘boot room’.”
Mix and match your colours
Like a balance of light and dark? Bring this into your colour scheme, advises Megan Arbuthnott of Canny Creative. “Depending on the house, I am a big fan of using black or dark grey on the balustrades and injecting bright colours, like mint or coral for wall panels or storage options - you can then balance this out with a more neutral colour on the walls. I am also a big fan of using tiles within entrance halls; it helps you to add in patterns while also being hardwearing and practical.”
Don’t skimp on the smaller details
According to Marette Cronin, the possibilities are endless, even with a smaller hallway area. “You could paint existing wood finishes and then create a whole new colour scheme and factor in the colours on your woodwork. You could also change the flooring - this takes up most of the space so it’s what you see most of. Lighting is completely transformative so I would swap out older styles if I wanted to revamp a space. By implementing all of these tips, you could completely change the overall style of the space.”
Be careful with your carpeting
We all know the battering that carpet on stairs can take, but for Brenda Sorensen of Aspect Interiors, there’s a lot more to consider. “Some carpets are not designed to be used on stairs so make sure you check the rating before you purchase one. The next thing you need to consider is whether you want a runner or to carpet the full step. Runners look great and really add a touch of luxury and elegance but if you have a dog or heavy traffic in the home, you will get clumps of dust at the sides of your stairs that can be quite visible. The style you chose is also important. Do you want a plain carpet or one that has a pattern? If it is a pattern you need to make sure it isn’t too busy as this can affect a person’s vision and they may fall - especially if the person is elderly or suffers from dementia.”
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