At the stage of inspiration, it seems that the number of design options for absolutely any room is limited by nothing but the imagination and thickness of the wallet, but in practice it turns out that more prosaic problems come to the fore. For example, a small footage of a room. Here are a few recommendations regarding the stylish and practical design of a small hallway.
Features and pitfalls
In the design of a small hallway, the main nuance and feature that you need to build on when designing the interior is the miniature size of the room. It is necessary not only to take into account all the wishes of the owners, but also to skillfully fit all the necessary furniture elements into a small space, to determine decorative details, coatings and lighting.
If the hallway is small, you need to immediately discard all dreams of a large wardrobe, cute, but completely optional pieces of furniture, additions to the interior. Yes, you will definitely have to refuse a large vase, an English style umbrella stand and a cozy sofa, because it is the size of the room that should become the starting point for the design of the small entrance hall in the apartment.
But the room should not be perceived as small, it is better to think of it as a special and not quite standard. Already this approach will allow you to turn a small hallway into a stylish room, where everything will be in place. Each element and detail can be beat, and even beat profitably. It is important to remember that every flaw can be turned into a virtue.
So, the first and most important rule - you just need to remember about square meters at all stages of development and the implementation of the modern design project of a small entrance hall. Then the result will exceed all expectations.
Rules for the design of a small hallway
The ideal style direction for rooms with a small area is minimalism. The less diverse the details, the better. And it’s better not only to save free space and place everything you need on a few square meters. If you adhere to minimalism, then the room will subsequently be easier to clean, it will always have a neat appearance. So, it is worth abandoning most decorative and simply cluttering up space elements (coasters, vases, photographs, open hangers).
The design of a small entrance hall in Khrushchev should include a place for storage. In apartments of a typical layout, in principle, there is not as much space as we would like, but not everyone has a pantry, a summer house or even a balcony where you can put winter things for storage or large items. A convenient idea for a small hallway is cabinets with a depth of not more than 45 cm. Even jackets will fit there, but you will need to place the hangers frontally. This, by the way, will allow you to leave free up to 15 cm of space, which is also important for a small hallway.
Another storage idea is a sliding wardrobe, the doors of which open in the same plane with the wall. It can be installed even without the back wall, but then it is advisable to cover the wallpaper behind the cabinet with a transparent film so that they do not get overwritten with jackets or get dirty from boots. You can choose a corner cabinet to make effective use of corners. An additional place in a small hallway will appear if you use mezzanines, where you can clean things that are not used constantly.
In addition, you will need a large mirror in a small hallway, which will visually expand the space. In some cases, mirrors can even be placed opposite each other. The optimal size of the mirror is 120-130 cm in height and 45-50 cm in width.
It is important to remember that in a small hallway, you may only have to place seasonal items. A pile of outer clothing and shoes will look very depressing, especially during the period when a winter or spring jacket is worn, depending on the weather, and even if guests often come to the house.
Principles of expanding space
How to equip a small hallway so that it seems more visually? There are some simple principles that designers use to visually expand small spaces. The same solutions can be used in the design of a small hallway. So, it will help:
- the use of light finishing materials;
- installation of embedded storage systems;
- following the principles of minimalism in the design of the room;
- the right combination of furniture and accessories;
- the use of glossy and mirror surfaces.
Of course, not all apartments will follow these principles. For pet owners and happy young parents, for example, minimalism is unlikely to be convenient, and light decoration will bring only unnecessary trouble. Someone just doesn’t like the light colors in the design, and someone easily abandons a spacious cabinet in favor of a comfortable sofa, sitting on which you can tie the laces.
Be that as it may, some recommendations can still be made. An ascetic setting, for example, in some cases will not be a whim or even a fashionable design decision, but a severe necessity. After all, there are rooms where only hooks for clothes will fit, a small shelf for shoes and a mirror on the wall. In this case, it is better to place a wardrobe in the living room, leaving at least a little space in the hallway.
Narrow, long or very small
What is the design of a small hallway in an apartment suitable if the room is narrow and long? In a long room, the butt of which rests against the wall, you can, for example, organize a small pantry or dressing room. If you slightly move the doorways and zoning the space, the room will become more functional, there will be an additional useful place that can be used effectively.
If the hallway is narrow, another option will do. All furniture must be placed along one wall, and on the contrary set a large mirror. In this case, it is better to choose furniture with a glossy surface, and the depth should not exceed 60 cm. Near the entrance you can put a small cabinet or make a shelf for shoes and hooks for outerwear, and then place a larger cabinet or chest of drawers, one that is suitable for storage.
In a very small hallway, you should limit yourself to hooks for outerwear and a shelf for shoes. It is important to follow the correct sequence. Right next to the entrance, it is better to place the hooks, a little further - a pouf and shelves for shoes, as well as a mirror.
