In any house, the hallway is the face of the owners of the house; it is this room that gives a complete picture of the owner.
Often, not only relatives or friends come to visit, but also people we barely know. In this case, very often guests do not go further than your hallway, thus creating their own impression of you and your home.
That is why the improvement of this room must be done more carefully than the rest of the apartment.
Furniture dealers say that the furnishings in the hallway of any home are the main thing in the interior, but only an excellent combination of room decoration, furniture and decor give every reason to say so.
It is always necessary to remember that furniture is just an addition that serves as a beautiful decoration for the room.
It is also worth remembering that too much furniture oversaturates the room. Therefore, it is best to consider some types of hallway furniture.
Functional elements
There are a huge number of options for furnishing the hallway, each of them requires certain conditions. What matters is the size of the room, the overall style, and the set of necessary functions. The key elements of any design solution are:
- coat hanger designed for daily use;
- cabinet for storing various things;
- place for shoes;
- mirror.
Hangers can be wall or floor. The first ones are optimal for heavy clothing; as a rule, they do not have a maximum permissible load indicator. They are equipped with 6 or more hooks and can be supplemented with shelves for hats, umbrellas, and other accessories. Floor hangers are less practical. Most models can withstand a weight not exceeding 30 kg; it is impossible to increase their functionality.
The hallway should also have a large wardrobe - regular or compartment. The most popular are two- and three-leaf doors, but some models may have 6 or more doors. Such structures store not only everyday clothes, but also those things that are used from time to time.
Single-door cabinets are not very functional, but are indispensable for small hallways.
There must be a place to store shoes. It is irrational to equip it in the same cabinet; it is better to use a separate built-in or independent element. This could be another chest of drawers or a regular shelf. Some models have a bench. More practical are products with drawers designed for storing shoe care products.
No hallway would be complete without a mirror. They can be small or full-length, wall-mounted or floor-mounted. They are often used to decorate the fronts of cabinets, which looks great in small rooms.
Wall hanger
Floor
Three-leaf wardrobe
Double door wardrobe
Single leaf
Shoe maker
Mirror
Color scheme and interior style
All decorative elements in the room must match each other. Therefore, the style of the room will depend on the choice of hallway color. Of course, now there are a large number of different interior solutions. But we can highlight the main ones that are popular. You should rely on them when choosing a color palette.
The most common style solutions:
- Classicism and modernity. They have more natural tones: brown, sand and white. Hallways in a classic white style are a universal option.
- Baroque. The main color is pink. It is worth focusing on rich shades. It is also necessary to use white and gold.
Choice depending on the size of the hallway
When choosing furniture for the hallway, first of all, you need to evaluate the area of usable space. The larger its value, the more opportunities provided. Today, designers successfully furnish small rooms, making them not only beautiful, but also multifunctional.
Big
The possibilities for furnishing large hallways are limited only by the owner’s imagination. Furniture of absolutely any shape can be placed here. In spacious rooms, large mirrors are appropriate; small ones should be used only as decoration. For storing clothes and shoes, furniture factories produce rectangular and corner structures, both options are comfortable to use and spacious.
Functionality of cabinets in the corridor, features and varieties
Product doors can be hinged or sliding. If you arrange the furniture correctly, its doors will not get in the way. Before purchasing products, you should also learn about the advantages and disadvantages of built-in and cabinet options. The first ones are cheaper, occupy the entire space, right up to the ceiling, but they cannot be moved if necessary. Cabinet furniture is mobile, but due to the presence of side and back walls it is more expensive.
To reduce the time spent searching for suitable models, you can pay attention to ready-made kits. They can be:
- corner;
- built-in;
- modular.
They include not only basic but also additional items. To increase the degree of comfort, the sets are equipped with places to relax: ottomans or sofas, open shelving, drawers, and other elements. By the way, any of the products can be purchased separately, complementing an existing set of furniture.
Small
Small hallways require compliance with some rules that will allow you to make the most of the space. The following tips apply in most cases:
- If there is a significant lack of free space, you should pay attention to open furniture for the hallway.
- Single-door cabinets and slim models will allow you to save space.
- It is advisable to use a large mirror only as decoration for the facade of a wardrobe; in other cases, it is better to give preference to small items.
- Unlike rectangular ones, corner structures are more compact and practical, as they make use of empty corners.
- Sliding doors fully replace swing doors, but they do not block an already narrow passage.
- Built-in models are more spacious than free-standing ones.
If you want to purchase a set of furniture for the hallway, you will only have to choose mini options. They usually consist of a small hanger with hooks and a narrow cabinet. In addition, you can use multifunctional furniture. Hangers combined with a wardrobe, built-in shoe racks, racks with a mezzanine and others are in demand.
How to choose the right furniture for the hallway?
The renovation is close to completion, but there is no furniture yet. It's time to go searching! But, in order for the furniture to fit into the overall design of the hallway and the apartment as a whole, you must first determine the prevailing style of your home and be sure to take into account the area in which everything will be placed. Otherwise, the chosen and already beloved cabinet will, at best, go back to the store, and in the worst case, it will have to be assigned to relatives and friends and posted advertisements for sale.
