How to brighten up a hallway with no windows

Your entrance hallway is the first impression of your home's interior that you have, so it needs to strike the right chord.

If you find yourself fumbling for the light switch every time you walk through your front door or have tripped over a pair of shoes more times than you can count, you might need a little more light in your hallway.

Here are our top tips for decorating and brightening dark hallways.

1. Paint the internal face of your door

A heavy wooden door will absorb light instead of reflecting it.

Paint the internal face of your door a light colour. It doesn’t have to be white, but a lighter colour will help create a sense of brightness.

Our wood and metal paint is available in 2.2 million colours so you can easily find one that suits your scheme.

2. Use light from adjoining rooms

Internal windows are an extreme way to introduce more light into your hallway but are really effective.

If you don’t want to take this expensive route, choose internal doors with a glass pane to help stream light into your dark hallway.

3. Use mirrors to reflect light

Just like painting the internal face of your front door, mirrors will reflect what light there is in your hallway. Place them strategically opposite light walls or in clusters to bounce light around the room.

4. Light colour schemes

Just like the front door, a light colour scheme for your floors and walls will create the illusion of light.

You don’t have to stick to only one colour but can create feature walls, paint two-thirds of the way up the wall, or paint the wall around your front door and the door itself a different colour from the rest of the hallway.

We’ve got plenty of inspiration for different colour schemes and palettes to help you brighten your hallway.

5. Declutter

The fewer bulky objects in your hallway, the more light can move around and create space.

Try and keep your coat and shoe storage as neat as possible and choose slim furniture.

Ceiling spotlights are very effective in dark hallways and won’t draw the eye or take up space, so you’re left with clean lines. If you have a hanging lightbulb or a lamp, choose a slim shade that won’t crowd the space.

6. Skylights

As with internal windows, this isn’t an opportunity for everyone.

If you can, investigate to see if your roof will allow for a skylight. You can then use strategically placed mirrors or lighter colours to maximise the light.

7. The bannister and stairs

An often overlooked feature, but your bannisters and stairs can help brighten your hallway.

If they’re not carpeted, paint your stairs a light shade and use a feature runner up the middle of the stairs to protect them from dirt.

Bannisters and balustrades can also be painted in a light colour; whether it’s the same one or a complementary colour, it’s your choice.

8. Embrace the darkness

But no natural lighting isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You can embrace the darkness and create an ambience that immediately makes you relaxed as soon as you step through the door.

Dark greens can be intensely relaxing, and navy blues are calming. These are also dramatic colours that will undoubtedly make an impact on anyone who steps through the doors.

You can soften these dramatic and striking shades with softer pastel colours in artwork, furniture or soft furnishings.

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