15 hallway décor ideas to fill your blank walls with personality

From artwork to furnishings, these ideas will make your home feel complete. By Madeline Buiano

Martha Stewart is one of our favs and this article by Madeline Buiano gets our design juices flowing!

When decorating your home, you likely spend most of your time on the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and other main areas. But the small details also play a major role in making your home feel complete, which is especially true of your hallways—whether entrance halls or passageway halls. While hallways are often an afterthought when it comes to decorating, these entry and in-between spaces tie your rooms—and thus your entire home—together. Something as simple as a small print or a storage bench can add personality to this overlooked area. Ahead, we spoke to designers to share their best hallway décor ideas that will give these empty spaces a burst of character.

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Wall Hooks 

Your hallway can be a great catchall space for your belongings when done thoughtfully. Here, a wall hook designed to hold every day essentials, like jackets and accessories, is given an artful touch when displayed under a wall print.

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Playful Textiles 

If your hallway space is limited, there are many one dimensional ways to make the space look more interesting. Hang a tapestry on the wall and lay down a runner for added texture and color.

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Well-Placed Mirrors 

Hang mirrors along your hallway to reflect light and make the space feel bigger. “Choose mirrors with decorative frames or unique shapes to add a touch of glamour and sophistication,” says Kerrie Kelly, FASID, NKBA, former ASID National Board Chair.

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Art Collection 

Make your hallway feel like an art gallery by showcasing a curated collection of artwork or photographs along the walls. “Opt for a cohesive theme or mix and match different styles and mediums to create visual interest,” says Kelly.

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Beautiful Wallpaper 

Have a boring hallway in your home you don’t know what to do with? Wallpaper is always a great solution. “To elevate this hallway, we implemented fabulous green Quadrille wallpaper and a touch of greenery for an added layer,” says Mary Clair Cumbaa of Cumbaa Design Company. “The mirror reflects natural light, highlighting the overall décor and making a statement.”

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Runner and Focal Point 

Create length in your hallway by drawing attention forward. Here, a decorative runner leads the eye to a framed print and stacked trunks, creating a focal point at the end of the hallway that makes the space appear longer.

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Cohesive Colors 

One way to make your hallway feel like an extension of your home is by staying consistent with your color palette. The black banister in this home feels cohesive with the hallway’s black chair and frames, which tie the upstair and downstair levels together.

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Small Bench 

If your hallway connects to another room in your home, use décor and furnishings to make it feel like one spacious area. In this hallway, a vintage bench, runner, and artwork line the wide hallway leading into the primary suite.

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Textural Elements 

Layer textures through the use of wallpaper, runners, and art to add dimension to the hallway. “Incorporate natural materials like jute or sisal for a touch of warmth and organic charm,” says Kelly.

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Statement Lighting 

Illuminate your hallway with statement lighting fixtures, which not only brighten the space but also serve as an eye-catching focal point, like the Moravian star pendant in this entrance hall by Kelly. “Consider a sleek pendant light or a series of wall sconces to add depth and drama,” says Kelly.

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Decorative Sconces 

Create a soft glow in your hallway with candle sconces. In this space, two vintage-inspired gold sconces with pink candles add dimension to a wall of framed prints.

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Pop of Greenery 

Bring the outdoors in by adding potted plants, hanging greenery, or a living wall to your hallway. “Not only do plants add color and freshness, but they also create a sense of tranquility,” Kelly says.

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Extra Storage 

Use your hallway as an opportunity to increase your home’s storage capacity with a slim console table or storage bench, like the one seen in this entrance hall. “Choose pieces with sleek lines and built-in storage to keep clutter at bay,” says Kelly.

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Personal Touches 

A hallway can be the perfect place to highlight your style and interests through personalized décor items such as family photos, travel souvenirs, or cherished mementos. “These personal touches add warmth and character to the hallway, making it feel like an extension of your home,” says Kelly.

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A Little Bit of Everything 

If you have the space, incorporate items in your hallway that you may find in other rooms of your home. “Hallway décor is extremely important for setting a tone throughout the home. You want it to feel as if it’s encompassed by the entire home while also maintaining a composed aesthetic,” says Sarah Tract of Sarah Tract Interiors. “Wallpaper, runners, light fixtures, and art are always my first picks when decorating a hallway.”

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Oversized Painting 

Make a statement in your hallways by hanging a large painting. “In this upstairs hallway we installed an eye-catching painting and anchored it with an antique bench,” says Liz Williams of Liz Williams Interiors. “Adding a large, dramatic piece of art really adds interest to an otherwise bland hallway.”

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Inviting Vignette 

Create a welcoming vignette in your hallway, like Williams did here. “In this side door hall, we added a large piece of contemporary art and anchored it with an iron bench,” she says. “This vignette creates an inviting space while also acting as a catchall space when entering the home.”

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Lamp Lighting 

Enhance the ambiance of your hallways with lamps. “This hallway is a long stretch connecting the foyer to the family room and kitchen,” says Williams. “Having a long Welsh dresser here not only fills the space, but offers a place to display lamps. Lamp lighting makes it more inviting to pass through, leading you to the heart of the home.”

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Eye-Catching Focal Point 

Hallways can serve as focal points for your home when thoughtfully designed. “This hallway runs through the kitchen and bar, so I wanted to incorporate an element that draws the eye all the way through both spaces,” says Debbie Mathews of Debbie Mathews Antiques & Designs. “This antique French Barometer does just that—it is the perfect focal point for your eyes to rest.”

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Additional Seating 

Adding extra seating to a bare hallway will help make it feel like a true extension of your home. “This hallway runs through the living room,” says Mathews. “I love grounding a hallway with beautiful art and furniture when there is space. The chair and chest almost make this hallway feel like its own room.”

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Matching Shapes 

Lean into the architecture of your hallway by choosing furnishings and décor that complement the space. “This entrance hall, with its curved stairwell, called for something special,” says Mathews. “I love to meet curves with curves, so I incorporated a round skirted table, a French shield back chair, and a beautiful landscape painting, which all snuggle into that curved space perfectly.”