Homeowners might not think too much about the aesthetics and illumination of their hallways, but interior designers sure do. In fact, many would go as far to state that a beautiful hallway can set the stage for the entire household, and evoke positive emotions before you even reach the kitchen, the bedroom, or the living room.
After all, the hallway is the first thing you see after stepping through the front door, leaving the stress and negativity of the outside world behind you, so why not make it as aesthetic and serene as possible? Here to help you achieve this perfect symbiosis of functionality and aesthetics are the best ways to illuminate corridors and hallways in your home.
Introducing ceiling lighting
The age-old debate between interior designers is still going strong, seemingly without a definite answer in sight: which is more luxurious and chic, ceiling or floor lighting? Perhaps, the opposing sides can reach an accord by admitting that both solutions work wonderfully in almost every setting, and that choosing the right option will depend on your personal preference.
Nevertheless, ceiling lighting still remains the most common form of hallway and corridor illumination, simply because it can be easily scaled and set up in a myriad of interesting ways. You can choose direct overhead light, indirect light, and even diffused light to fit the style of your home and its overarching design. Choosing the right hue (more on that in a bit) will also be vital in accentuating the positive features throughout.
Dotting the floor and corners with lights
The second, equally aesthetic and alluring option is floor and corner lighting. This type of illumination is best for homeowners who want to create an elegant ambience imbued with a dash of mystery, dotted with interesting shadows and accents.
There is no shortage of mesmerizing design options when it comes to floor lighting, and you can choose to illuminate the hallway completely with corner lighting, accentuate only certain features, or even let the light emanate from the floor itself. For the last option to work, you will need a special type of floor such as frosted glass that allows the light to pass through.
Choosing the right hue and luminosity
Not all light bulbs were created equal, and not every light bulb is able to illuminate every type of hallway properly. Depending on the overarching design scheme in your home and the tone you want to set, you will need to choose the complementary hues and level of luminosity.
What’s more, you also want to take longevity and sustainability into account, and opt for modern, eco-friendly light bulbs instead of their traditional incandescent counterparts. At a well-stocked hardware store you can find light bulbs that are not only energy-efficient and long-lasting, but come in a myriad of hues to fit every design approach. This means that you can choose warm lighting to bring a rustic vibe to life, or a bright beam to accentuate a modern, upscale setting.
Letting natural light permeate the hallway
Typically, a hallway doesn’t enjoy ample amounts of sunlight during the day, and is usually covered in shade, presenting an unpleasant contrast to the rest of the household. This tunnel effect not only lacks aesthetic charm, but it can also force you to keep the lights on throughout the day, resulting in increased energy consumption and an inflated utility bill.
This is why illuminating the hallways and corridors with plenty of natural light should be one of your priorities. You can achieve this in a number of ways, from replacing a solid front door with frosted glass, to putting windows along the hallway, and even positioning mirrors strategically to reflect light from the rest of the household.
Scattering light indirectly
Lastly, there are plenty of ways to scatter light across the walls and the ceiling without pointing the beam directly on a single spot, in order to create a pleasant ambience and let the light fall evenly across the hallway. One of the most popular options is to install a large rectangular lamp on the ceiling that projects the beam upwards, letting the light diffuse along the surface of the ceiling and fall on the walls.
Another great option is to position light projectors on the floor so that they illuminate the walls and scatter the beams throughout the room. Finally, you can even opt for overhead lanterns, or even decorative lamps and candlelight to illuminate the space from the cabinets or the side table in the corridor.
Hallways and corridors tend to get neglected when designing and decorating a beautiful interior, which is a shame when you think about how much these auxiliary spaces can influence the design of the entire household. With these illumination tips in mind, go ahead and design yourself the hallway that will liven up your home with timeless charm and aesthetic appeal.
