Inspirational Hallway Decor Ideas for a Period House
As an interior designer, I’ve worked on so many different room types but a period hallway has to be my ultimate favourite! Arguably, the entrance hall is the most important room in your house because it’s the first thing you see when you walk through the door. First impressions count and you don’t get much more impressive than a well-designed Victorian or Edwardian hallway that celebrates the original features. Get it right and it becomes a space packed with character and wow factor - setting the tone for the rest of your home.
In this post, I’m sharing plenty of inspiration for Edwardian and Victorian hallways, along with my top tips for designing a hallway in a period property, from colour schemes and lighting to flooring and radiators.
Go bold with paint
Period hallways in general don't have many windows and so they lack natural light. Many people think that white paint is the way to go but with a lack of light and shadow, you can end up with a dull, flat space. Instead, I recommend embracing the dark and choosing rich colours for a dramatic entrance.
Make sure that your hallway colour palette ties in with the rest of your home by using coordinating paint colours and accent hues throughout for a lovely flow.
My Edwardian semi project with walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s Misted Green and woodwork in Soot
If your entrance hall has a decent amount of natural light, a lighter colour can work. Something I LOVE to do is to highlight period features like spindles or panelling in a darker paint colour.
Hallway painted in Castell Pink by Little Greene
For a light wall colour in a north facing hallway, try a plaster pink shade for a warm feel.
Choose traditional flooring
Hallway in a converted Victorian mansion which still had some of its original encaustic tiles. Walls here are painted in Pleat and the woodwork is in Basalt by Little Greene to contrast with the terracotta in the tiles.
If you’re lucky enough to still have the original minton tiles that were really popular in Victorian homes, I’m very jealous - they really are one of the most beautiful traditional features in an English period home. If you’re not so lucky but you love the look, you can find Victorian mosaic style tiles in lots of different designs at Original Style - be prepared to pay a healthy sum for them though.
The hallway at my Haworth Victorian semi project - with walls painted in Pleat and Linen Wash.
These floor tiles cost just over £8k including fitting. Quite pricey but how fantastic does it look?! It’s added so much character to the home.
In the hallway at my Edwardian terrace project, we painted the walls in Little Greene’s Windmill Lane and highlighted the woodwork in Obsidian Green.
As a much more affordable option, have the original floorboards restored. Use a stair runner and/or a long hallway runner to soften the space. The hallway runner here gives a nod to the pattern of original encaustic tiles for a modern twist.
Add statement lighting
Hallways are usually just used for passing through, not for spending a significant amount of time in so they don't generally require task lighting - basically, you just need enough light to safely make your way from one room to another.
If you live in a Victorian or Edwardian home, the chances are that you have high ceilings with beautiful cornices and maybe even a ceiling rose. Make a statement with a single large pendant light or a series of them in a contemporary style for an eclectic feel.
Use wall or table lamps to add atmosphere and a cosy glow into the evenings.
Source an original front door
Nothing creates a warm welcome home like an original front door! Victorian front doors especially often featured colourful stained glass windows which create pretty patterns on the walls that change at different times of day.
For the hallway at my Haworth semi project, we had the stained glass window made to fit the existing front door. Jan at Light Leaded Designs came up with four different designs for us to choose from based on our brief. He’s so talented - I can’t recommend him highly enough!
Restore or reinstate an original fireplace
In a move away from the long narrow hallways of the preceding Victorian era, many hallways in Edwardian homes tend to be more square in shape. It was quite common for them to include a fireplace as a focal point, sometimes with a window seat next to it, where the man of the house could take off his shoes and warm his feet by the fire after a long day's work. This is my favourite spot in our house.
Incorporate lots of wall art
I’m not a massive fan of photos dotted all over the house but I do love a stairs gallery wall. To add lots of personality, use a mixture of photos, prints and posters that mean something to you. Mix frame types and colours for a less matchy-matchy, more interesting look.
Mirrors are great for bouncing light around a naturally dark hallway.
Install a cast iron radiator
If your budget won't stretch to cast iron radiators in every room, I recommend splashing out on one for the hallway. A great way of adding character!
A well-designed Victorian or Edwardian hallway can really set the tone for your entire home, showcasing original features and adding plenty of character. I hope these tips inspire you to create an entrance that’s both beautiful and welcoming. And for more inspiration, read my blog post on how to restore a period home. If you’d like any help with designing your period hallway, take a look at my online design packages or get in touch.
