A narrow hallway can be an eyesore in any home, but physically widening the space is often time consuming and expensive. While sometimes the only option is to tear down walls and make your hallways wider, other, less expensive options can create the illusion of more space and improve the look and feel of your Red Deer home.

One of the easiest ways to widen the hallway in your Red Deer home is by strategically choosing paint colors. Light, bright colors make any space feel larger, and when they are coupled with a bright accent wall in a hallway, they attract the eye and make the hallway feel longer and wider. Choose light pastels or neutral tones for the walls in your hallway, and add an accent wall in yellow, orange or red at the end of the hall. If you have doors leading off the hallway, consider painting them in darker tones than the walls to give contrast to the space and make your hallway instantly feel wider.

How Your Floor Can Affect the Hallway

Hardwood floors in your Red Deer home sometimes make hallways feel dark and small. Replacing hardwoods is expensive, and it can depreciate the value of your Red Deer home. Another option is to add runners to your hallways. Choose brightly colored carpeting with asymmetrical patterns or designs. If the runner is placed in the middle of your hallway, it will chop up the narrow feeling when walking down your hall. If your runner is larger, you can place it from end to end in the hallway to draw the eyes from side to side and help your space feel wider.

Using Light

Another important thing to remember if you are trying to make your hallway feel less narrow is to bring in plenty of light. If your budget and home design allows, consider hiring a Red Deer home renovator to add small windows or skylights to the hallway and take advantage of natural light. If windows are out of your budget, hang glass encased pendant lights to increase the brightness of your hallway and add a decorative quality. Wall scones can also be used to draw the eyes to the walls and away from the narrow passage down a hallway.

Finally, think in moderation when choosing accent pieces and decorative items. A cluttered hallway of almost any size tends to feel cramped and narrow, so use your accent pieces carefully. A decorative mirror will attract light to your hallway, and a beautiful piece of artwork hung at the end of it will visually shorten your space so it does not feel so long and narrow. If you plan to use furniture, stick to one chair or small table rather than multiple pieces. Remember that less is more when it comes to decorating a narrow hallway. If you need assistance with placing decorative items or creating a plan, call on a Red Deer design specialist for help.

If adding pictures and painting walls is not enough to improve your home, contact Alair Homes Red Deer general contracting team. We have lots of innovative ideas up our sleeves that can help you to widen your hallways and make your home more appealing. As always, our renovation process includes 100-percent transparency and a dedication to value and superior workmanship. For your free, no obligation consultation, give us a call.