How to make a hallway look welcoming – 6 expert decorating tips for autumn

The hallway might be the first place guests see when visiting, but it's also the first space you see when coming home every day – and it's also the place you are most likely to leave feeling cluttered and unloved as part of a busy daily routine.

However, as the entrance to your home, the space should feel familiar, comforting and welcoming at all times. So if you want to make a welcoming hallway, it's all about decorating with things you truly love.

Below, we have gathered some thoughtful ways to make your hallway clutter-free, cosy and embracing without breaking the bank. Similar to how you might style a hallway for Christmas it's important to consider how your hallway looks in autumn – with all the extra layers and muddy boots.

How to make a hallway look welcoming: 6 expert tips

Hallways are the perfect opportunity to have some fun with your decor because they're more of a passing-through space compared to other rooms of the home. You can feel emboldened in your choice of paint, wallpaper or rug, and swap things out as the seasons change.

While resetting your home for autumn, you might also want to refresh your exterior space with a welcoming door mat, seasonal wreath and lighting to guide the way on darker evenings.

1. Keep everything in order

As a busy area of the home, it's easy for clutter to build up in a hallway, and nothing feels less inviting than chaotic piles of coats, shoes and weather paraphernalia. In fact, it's one of the most common mistakes in making your hallway feel smaller.

Therefore, it is crucial to start by decluttering your hallway and implementing storage solutions that ensure your space remains streamlined to cope with the extra autumnal layers.

Hallways are total clutter magnets, so it's a good idea to have a small edit of shoes, bags, and coats (our favourite professional decluttering methods will help). Consider a chic IKEA shoe cabinet hack for a bespoke storage solution on a budget.

2. Prioritise warmth

When working on hallway projects, interior designer Amanda Lucas from Rooted Fig always makes sure that there's a radiator positioned far enough from the front door so that it retains heat, but close enough that when you walk in, it feels warm and inviting. This helps make your home feel cosy and inviting when you step through the door.

Painting your radiators the same colour as the walls can make them disappear and adding a slim shelf above the radiator creates a useful spot for a key tray without taking up much space.

If your radiator is close to the door or you just want to make things extra cosy, you can add a curtain to hang across the door and use a draught excluder. Draught excluder tape around the door can also help keep things warm.

Amanda Lucas

Amanda Lucas is an interior designer and the founder of Rooted Fig interior design studio. She has worked in interiors for eight years, designing kitchens and homes clients love to come home to.

3. Use colour and pattern

Now you've sorted warmth in the practical sense, it's time to think about warming things up visually. The best way to do this is by bringing in one of the best hallway paint colours, patterns and textures.

Focus on large areas, such as the floor, ceiling or the wall going up the stairs. "If you have a long hallway, then a rug is great. It feels nice on your feet after you've taken your shoes off and feels cosy," says Amanda Lucas. A patterned, washable rug is a great way to refresh your hallway.

When choosing a rug for your hallway, we'd recommend going for a washable option or a jute rug, which is a hardwearing, natural material.

If you have a large wall that needs some interior design attention, either going up the stairs or leading to the living room, consider painting it a warm, earthy tone or hanging some artwork. Alternatively, you can send the eye up with a wallpapered ceiling or add drama with a bold patterned tile.

4. Add a table

Hallways are often tight on space, but if you have the square footage, consider adding a sideboard or console table. This gives you somewhere to put down your keys, post, and so on, and if you go for one with drawers, it'll really help to keep your small hallway organised.

"If you have space for a sideboard or console table, then I would definitely recommend one," agrees Amanda Lucas. "Curate a display area with artwork or photographs, a plant and a table lamp, which feels cosy and inviting. Avoid the harsh bright ceiling lighting you often get in hallways and go for something softer and warmer."

5. Use rechargable lights

Lighting might not deliver instant gratification in the same way that buying a new rug or houseplant might, but you just can't create a cosy hallway without it. Neglecting lighting is one of the most common lighting mistakes you can make in a hallway where you need layered lighting.

"I recommend trying some rechargeable wall lights – there are a lot of stylish options available and it means you can put them wherever you want without the limitations of plug sockets and wiring," says interior designer Sophie Clemson from The Living House.

Rechargeable lights from Pooky and Next add style and function – we've rounded up some of our favourites below. Position wall lights either side of a mirror above a console table to create a stylish focal point for your entryway.

6. Add personal touches

"Adding personality in the hallway is key, as it is the first space someone sees when entering your home!" says Amanda Lucas. "Add family photos in dark wooden frames, keeping them all the same in size and shape for cohesion. I recommend opting for black and white photos, as it keeps the colour palette lower, which can look stylish and classic, but the choice is yours."

Family photos old and new bring so much character, making things feel more homely and reminding us of special memories. We love these oversized mount photo frames from Dunelm, which are an affordable way to update blank walls and make photos look really special. Displaying sentimental items such as photos, artwork and decor picked up on your travels are briliant ways to give your space personality.

FAQ

How do I decorate my hallway for autumn?

"I love to have a wreath on the front door as it is just an instant invitation to your home and never fails to brighten things up," says interior designer Amanda Lucas. "Keep the colours similar and use florals that tie in with the colours of your home! Glass lanterns with candles look lovely on a porch with a stack of pumpkins."

Inside the hallway, Amanda recommends adding cushions in seasonal colours to a chair or bootroom bench, and adding panelling to the walls that you could repaint seasonally if you wish. "Warm, dark green tones are so inviting and work so well in a hallway."

Don't forget the power of scent to make us feel happy and comforted the moment we walk through the door – try adding one of the best autumn candles or an essential oil burner to create a welcoming and warming fragrance that tells us we're home.