The first room we enter when opening the door from the street is the hallway. The room is a service and passage room, intended for leaving outer clothing and shoes in it and moving on. Modern traditions of apartment design begin with the design of the hallway.
Advantages of a dark hallway
This prelude is very short, figuratively speaking, a few chords, the area of the hallway does not exceed 8 square meters, and often even less. And in this small space you need to place quite a lot of things and do it so that the hallway does not look cluttered. Another feature of this room is the absence of windows (in most cases) and a large number of doors. Decorating this area so that it makes a good impression on guests and owners and fits harmoniously into the overall concept of the apartment is not at all easy.
This article will talk about how to decorate a hallway in dark colors. Why in the dark ones? There is not enough light in this room, will it be too gloomy? A dark hallway has several valuable advantages, and we will overcome the darkness with the help of lighting and other design techniques. A hallway in dark colors is attractive because:
- Practical - all the dirt and moisture carried from the street remains in this room.
- Original - the dark hallway looks unusual and unusual.
- Dark shades are stylish.
- Such a hallway is decorated with bright lighting, and this makes the atmosphere festive.
Such an interior is chosen by serious, self-confident people, pedants with an analytical mind.
Dark shades are rarely used in hallway design because they visually compress an already small space. But we are not afraid of all these difficulties, and we will create a magnificent, stylish interior for a dark hallway.
Features of the design of a black hallway
Why black?
- It's practical. Dirt on dark surfaces is practically invisible.
- Not a trivial and original design solution.
- Black color is an advantageous background for furniture and other accessories.
- Versatility. Black color will easily fit into any design project and give the hallway a solemn look.
Of course, a black hallway is a choice that not everyone will decide to make. This is the prerogative of people with a strong position in life. But this choice more than justifies itself - the result is a completely exclusive interior that evokes amazement and delight.
And we will create it using the following combinations:
- black and white,
- black-gray,
Design techniques can be as follows:
- Painting one section of the wall black to focus attention on interior details (chest of drawers, sofa).
- Make the ceiling black and use numerous spotlights to create the effect of a starry sky. This technique will visually expand the space.
- Make extensive use of glass and metal surfaces, as well as mirrors. All this will help soften the overwhelming gloom of the interior in black.
The concept of “black hallway” means not only the color of the floor, walls, and ceiling. This could be black furniture, which looks very textured against a light background.
Black floor with tiles
Flooring is critical to the appearance of a room. The material and color of the floor largely determine the atmosphere in the room. A colored floor is not always possible where it would most likely be a plain floor. Black and white floor tiles are a suitable option.
Overall, black flooring signifies a luxurious interior. It is mainly installed as flooring in modern bathrooms. After all, people like to decorate the living room and kitchen with black tiles. Often they are also placed in the corridor. Regardless of the room in which it works, a black floor will make any interior elegant and unique.
Black floor tiles are ideal for a bathroom. Modern bathrooms are often decorated in black and white. This is a prerequisite for creating a homely atmosphere, because subtle colors neutralize stress. Black bathroom floor tiles are often paired with white wall tiles, in most cases subway tiles. This creates a dynamic overall look in which color contrasts form a beautiful duet.
The living room has several flooring options with black tiles. Depending on the surface treatment, you can create different images and thus create different living conditions. Glossy black floor tiles create a very elegant ambiance, while the matte finish gives the room a minimalist look.
Black is the dominant color and should be used sparingly in interior design. Especially when it creates a cozy atmosphere.
When used correctly, black flooring blends perfectly with the shapes and colors of the interior.
Black floor tiles and black walls make a good pairing in modern interior design, but it's not uncommon to pair subfloors with other wall colors. Grey, green, blue and red are another way to create a modern living space.
Furniture for a dark hallway
The main furniture in the hallway is a clothes hanger or a wardrobe, if space allows, a banquette or ottoman, a cabinet for shoes. A sliding wardrobe is the most convenient option; it has long won the hearts of consumers with its functionality. Its facades will replace walls, it will create the illusion of additional space. A large mirror in the closet door will double this illusion.
A seat in the hallway must be provided. This could be a banquette or a small sofa, which can act as a contrast to the main color scheme. The seat can be combined with a shoe cabinet.
Add light colors to the dark interior in the form of small decorative details - posters, figurines, vases, and so on. But don't get carried away. The hallway is a small room, and the abundance of decor will also make it cramped.
