Do you have one of those super narrow, very un-becoming hallways that makes you feel that you need to suck in a little every time you go down it?
Yeah, you’re not alone.
The question always remains: how to decorate a narrow hallway so it feels wider and more impressive than it is?
Skinny hallways need as much love as our skinny jeans after all.
If you are wrestling with the décor of a narrow hallway, read on for some easy how-tos that even the first time decorator can handle.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, we may earn a commission. Thanks!!
How to Decorate a Narrow Hallway
Light it Up
First and foremost, you need to light that hallway up.
There is nothing as depressing, or scary, as a narrow, creepy looking hallway. If you want to add some width and life into your narrow hallway, make sure that you are getting or adding as much light as possible.
If you have access to natural light in your hallway, make sure you use all that you can. Take the heavy drapes off, open the blinds and let as much light in as possible. This will also help you see what you’re dealing with.
If there aren’t any natural light sources, create your own.
Consider adding can lights in the ceiling or several flush mounted lights to add brightness from above. Slim-line wall sconces are also a wonderful idea.
Keep Color in the Family
The same color family that is.
If you are wondering how to decorate a narrow hallway and are deciding on colors, go monochromatic or with similar tones and colors. A light neutral palate always works best.
A similar toned color palate works because it helps to keep the eye moving. Kind of like dressing in all one color does. The eye can’t tell as much where the stops and starts are, which helps to widen the space.
I like a neutral color scheme since it keeps things simple. You can always add onto neutral or white at any point, which makes it so much easier to deal with if you don’t know what you are doing. Neutral is always easy to find on a budget as well.
Double-Duty Small Space Furniture
We’ve all seen the specialty furniture that is made for studios or small apartments. It serves multiple functions and is shrunken down and slim-lined a little.
This is the stuff you want for your narrow hallway.
For a narrow entryway hallway, for instance, you could have a bench that has a lift top for mittens and hats, or a fold open shoe organizer that when closes is only a few inches from the wall.
These types of pieces are great, because they help you get some use out of otherwise useless space.
Point the Way
Having a focal point in another wonderful way to trick the eye into thinking that your narrow hallway is wider than it is.
For the most widening effect, keep your ceiling white, or the lightest color, the walls a pale neutral and the end of your hallway a darker shade. You could even paint your focal wall with horizontal stripes or have a bookcase with horizontal shelves to widen to overall look even more.
Go Big or Go Home
The natural tendency with a hallway is to place small framed pictures all along the hall in increments. It just looks like that is what you are supposed to do.
Try to resist the urge.
Go opposite and try a large-scale piece of art on one wall to offset the narrow appearance. Many small pieces of art can make you feel like the jail cell walls are closing in on you.
Choose a piece that fits in with your color scheme, preferable monochromatic (see above), with a slim from or a printed canvas that doesn’t need a frame. In this way, you are adding dimension and dynamics to the space, without the bulk.
See my post 5 Easy Ways to Decorate with an Abstract Landscape Painting for more info.
Reflections of You
If you are not feeling a large piece of art, consider a larger mirror instead.
Mirrors are one of my favorite decorating hacks. They are easy to find, come in many styles and finishes, and can help bounce light around the room. You can also check your makeup and hair in them too, which is sometimes a bonus depending on the day.
Large-Scale Pattern
Consider a large-scale pattern when thinking about how to decorate a narrow hallway.
I’m talking large scale patterned wallpaper on the upper half of the walls, or a large horizontal or block pattern on a rug runner.
Pattern does not necessarily have to be bold or in your face.
You can still stay with a light color and a subtle look. Larger scale patterns can be neutral or tone on tone and still distract the eye into thinking the space is wider than it is. Pattern also makes the small space more interesting.
Organize It
This last one goes without saying, but if you have a long narrow bedroom hallway or a tiny entryway, you need to keep your stuff organized.
No shoes on the floor or things in piles. This only adds to the closed-in feeling and makes everyone uncomfortable. Use the double-duty slim furniture from above to help and keep editing until you can find a home for everything.
Now You Know How to Decorate a Narrow Hallway
If you are struggling with how to decorate a narrow hallway, fear not, it can be done. You can trick everyone into thinking you have a grand palatial palace with a bounty of rooms as far as the eye can see.
Well, maybe not all that, but you can at least give the appearance that your hallway is a little bit bigger than it actually is.
Maybe not stretch your arms out from side to side eagle style wide, but wide enough that people don’t feel like they have to walk sideways down the center of it.
And, that’s doing pretty good to me.