There are two options for arranging a hallway - buy a ready-made furniture set or order built-in furniture according to an individual project. We solve this issue almost immediately - if the corridor area is non-standard or simply small, it is better not to skimp and order built-in furniture - you will save space, it will fit into the style, and all the wishes and nuances that you have dreamed of will be fulfilled - for example, making a shelf for storage exclusively gloves and mittens. Moreover, now there are a lot of companies ready to make furniture to suit every taste, color and budget - just your wish.
The second option is much more difficult, since you need to accurately imagine what will be located where and how, know clearly the overall dimensions of each purchased item, and ideally imagine the appearance of the hallway with new furniture. You also need to take into account that the coveted cabinet may not match the color of the wardrobe, and the side pencil case protrudes forward by 3 cm and interferes with movement along the corridor. It’s also enough to catch the color nuances, as well as the fittings, for example, if you select a chest of drawers for a cabinet that you bought a long time ago. In fact, such a coincidence would be from the realm of fantasy. Therefore, you need to choose either in the same color scheme or play with contrast, or if the overall design allows, then instead of a wardrobe, put an ordinary metal hanger with decorative trim. It should also be taken into account that in an apartment designed in the spirit of Art Nouveau, a Pompadour-style banquette will look ridiculous, as will an artificially aged and shabby wardrobe.
If everything is clear with the style, then we proceed to the choice of color - almost 100% of all styles are pastel, beige and sand colors, they are always appropriate, excluding Pop Art and Art Deco (these styles play exclusively in a bright palette). Covering the panels with natural materials using modern technologies - wood, reed straw, plexiglass, metal inserts, mirrors, stained glass and so on will also look natural and add liveliness to the interior of your apartment.
Manufacturing materials
It is also important what hallway furniture is made from, because the materials have a direct impact on the reliability and service life of the product. The most commonly used are 4 options. Each has certain advantages and disadvantages.
| Material | What is | Advantages | Flaws |
| laminated chipboard | Pressed sawdust and shavings from unmarketable tree trunks together with binding formaldehyde resins | Good thermal and sound insulation performance. Relatively low price | Short service life. Lack of resistance to high loads. Low security |
| MDF | Medium-density fiberboard created by pressing chips under pressure and high temperature | Located in the middle price category. Reliable, durable, environmentally friendly | Deformed due to strong impact or prolonged contact with moisture |
| Plastic | A complex combination of several layers of paper, various types of resins and a clear coating | Does not corrode, rot, or develop fungus. Resistant to moisture. Easy. Accessible | May release toxic substances when heated. Not protected from mechanical damage |
| Natural wood | Solid wood of oak, pine, birch and other species | Environmentally friendly. Practicality. Aesthetics. Maintainability | High price. Low moisture resistance. Need for regular care |
Steel or aluminum are suitable for the production of furniture components. Any metal, tempered glass, leather, bamboo fiber are used for decoration and cladding. To create a stylish design, a combination of several types of materials is sometimes used. The main thing is the perfect harmony of all components of the furniture.
laminated chipboard
MDF
Plastic
Natural wood
Design and color
One of the most common interior styles is classic. It is characterized by natural wood, decorative forging, a mirror in a carved frame, and exquisite accessories. Furniture in the hallway of an apartment should be symmetrical, strict geometric shapes, light shades close to natural. Along with a wardrobe with blind, hinged doors, you can use a carved wooden hanger, dressing table, soft pouf upholstered in silk, satin, jacquard.
If the apartment is decorated in a modern style, furniture made of MDF or plastic is ideal for furnishing the hallway. Here the emphasis is on small, light objects that do not clutter up the space. A corner or sliding wardrobe should be supplemented with an external hanger, a mirror, a shelf for shoes and hats. For a high-tech style hallway you can use transforming elements and chrome-plated metal parts. For a loft, shelves with metal frames, open hangers, and any other furniture without decorations are recommended.
Designer furniture in a modern style is often used in small spaces.
There are a huge variety of color options for hallway furniture: from light pastels to charcoal black. When choosing the right shade, it is important to consider other interior elements. For example, against the background of pink wallpaper, a red cabinet will look tasteless. But white furniture is universal, as it can decorate any hallway. In addition, it will visually expand a small space. You can achieve a similar effect in other ways:
- Use vertical stripes in design.
- Install large, long mirrors.
- Give preference to a glossy surface of facades rather than a matte one.
- Avoid large, elaborate decorative elements.
Almost any idea can be brought to life. The key to a good result will be following the recommendations of specialists regarding sizes, shapes, and color schemes. The location of the furniture also matters.
Classic style
Modern style
High tech
Loft
Various furniture for the corridor
Choosing furniture for the hallway is not as easy as it seems; its types are varied and sometimes make it difficult to choose. You need to take into account square meters, type of room, style, color and lighting. It is difficult to maintain the design of the entire apartment; an alternative is a smooth transition from the style of the living rooms to the new one in the hallway.
Depending on the size of the hallway, it is necessary to identify important items, these could be:
- Closet;
- Mirror;
- Clothes hanger;
- Umbrella holders;
- Ottoman;
- Boxes;
- Shoe rack;
- Hanging shelf.