Basic Rules
A corridor is a room that is heavily used and prone to pollution. Therefore, all finishing materials in the foyer must be highly durable. This also applies to wallpaper. Ideally, they can be cleaned regularly with a damp cloth. For wallpaper with a smooth surface, high scratch resistance is important.
Another important aspect is the color scheme and patterns of the hallway wallpaper. It is safer to wear light colors: white, cream, gray, pastel. And let the decor be subtle, harmonious, without dynamic compositions. This, of course, does not mean that modern design should be abandoned. For example, wallpaper for a Scandinavian-style hallway complies with all the above rules and at the same time captivates with an interesting modern design.
Interior doors in a dark hallway
Until now, not a word has been said about the interior doors that open into the hallway. They make up a significant part of its wall, therefore:
- They correspond to the general concept of the interior.
- They are designed in the same style.
In this case, not only the color of the door matters, but also all the fittings - handles, locks, hinges. Doors are also involved in supporting the overall tone or setting contrasts. And, of course, the appearance of the doors must correspond to the chosen interior style.
Interior styles for a dark hallway
What styles perceive a dark hallway? There are plenty to choose from:
Classical. This style is characterized by linear and color rigor. The dark interior sounds in unison with these features. In the classic-style hallway there is a wardrobe with hinged doors, a leather sofa, and a nightstand. Carving, gilding, stucco is allowed. The lamps match the surroundings; modern spots will not fit here. A classic hallway in black and white will be magnificent.
Modern. It is characterized by a great love for smooth curved lines, a commitment to wood and natural materials, and if so, then a hallway in brown will look very organic; Art Nouveau is characterized by a love for mirrors and stained glass. Place a wrought-iron clothes hanger and a bedside table with inlay in the hallway; all this will dilute the dark interior. You can hang a picture - a landscape. Art Nouveau takes floral motifs well.
High tech. The black and white color scheme of the hallway is exactly about this style. A wardrobe with glossy doors and clothing lifts, extreme functionality, the obligatory presence of a video intercom, and the most modern lighting system are appropriate here.
Loft - dark colors are very impressive for the brutality of the loft. The furniture is the simplest - a hanger and shoe shelves for small spaces, a wardrobe, if the space allows. Black furniture will look very impressive against the background of gray concrete walls, and adding white will soften the atmosphere.
Modern. Its distinctive feature is lightness, so we refuse bulky cabinets that weigh down the space. Only hangers and shelves. We keep them in order. We use as many polished or mirror surfaces as possible. They add space.
Whatever style you choose for the hallway, it should be in harmony with the rest of the apartment. It doesn’t have to be the same color – a transition from a darkened entrance hall to a bright living room would be quite logical – but it does have to be the same in style.
Recommendations from experts
When designing a dark hallway, the following tactics are used:
- Entrance to the living room. If the design of the room involves darkening, then it is important to visually increase the area due to enlarged or sloping doorways into the room that look like an arch. It is better to fence off the space with a special light curtain, but not with a door. This technique will add more light to an already dark space.
- Smooth transition from decor to interior items. If the room is less than 5-6 sq. m. It is better not to decorate the walls and floors in dark colors. In this case, it is better to use furniture, paintings, lighting fixtures and carpets in the desired dark colors.
- Mirrors. Multiple use of reflective surfaces visually increase the space.
- Portable modular systems. Bulky pieces of furniture should be avoided; it is because of them that the room turns into a cluttered attic. It is better to give preference to compact, easily transformable modular systems.
- Bright accessories. Using brass, copper, crystal and other shiny glassware will add sparkle to the space.
- Proper lighting. Choose multifunctional lighting devices with the ability to adjust the sharpness and brightness of the light. Bright lampshades and fringe are allowed.
Lighting in a dark hallway
Lighting in the hallway in general, and even more so in a dark one, should be bright enough. One chandelier is not enough here, even if the hallway is small. You will definitely need to highlight the entrance area, mirror, closet or clothes hanger. We highlight color accents and decorative items with light. Skillful lighting can overcome cramped spaces and visually expand the room. Don't leave dark corners. Built-in lighting around the perimeter of the ceiling will help solve this problem. In modern styles, use LED strip, it will create an unusual effect.
