Light colors from top to bottom make a smaller space seem much bigger.

There are lots of positives about living in your home but a negative may be the lack of usable and accessible storage space in the hallway.

The hallway is an important space. Above all else, it needs to be functional but this sometimes means that style takes a back seat. And there are also hallways in homes across the country that fail to tick any boxes; in other words, there is no storage space for shoes, coats, school bags, dog leads and other paraphernalia we tend to keep in the hallway.

What if Balustrade Components told you that you can have storage AND style in the hallway? When space is limited, here are 10 great ideas for maximizing space;

#1 Every piece of furniture must have a role

You know how you like the small table with a vase of flowers on in the hallway? Ask yourself, apart from making the space look nice, what function is it playing?

It is something where car keys could be kept, or the phone book could sit? Every piece of furniture in the hallway has to be there for a reason. Sounds hard but you don’t have oodles of space to fill with pretty bits and bobs.

#2 Mirrors

Mirrors perform an illusion: they bounce light around a space, making it appear bigger. What’s not to love about staggering mirrors around the hallway?

If you can, place a mirror opposite a window so that the light pouring in from there is maximized. Always choose mirrors with frames so that they look ‘finished’ and neat.

#3 Foldaway furniture

This may sound a bit odd but certain parts of the hallway can become the space that you need with an impromptu gathering.

Upstairs hallways can be a great place to have a sofa bed, and when you have a family gathering such as Christmas or birthday, a folding table for keys, bags etc. can be a great way to keep clutter out of the main rooms.

#4 Let there be light! (and as much as possible)

Light is the key to making a space feel bigger. As well as staggering mirrors around the hallway and up the stairs, follow these hints too for more light;

• Keeping window dressings lights and make sure they don’t stop light flooding the hallway.
• Use glass infills in balustrades as this allows to flood through the entire area.
• Use bright, but warm lighting throughout the hallway, including central light fittings and smaller lights in treads.

#5 Vertical storage

When we think of storage areas, we often look to the space directly in front of us or at floor level. To maximize storage space, think vertically. In other words, build storage up rather than across.

#6 Large-patterned flooring

Interior designers often suggest that larger patterns close down a smaller space but when it comes to flooring in the hallway, larger tiles can actually work to give the impression of more space.

Look for larger tiles or linoleums with larger patterns. Laminate also works well, especially when laid width-ways as this can give the impression the hallway is wider than it is.

#7 Build-into space

Under stairs space is often wasted and one way that all this space can be utilized is to build in the space with a bespoke storage solution. For example, storing shoes is often difficult but with bespoke cubes for storing shoes and so on, your hallway can be storage rich rather than being deficient in storage solutions.

#8 Light, block colours

Forget complex wallpapers and patterns in the hallway as too much detail can make the space smaller and cluttered. Think streamlined and minimal, which is why light, neutral, block colours work better than dramatic feature walls.

#9 Doorways

You may not have the budget to widen doorways but if you have, then creating wider doors out on to a hallway can really open it up. This is because it creates an illusion of more space as well as allowing more light into the hallway.

#10 Be organised

The problem with a hallway is that they are often the place that things get dumped until they are either dispensed of or they find a new home. This can take anything from a day or two to weeks, months or years.

Frankly, the key to making your hallway look bigger and more spacious than it is, is to create bespoke and functional storage solutions, keep it light in colours and be organised!

Balustrade Components create balustrades for hallways, as well as barriers for decking, mezzanine floors, outdoor balconies and more. Using glass in balustrade panels is one way of adding more light to any space, but certainly a welcome addition in the hallway.