Modern furniture sets have different configurations. Most stores provide a catalog for review and selection. Beautiful, stylish corner furniture will help you create a cozy and stylish hallway. It will allow you to save space and at the same time accommodate all the necessary things. Sizes are selected individually and depend on many factors. Built-in furniture is functional and comfortable, it does not take up much space - it is installed from one wall to one parallel to it. The wardrobe has a sliding door opening system and does not take up extra space. An important item in the hallway is a hanger; the best option would be a closed one. Don't forget about the bedside table; it will be useful for placing various small things in it.
The ottoman is a convenient place to sit down and take off your shoes. If the corridor is large, then you should not give up additional pieces of furniture.
A key holder will help keep all the keys in one place, a newspaper rack is convenient for storing mail and newspapers, a holder for bags and umbrellas can be floor-standing or hanging. If the interior implies a certain style, then it is necessary to maintain all the pieces of furniture in the hallway. The history of the emergence of hallway furniture and the styles that have appeared throughout history are very interesting. Loft is a style of the twentieth century, a very poor style, although in modern times this style cannot be called poor. Art Nouveau style implies special pomp and multiple decor.
Tips for arranging furniture
The hallway should not only be beautiful, but also comfortable. This directly depends on the particular arrangement of furniture. To avoid mistakes, it is worth considering several important nuances:
- The wardrobe is installed along a long wall.
- A shoe rack and a place for umbrellas and bags should be located near the front door.
- An open hanger should not be used to store out-of-season items.
- Niches and recesses in the hallway are optimal for built-in furniture.
- The mirror should be near the hanger, not near the exit.
The arrangement of furniture also depends on the area and shape of the room. Furnishing a small apartment will be very different from furnishing a large country house.
Square hallway
The idea of purchasing a U-shaped wardrobe is feasible only if the hallway is large enough and has a square shape. One design can combine all the necessary elements: a hanger, a shoe rack, shelves, drawers, and a place to sit. When arranging small rooms, it is better to give preference to a wardrobe combined with an open hanger.
Another option is to use transformable types of furniture, for example, a rotating model. On one side there is a mirror, which also serves as a cabinet door; underneath there are shelves for small things. On the sides of the module there are recesses with hooks, and on the reverse side there is a cross bar for medium-sized clothes.
U-shaped cabinet
Combined with an open hanger
Rotary model
Corridor
If the arrangement of a wide corridor can be anything, then with a narrow room the situation is more complicated. Here you need to use furniture with minimal depth. To significantly save space, you should buy a slim shoe rack. Small shelves in it are placed at an angle of 45 degrees, making it compact and convenient for storing shoes, boots and shoes. If the corridor is wide enough, the choice of furniture is unlimited - stationary cabinets of different shapes, in particular radius ones, and various designer chests of drawers and shoe racks are also suitable.
In narrow corridors, furniture is placed along one wall. There may be a corner cabinet or a long, rectangular one with a depth of no more than 40 cm. It is important to use one or more methods to visually increase the space.
According to generally accepted standards, the passage in the hallway should be such that a stretcher can easily pass through it. The average width of this is 120 cm. It is allowed to reduce the size to 90 cm, but the length of the narrow section cannot exceed 150 cm. Cluttering the room with a large amount of furniture is unacceptable.
Slim shoe rack
Radius chest of drawers
Designer chest of drawers
Stationary wardrobe in the hallway
Designer shoe rack
The influence of the color of the floor in the hallway on its size
Darker floor tones make the hallway appear smaller.
Light tones of the floors, on the contrary, visually expand the hallway, making it more elegant and festive.
If the hallway is small, then you can combine two floor coverings - at the entrance to the apartment, lay a couple of rows of ceramic tiles or porcelain tiles of a darker shade, since the most polluted area will be located here.
The rest of the covering is in lighter colors - beige, cocoa with milk and others, from another floor covering, which is very attractive and will unexpectedly fit beautifully in your small hallway. Join with special strips - there are a great many of them.
Combination of floor color in the hallway with wall decoration
When choosing the color of the floor in the hallway, it is necessary that it harmonizes with the finishing materials of the walls and ceiling. Ideal if they are made in the same color scheme. Then the room will be perceived as cozy, and not annoying and colorful.
According to the classic scheme, the color of the floor in the hallway should be slightly darker than the walls, and the ceiling lighter than the walls or completely white. Such a cascade transition very advantageously sets off each element of decoration.
The panels in the hallway look great - a kind of separator between the tone of the floor and the walls. The panels can be made slightly darker than the floor; the upper part of the walls above the panels remains lighter than the rest of the wall decoration.
Lighting plays a big role in the feeling of the color of the floor in the hallway and walls, especially when it is a small space. If there is not enough light, then the hallway creates an oppressive feeling, so take care of additional sconces near the mirror or on the wall. Then the entire hallway will be transformed - the color of the floor in the hallway and the decoration of the walls will look more advantageous.
An interesting solution would be if you want to make the floors in the hallway bright in tone, then you should tone down this choice with a neutral color shade of the walls.