Indicative work plan
The interior design of a small hallway requires the construction of a work plan:
- It all starts with measurements and area calculations. At this stage, you can decide whether the hallway will expand by reducing the bathroom or neighboring rooms, whether doorways should be moved (if the room is narrow and long).
- The choice of style, the development of the concept of interior decoration. It is important to decide what is more important for the owners - the stylish design of a small hallway or the functionality of the room.
- Calculate on your own or with the help of a designer the preliminary cost of rough work, which includes uninstalling all old elements, cleaning the area, demolishing part of the wall (if necessary), moving doorways, leveling the walls, plasterboard cladding, wiring.
- Selection and acquisition of materials. It is advisable to choose materials of the middle price category, since they will not hit the wallet very much, but they will be of sufficient quality so that the repairs made are durable.
- Performing all redevelopment and design work. Often, owners of apartments in old houses are faced with the need for unscheduled work, for example, replacing wiring. The owners of apartments in new buildings are lucky with these; they can “tailor” the hallway and other rooms to their needs and not be afraid that the work will entail other expenses.
- The last stage is the decoration.
Practical hallway furniture
A small entrance hall is not a problem, but an opportunity to express yourself creatively. The starting points will be simplicity and conciseness, no sophisticated design solutions are needed here, because they only "steal" the space. It is important that in a small room the furniture should not be overall, this will visually reduce the area. It is better to make furniture to order, independently calculating the dimensions.
It’s a good idea to build an entrance hall from several lockers. Yes, we are talking about modular furniture. Modern manufacturers allow buyers of products to independently decide how the ensemble will look in the end. The advantage of modular furniture is that you decide which elements the headset will be composed of. This option is especially good for those who do not want to order furniture for individual measurements, but want to think through the design to the smallest detail.
Sliding wardrobe is an excellent solution almost always. What could be better than such a large, unified and closed from prying eyes cabinet in which all things are hidden? In addition, the doors themselves can be made mirrored, which will allow you to abandon a separate mirror in a small hallway. The wardrobe can be put in a corner, which will save even more space.
The subtleties of choosing wall coverings
Wallpaper in the interior design of a small hallway is of no small importance. They should be practical, because in a small room, contact with the walls will definitely be. Therefore, the wallpaper you need to choose high-quality and resistant to mechanical damage.
As for the color, it is advisable to take the wallpaper light, but then you need to be prepared for their quick replacement, because street dust and dirt settle in the hallway. In addition, the pattern on the wallpaper should not be too large, this will visually reduce the room. If your apartment has low ceilings, you should pay attention to the wall covering with vertical stripes, and if high, then to the horizontal wallpaper. But it is important not to overdo it and adhere to the principle of the golden mean in everything.
You can decorate the room with paints, which will also look good. A good idea is to highlight one wall with a bright accent (for example, yellow or red paint), but others should be left in calm colors.
Ceiling Finish in a Small Entrance Hall
The ceiling can simply be painted with white glossy paint without much thought of the elaborate design. You can do a stretch if the height of the room allows this design. Stretch or suspended ceiling is easy to maintain, the ability to align all the shortcomings of the room and a long operating time. A two-level ceiling in the design of a small (narrow) hallway will allow zoning of the room.
Flooring options
For flooring in the hallway, they often choose tiles or laminate. Artificial stone or ceramic tile is the perfect covering for a small hallway. Such a solution will emphasize minimalism, it is easy to care for tiles, it is very durable. The laminate is also characterized by a long service life and wear resistance. Here the decision will only be for the owners of the premises.
Lighting organization
Particular attention in decorating a small hallway should be given to the organization of lighting. The room should be well lit so that the corridor is not gloomy. One chandelier, perhaps, will not be enough, but you can think about several spotlights and wall lamps, for example, near a mirror. It is advisable to illuminate the most attractive parts of the room, and darken those on which I would not want to pay close attention.
Storage and order
The room should look tidy, this is difficult to achieve if there is not enough storage space in the hallway. For example, a special box for shoes with a soft top will help - an ottoman and a shoe rack in one. If it is not possible to put a chest of drawers, it is advisable to consider hinged shelves for keys and other trifles. It is important to leave room for the intercom and alarm. This is often forgotten, which subsequently adds to the problems.
Suitable styles
Small hallway design ideas are usually offered in a minimalist style, but this is not the only right decision. A small room will be decorated with a Scandinavian style, modern, country, even classic or hi-tech will do. Country is an authentic and eco-friendly style that looks organically in private homes. In this case, the walls are lined with wood to about the middle of the wall, the upper part is plastered or finished with wallpaper. Wooden beams are left on the ceiling. Furniture is used with a visible imprint of time.
The entrance hall in the Art Nouveau style also uses natural, but more expensive materials, such as stone, marble and wood. Stained-glass windows are used as decorations; plant motifs are often used. Characteristic of this style is the lack of symmetry, many small details and sharp lines.
Scandinavian style is white walls. This direction ideally combines small details and high practicality. Scandinavia is not even an interior style, but a whole philosophy of life.