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In life, we perhaps don’t take enough time to stop and smell the roses. Or for that matter, stop and admire the wallpaper. Hallways are transitional spaces, ones we use primarily while passing through from inside to outside and from one room to the next. No wonder so many are overlooked and neglected, serving as dumping grounds for shoes and coats rather than display areas for the pieces we want to put pride of place. And yet, the hallway is one of the most important rooms in the home: not only does it make the first impression on guests, but it also welcomes you back every day. So, it pays to lavish your hall with the same care you would anywhere else.
When it comes to décor, there are two paths you can take. One is to set the tone for the rest of the house by using colours and details that give a glimmer of what’s to come; the other is to completely throw caution to the wind. You can get away with being a little more daring here than you might usually be – so if you’ve always had a hankering for bold wallpaper, this is the perfect place to experiment. After all, it’s not like you will be waking up to it each morning or spending all day surrounded by your decision. But if it’s something you love, whether that’s the mystical Indonesian jungle temples painted across SUMATRA or the weeping willows of BABYLON, evocative of 1950s Palm Springs, that print will have the power to brighten your mood as you’re rushing out the door… or transport you somewhere else entirely as you’re walking back through it.
TOP TIP
CURTAIN CALL
Thick velvet curtains, complete with our wool interlining, will keep the heat in as people come and go.
As not all hallways are bathed in natural light, a beautiful lamp is always a bright idea. Place yours on top of a table where you can throw your keys and correspondence, then for a more personal touch add a framed photo and a vase filled with flowers – just beware of dashing dogs and carefree kids. A mirror can help to maximise light, while giving you the chance to check your reflection one last time before you leave in the mornings. If you have enough room, a cheeky ‘Bottoman’ where you can sit down and take off your shoes at the end of the day is an inviting thought. Just don’t be surprised if, once all done, you spend more time hanging around your newly decorated hallway than ever before.
DECK THE HALL
A sweeping staircase is made all the more grand when cloaked in a dramatic print like the gothic BLACKTHORN (pictured left). Alternatively, the pared-back, monochromatic LONDON ROSE (as seen below) has a calming effect in a space that can often be chaotic. But whether you’re a minimalist or quite the opposite, “built-in storage is key,” says our Decorating Consultant, Steve Corcoran. “A clutter-free hallway is a welcoming hallway. And by cleverly wallpapering the doors (if they’re flat panel), you’ll disguise the fact that the storage is even there”.
Timelessly elegant, LONDON ROSE is perfect for those introducing print into the home. Go classic by wallpapering above a dado rail or be brave and coat the ceiling.
Inspiration Hub
Casting a Spell: The Supernaturally Beautiful Blooms of Majorelle.
Once upon a time, in a land not far from the isle of Avalon where our tale began, a young boy and girl lived in a tiny cottage close to a great forest. The siblings feared the woods, for frightening figures seemed to lurk in the gloom. Deep within the sea of dead trees stood a house like no other: built from gingerbread bricks, the windowpanes were piped with chocolate and the roof dripped with icing. You’ll have already heard the story of how those children got lost in the woods and were lured into that strange house. But what you may not know is what happened after their escape – of what came after the ‘happily ever after’…
INSPIRATION
A Corner of Paradise
Be inspired with ideas for how to make our House your own.
In our House, we also can’t get enough of plants. From clusters of geraniums to giant leafy ferns, botanicals have the unique power to infuse a room with colour, vitality and life. But amidst all this, the loveliest addition might just be to carve out your own quiet little nook. A snug away from the main action where you can curl up in a comfy chair and hit pause, if only for a moment. In a room where absolutely everything and anything goes, this is truly where the magic happens.
In our House, we also can’t get enough of plants. From clusters of geraniums to giant leafy ferns.
In our House, we also can’t get enough of plants. From clusters of geraniums to giant leafy ferns, botanicals have the unique power to infuse a room with colour, vitality and life. But amidst all this, the loveliest addition might just be to carve out your own quiet little nook.
A mantelpiece, if you’re lucky enough to have one, is even more worthy.
The last few pieces of the puzzle are the myriad layers and textures that make a space so inviting. Think a coffee table stacked with books and tactile cushions in an intriguing mix of shapes, sizes and patterns – all things which are easy to move around until you find a combination that appeals to you. A mantelpiece, if you’re lucky enough to have one, is even more swoon-worthy with the addition of eye-catching candelabras, hand-painted porcelain candle pots and treasured keepsakes you’ll have picked up on your travels.
The last few pieces of the puzzle are the myriad layers and textures that make a space so inviting. Think a coffee table stacked with books and tactile cushions in an intriguing mix of shapes, sizes and patterns – all things which are easy to move around until you find a combination that appeals to you. A mantelpiece, if you’re lucky enough to have one, is even more swoon-worthy with the addition of eye-catching candelabras.
A mantelpiece, if you’re lucky enough to have one, is even more worthy.
The last few pieces of the puzzle are the myriad layers and textures that make a space so inviting. Think a coffee table stacked with books and tactile cushions in an intriguing mix of shapes, sizes and patterns – all things which are easy to move around until you find a combination that appeals to you. A mantelpiece, if you’re lucky enough to have one, is even more swoon-worthy with the addition of eye-catching candelabras.
If your existing seats are well-loved, but perhaps a little too well-worn, be it a sumptuous printed velvet or a smooth cotton-linen – can be enough to make you want to snuggle up on them all over again.
When it comes to furniture (which can also be a scene stealer in its own right), your choice will likely be dictated by the number of family members and friends who will regularly be hanging out here: will a cosy two-seater sofa be enough, or will you also need a chaise longue and a few ‘bottomans’ for your visitors to park their, um, bottoms on? If your existing seats are well-loved, but perhaps a little too well-worn, recovering them in a new fabric – be it a sumptuous printed velvet or a smooth cotton-linen – can be enough to make you want to snuggle up on them all over again.
A mantelpiece, if you’re lucky enough to have one, is even more worthy.
When it comes to furniture (which can also be a scene stealer in its own right), your choice will likely be dictated by the number of family members and friends who will regularly be hanging out here: will a cosy two-seater sofa be enough, or will you also need a chaise longue and a few ‘bottomans’ for your visitors to park their, um, bottoms on? If your existing seats are well-loved, but perhaps a little too well-worn, recovering them in a new fabric – be it a sumptuous printed velvet or a smooth cotton-linen – can be enough to make you want to snuggle up on them all over again.