Choosing Rugs and Other Design Elements for Your Hallways

It is easy to overlook hallways in your overall interior design scheme. After all, hallways are not rooms per se’, but transitional spaces that you use to get from one place to another. However, even though a Hallway serves a largely utilitarian purpose, that doesn’t mean that it cannot become beautiful. Read on for our best hallway decor ideas.

For many people, the primary design element in a hallway is a rug or a Runner. While decorative, it also serves practical purposes as well. However, you need not confine yourself to a rug alone when decorating a hallway. Regardless of the size of your space, you can incorporate other appropriate and attractive design elements.

How To Choose a Hallway Runner Rug

No matter what the floor covering you already have in your hallway, whether it be a hard floor or carpet, you can also incorporate a rug or runner. The hallway is a high-traffic area, which can put unusual amounts of wear and tear on your carpeting. Placing a rug over the carpet in the hallway can help protect it from these forces, as well as spills, tracked-in mud, and other potential hazards.

However, because the hallway is an area that sees a lot of traffic, it is important to secure your rug securely to the floor to prevent slips and falls. Double-sided carpet tape can be helpful in this regard, as can nonslip liner made of rubber.

When you’re choosing a rug or runner, do not choose one that spans the entire width of your hallway or gallery. Part of the purpose of a hallway rug is to create leading lines and depth that make the space look longer by drawing the eye into the distance. To create these leading lines effectively, you need at least 2-3 inches of space on each side of the runner. Be sure you carefully measure both the hallway and the rug before purchasing the latter.

When choosing a color palette for your hallway decor ideas, including the rug, consider neutral tones. This is especially important if every room leading off the hallway has a different color scheme. Anyone traversing the hallway will probably be able to see into the different rooms. You probably cannot match all of them, but when you decorate the hallway in neutrals, you can complement each of them.

The palette that you choose also affects the overall feel of the space, so keep this in mind when choosing colors. Because hallways tend to be dark, narrow spaces, many people try to use color to open them up. If this is your objective, try lighter shades of cool colors or cool-tinged neutrals. The eye perceives these colors as receding into the distance, which can nicely complement the leading lines that you create with your runner. However, you may prefer a cozy, den-like feeling for your hallway. If so, you should choose darker colors leaning toward the warmer side of the spectrum.

How To Choose Other Design Elements

Your hallway decorating concept may start with a rug or runner, but it certainly doesn’t have to end there. There are many more elements that come into play. Take light, for example. Since hallways are typically lacking natural light, you will often have to add this element yourself.

If you rent your home rather than owning, this can be a challenge since you are not at liberty to rewire the space. Nevertheless, you can compensate with less permanent lighting, such as a floor lamp, if there is sufficient space for it. Otherwise, string lights that hang from the ceiling can use the space efficiently while effectively lighting the area. If your lighting options are limited, consider a lighter color palette for your hallway design, as it will reflect more and optimize the light you do have.

Speaking of reflection, for those who want to make a narrow hallway feel more open, mirrors are an invaluable asset. Not only do they reflect the space to make it seem bigger than it is, but they also reflect light to make it seem brighter. A large decoration, such as a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant, may overwhelm the hallway. However, place a smaller decoration next to a contemporary mirror, for example, and it seems to double in size while taking up less space.

Because people tend not to linger in the hallway, this is probably not the place to put your greatest art treasures. However, this does not mean that your walls must remain bare. Simple pictures, such as kids’ drawings or family photos, or wall hangings / tapestries can be appreciated as people walk past. You can unify these with matching frames, but avoid a gallery arrangement as it might prove overwhelming.

An attractive storage unit, such as an antique armoire for linens, may lend a hallway a touch of character and class. However, be careful that the unit you choose does not become a collecting place for toys, keys, and other clutter.

Whether your tastes run classical, contemporary, or somewhere in between, the Nazmiyal Collection features rugs in multiple styles, colors, and sizes. Browse our impressive selection or search for specifics.

Here are some gorgeous runner rugs from the Nazmiyal Collection for your hallway decor:

This interior design blog about hallway decor ideas was published by Nazmiyal Antique Rugs.

The post Hallway Decor Ideas with Runner Rugs appeared first on Nazmiyal Antique Rugs.