How to choose the best colour for your hallway

Ideas for Best Hallway Paint Colours 

The choice of paint to use for a hallway greatly hinges on the general mood you want to create. For instance:

• Neutral colours like warm beige, taupe, and cream are calming and can easily tie separate rooms together.
• Bright colours like white lighten up a space and make it feel larger than it actually is. White paint colours are ideal for hallways that are usually poorly lit during the daytime and can offer some beautiful contrast if you have a dark wood front door or artwork to hang on the walls.
• Navy blues and similar dark colours add some interesting depth to the living space, elongating the hallway in the process.
• Pale blues work well for adding a touch of calm and tranquility to a scene. They give the feeling of an open, cloudless sky without being too overwhelming.
• Coral has become popular in recent years as a way to add a unique, peachy look to brighten up the mood. This is a great way to make your hallway look bigger.

Now, before you pick up a paintbrush, remember to fix up any holes or blemishes in the wall first before you start painting.

Design Techniques to Creatively Use Your Colours

You now have a good idea of the colours you want to use, but how should you use them? We can look to the world of interior design to find inspiration in how you can creatively use your chosen colours when painting your hallway.

Let’s explore some simple yet powerful techniques for your hallway design.

Consider Wallpaper Alongside Paint

Paint alone can undoubtedly get the job done, but you should also explore wallpaper options to complement your colours. Consider choosing a wallpaper with a design that matches the overall mood you want.

Wallpaper designs have come a long way since your grandma’s wallpaper in the 1970s. Explore what’s available and think about how it would look alongside your colours. For example, a relaxing sage green would work beautifully with wallpaper with subtle reeds or plants.

Remember Your Fifth Wall

When planning your new hallway design, don’t forget about the ceiling — sometimes known as the fifth wall. The ceiling paint colours you choose present a fantastic opportunity to enhance your overall design. Consider a bold colour that matches your overall design, such as a deep blue, dark brown, or even pitch black if you want to make a splash.

You also need to think about how lighting will impact your hallway, as well as how it will look with the ceiling colour. Do you have ultra-white LEDs? They may go perfectly with a pitch black. Conversely, soft yellow lighting will work wonderfully with a forest green.

Revive Your Banisters

Does your hallway have a staircase with a banister? For example, if they’re currently a faded neutral, the banister can offset the rest of the design.

It can be time-intensive to sand banisters before painting, but it can go far in improving the overall look and feel of hallways with staircases. Consider painting them a contrasting colour to your walls. A dark green will look great alongside lighter green hues and neutrals.

Complement Your Design with the Right Accessories

Are you going to have an empty hallway when you’re done painting? Of course, you might, but adding accessories such as art, pictures, or an entryway table is common.

Pick the right accessories as you decorate your hallway by considering your overall colour scheme. For example, consider art with lighter blues and whites if your hallway wall colours are navy blue. Or you may wish to add a white or sea blue entryway table.

Keep the Entire House in Mind

We touched on this earlier, but it’s essential to consider the design throughout your home as you renovate your hallways. You don’t want the hallways to be a stark change in the look and feel of your home.

Yet, that doesn’t mean you have to use the same colours as the rest of your home. Instead, you can use different hues, complementary wallpapers, or contrasting shades for a unique hallway that doesn’t clash but works well with the entire design.

What Kind of Paint Should I Use for My Hallway?

Once you’ve chosen your colours for hallways, we recommend picking up a speciality paint for the job. Hallways see a lot of traffic day-to-day. That’s why Benjamin Moore’s paints designed for high-traffic areas are the ideal choice.

Not only are they perfect for brilliant and rich colour that lasts, but they’re exceptionally durable and can withstand years of use and washing cycles without losing that beautiful finish.