How To Lighten A Dark Narrow Hallway - BEFORE & AFTERS

[@Trish-ql9kz]

The beam looks great.. I’m thinking of doing this, is it hung by no nails glue?

[@NicoleSage]

Thank you! The beam was actually in place here already so we just stained it, this lady created something like this from scratch which may help; instagram.com/p/DALBx7KuU7I/?hl=en :)

[@Trish-ql9kz]

Love your ideas, are those spotlights, I have one pendant and am thinking of adding a few spots in my dark hallway

[@NicoleSage]

Thanks for watching! YES - so this flows straight through to the kitchen so we needed downlight in there, and then we have one pendant here and one in the utility room further down the hallway :) Spotlights, or track lighting really helps light up the darker areas where a pendant light can't reach!

[@kirstiesizer2357]

Thanks for all your uploads , I’ve been super overwhelmed over paint colour decisions and you’ve saved me from another 3 months of procrastination. Can I ask what paint colours you have on your walls and ceiling? Also I think your beam looks great ❤. X

[@NicoleSage]

Thank you so much! So glad they have helped and that you like the beam :) This is actually Absolute White by Dulux on walls and ceiling, because we have a lot of light coming through from the living room, it gives a slightly different shade variation in certain parts of the hallway xx

[@NoraDesmond897]

I live in a rental apartment. My entire apartment is dark. I have a narrow entryway hallway. I would like to use your ideas. You are the first person that has ever expressed not to use a white paint in a dark hallway. I would like to pick your brain if it is possible. I see that this video is a year old. I am hoping you can still help out.

[@NicoleSage]

It's a common misconception about a bright white as it's a fail safe route that has been drummed into us that it makes a space feel lighter... but only if you have lots of light available. However, instead you need to lean into white shades with a warm undertone - either yellow, red or pink based. Colour drenching with the same colour on skirting, ceiling and walls is also a good idea in a narrow space as it makes it feel bigger because your eyes aren't distracted by different colours. Then you can bring colour in through decor. Please do fire away with any questions on here and I will give you my recommendations :)

[@staciachaffee1178]

I too have a very dark narrow hallway in a 1950s home, with a very ugly wall heater right at the beginning of it, and 3 bedroom doors. I'm contemplating on doing the living room white(top) with wainscoting navy blue(bottom), but then I'm stuck with what to do with the dark hallway. Could you please help me? Oh and what makes it a little challenging is that we have dogs, and also we live in a very dusty farmtown.

[@NicoleSage]

@@staciachaffee1178 Hey! Of course - okay so type of paint, opt for low gloss eggshell on the walls in the hallway, I have a dog also and it's filthy constantly but being able to wipe clean without the paint coming off is amazing. I would still use standard emulsion paint on the ceiling for softness. Keep it simple in the hallway, especially if it's dark - go for a warmer neutral on the walls, you can always go for something a couple shades darker on the trim and doors. Let me know if you have a specific paint brand you like and I can give you some paint suggestions to look at :)

[@xragdoll5662]

I would’ve never thought of putting a small shelf just above the radiator! These are really great tips, thank you so much ❤ now I just have to convince my partner he doesn’t need 20 coats 😂

[@NicoleSage]

Glad you found it useful! And YES!! haha I have to keep mine in the wardrobe now and cupboard under stairs, with just one left out by the door, not the most practical but makes a huge difference to space where you walk in :)

[@Mayr11]

Thank you for this, we have a similar narrow hallway and these are some good tips. Question re beams..Is that faux beam? Any ideas around how to get one too? Thanks.

[@NicoleSage]

Glad you found it useful! So, yes - this is actually a steel beam which was plasterboarded and plastered, it was already painted white when we moved in. We then used a wood stain on the beam to give it that aged, rustic beam look, very experimental but turned out just how I wanted it to - so effective and helps draw the eye up as you enter. You can find fake beams online that you would just need to fit, prime and then stain, or I would look on Facebook marketplace for rustic wooden beams that you would just have to cut down to size - hope that helps!

[@Mayr11]

@@NicoleSage thanks a lot for this. Yes, my eyes kept getting drawn to that beam too. Has made my mind run a hundred miles now.. 😂 Adding it to the list of projects.

[@NicoleSage]

@@Mayr11 You're welcome! Haha Absolutely, add it to the list and good luck :D

[@vm8713]

I have one long hallway - it dead ends into a bathroom (no windows) and leads to three bedrooms, master on one and two others on the other side. It's so dark and I hate hate hate it. The one light in the hallway is towards the end of the close rooms. I have some paintings and small art pieces hung up in the hallway but they just look so dark and gloomy in the lighting. I'm considering track lighting to make a longer light deal but I'm lost. Can you give some advice?

[@NicoleSage]

Definitely sounds like a trickier hallway to tackle, especially as you have no natural light coming from the end. So, I would definitely recommend track lighting so you can light the whole run through, I would also consider wall lights as they will add lovely warmth throughout. Do you have space on either side for a narrow console table at all? Happy to provide some more targeted solutions if you want to email across an image of the hallway to [e-mail] thanks!

[@emilypadfield17]

What would you do when you have a Narrow hallway in a flat but the radiator is on the smaller wall and the front door opens to the bigger one which wall would you put a shoe cabinet and mirror or pictures?

[@NicoleSage]

Morning! I'm struggling to visualise what that looks like, if you can upload an image to a comment on my blog I can give you targeted advice for how I would approach this :) - www.sleek-chic.co.uk/2023/04/lighten-a-dark-narrow-hallway.html

[@Jessicamvflorida]

Victorian? And spanish small apartments?

[@NicoleSage]

The same principles will apply in narrow spaces like that too:) happy to share some targeted examples if you send a blog comment and attach a photo of the space here; www.sleek-chic.co.uk/2023/04/lighten-a-dark-narrow-hallway.html

[@helenalovelock1030]

That beam looks silly completely out of place

[@NicoleSage]

That's fine that you think that, interiors are totally subjective :) The beam breaks up the monotony of the paint colour and does what we wanted it to do, we personally really liked it.