Hallways are often overlooked, treated as passing places, not somewhere to linger. But if you’re lucky enough to have a large hallway, with the right treatment, you can make it into so much more than a simple passageway. It can become welcoming, warm, spectacular, or dynamic. It’s your opportunity to provide visitors with a first glimpse of your favoured style. And to create for yourself a consistently warm welcome. Whether your hallway is long and narrow or open and airy, getting the right lighting can play a huge part in creating your dream aesthetic.
Five Things to Consider When Choosing Lighting for Your Hallway
Understand the purpose of your hallway lighting
OK, this one sounds somewhat obvious, because lighting is there to illuminate. But before you think about choosing your fixtures, you really need to think about how you want to use the space and how you want it to look. If it’s just an entryway, somewhere small you’ll pop your coat and go, practicality is the main consideration, and flush ceiling lights are often the most sensible choice. But if it’s a larger, more connected part of your home, you have the opportunity to bring in a little drama and pizazz, with chain suspension lights, if you have the ceiling height, and wall lights if you don’t. Picture lights, like the Astro Goya, can also really add character to the space.
Measure your space and ceiling height
Size matters when it comes to hallway lighting. You obviously don’t want to be bumping your head on oversized fixtures, but you don’t want to be leaving shadowy spaces either. So, measure before you buy. As a rough guide, for low ceilings, flush or semi-flush fixtures that keep the space open and avoid glare, like the Altos Kenmore work well. While for high ceilings, pendant lights, like the Altos Peralta make an eye-catching feature. And for long hallways, use more than one light – spacing ceiling lights about every 8–10 feet creates an even glow.
Layer your lighting
If you have the space in your hallway, using two or three different types of lighting can make it both look and feel better. For most people, this will start with a ceiling light for ambient lighting. But then you can start adding accents, with either a table lamp like the Altos Adamson, or maybe wall lights. You might also want to add in task lighting too, such as a picture light over a mirror, or plinth lights to guide you up the stairs. It just helps to make your hallway more appealing and more functional.
Think about colour temperature
The colour temperature of your lighting can significantly impact how a room feels. So, keep this in mind when making your lighting choices:
· Warm white (2700K–3000K) is cosy and welcoming.
· Neutral white (3500K–4000K) is clean and bright.
· Cool white (5000K) is crisp and not usually favoured in homes.
Play with style
It doesn’t have to, but it usually works better if your hallway lighting complements the rest of your home. So, for more playful homes, you might think about coordinating cheetah lamps with an Altos Dorsey pendant light, for a warm and inviting aesthetic. If you prefer a more traditional look, then perhaps the Endon Lambeth ridged glass pendant, with fine brass picture lights. By continuing the style you use in the rest of your home in your hallway, you can make your entire house feel more cohesive.
Hallway lighting may not be a priority for many, but it can change how you feel about coming home. You can create a warm hug of a space, or somewhere that’s immediately uplifting. With the right combination of placement, style, and brightness, your lighting can give your hallway the personality it's always lacked. So, if your hallway is looking a bit humdrum, why not give your lighting a second thought.
Are you looking for inspiration to light up your hallway? Check out the First Choice Lighting collection.
