30 Narrow Hallway Ideas to Make the Most of Your Space

Make the most of a narrow hallway with these clever design solutions that help maximize space and increase visual interest. Just because a hallway is a pass-through area with limited square footage doesn't mean it can't be functional and make a beautiful design statement.

We're sharing ideas for built-in and non-permanent storage options, lighting that makes an impact, a variety of wall coverings, and decorative details to help you transform your hallway.

These 30 creative narrow hallway ideas will provide ample inspiration and practical tips for making the most of your space.

Choose Slim Profile Furniture

To prevent blocking a walking path and making a narrow hallway feel cluttered, choose slim profile furniture such as this wooden console. It adds visual interest, provides a decorative surface and hidden storage, and is a great way to anchor a wall mirror or artwork.

Use Wall-Mounted Hooks

Wall-mounted coat hooks are an excellent alternative to a bulky coat rack in a narrow hallway. They don't take up any floor space, can be hung wherever you choose, and provide a practical way to store coats and seasonal accessories while keeping them easily accessible.

Incorporate a Corner Bookcase

Incorporate a corner bookcase—either built-in or freestanding—into a narrow hallway if the width or the space doesn't allow for any furniture.

This way, the walking path is clear, you gain storage space as well as decorative surfaces to add visual interest to the small space, and you make stylish use of an empty corner.

Maximize Storage With Baskets

Bring in wicker baskets to add a textural element and a pretty storage vessel. Their sturdiness makes them a particularly useful choice for a narrow hallway in an entryway if you need a practical way to corral and hide shoes.

Create an Illusion

Visually open up a narrow hallway by strategically hanging a mirror on the wall to reflect a staircase, room, or window. It will bounce light around to brighten the tight space as well as add height and an interesting shape to the wall.

Hang a Gallery Wall

Maximize visual interest in a small hallway with an eclectic gallery wall. Use a mix of frames, art mediums, and picture sizes to create depth and dimension and for extra contrast and paint the walls a dark and moody paint color.

Corral Items in a Decorative Tray

Avoid clutter and corral small items in a decorative tray on a small console or cabinet in your narrow hallway. It keeps things contained, adds a decorative touch, and makes cleaning easy since all you need to do is lift one tray instead of countless individual pieces.

Create a Cozy Window Seat

If your narrow hallway features a window, create a cozy window seat to add function and charm to the small space. Dress it up with a comfy cushion and decorative pillows that can be switched out seasonally.

Save Space With a Floating Shelf

Use a floating shelf to add a surface to drop your keys and display decorative accents. It's an excellent space saver for a tight space, whether you use one or multiple floating shelves on top of the other.

Mix Open and Closed Storage

A mix of open and closed storage allows you to store and display a variety of items. Here, a wall of floor-to-ceiling built-in cabinets offers plenty of hidden storage and a wooden console provides a decorative surface to keep frequently used items such as blankets easily accessible.

Opt for Visually Light Pieces

Opt for glass and acrylic pieces of furniture for a narrow hallway, as they are visually lighter. The clear construction maintains an open feel without sacrificing storage space and makes a modern design statement.

Hang Plants on the Wall

If you want to display potted plants in a narrow hallway but lacking the surface space, think vertical and mount planters on the wall. They add a cool decorative feature, draw the eyes up, and don't require a table or floor space.

Extend Storage to the Ceiling

Maximize space by extending built-in shelves or storage cabinets to the ceiling. Take inspiration from this narrow hallway and paint the built-ins a bold color. You can also cleverly utilize the space above a doorway by turning it into a bookshelf.

Add Wall Paneling

Add wall paneling for maximum design impact in a small hallway. The linear pattern keeps the small space clean and streamlined, adding just enough depth and color without looking cluttered.

Create Ambiance With Candles

Don't limit a cozy ambiance to a dining or living room, extend it to a hallway with an elegant wall-mounted candle holder. Use one at the end of the hallway or go with a pair that flanks a gallery wall or large statement mirror.

Place a Freestanding Coat Rack

Bring function to a narrow hallway corner with a freestanding coat rack. It adds height and plenty of hanging room for clothes and accessories without having bulky furniture or permanent built-ins.

Incorporate Custom Built-Ins

If budget and space allow, incorporate custom built-ins into a small hallway. If the hallway connects bedrooms, use it to store bedroom and bathroom linens, and if the hallway is near the kitchen, utilize the cabinets for any overflowing pantry items.

Install a Rolling Ladder

A rolling ladder is a charming and practical option for floor-to-ceiling built-ins in a narrow hallway. It allows for easy access to the top shelves without having to constantly bring in a chair or ladder, and it has a vintage-like quality that adds instant character.

Hang Wall Sconces

Illuminate a narrow hallway that doesn't have a spot for a table lamp with wall sconces. You can mount them in addition to or instead of ceiling lights and also use them to introduce a sculptural element into the small space.

Conceal Clutter

Small spaces are prone to being cluttered and if you want to avoid piles of shoes, clothes, or toys forming in a narrow hallway, hidden storage is the way to go. Create contrast with a dark paint color on the built-ins and go for oversized hardware to add an interesting detail.

Bring in a Chair

Cap the end of a narrow hallway with a small chair. Use one that has a textured design or eye-catching upholstery, and draw the eyes up with artwork hanging above the chair.

Build a Closet Under the Stairs

If the narrow hallway is near a staircase, consider converting the space underneath the stairs into a closet. It's a clever way to maximize the space and store out-of-season clothes, holiday decor, or bulky bedding that's currently cluttering other closets.

Opt for Narrow Radiators

For a home that's heated by radiators, opt for narrow ones in a tight space such as a small hallway. Here, a pair of gray radiators keep the passthrough space open while adding an industrial touch and color contrast that ties in the dark molding and warehouse-inspired wall sconces.

Add a Cozy Runner

Cozy up a narrow hallway with a runner rug. It adds a layer of comfort underfoot but also offers an opportunity to add color, texture, and pattern to the narrow space.

Stick With a Light Color Palette

Brighten a narrow hallway that lacks sufficient natural light with a light color palette. Pair crisp white walls and trim with light-toned natural wood floors and decorative accents, and hang a mirror to reflect light and open up the space.

Hang a Picture Ledge

Use a picture ledge for a slightly different way to lean artwork and framed family photos in a narrow hallway. Depending on its depth, you can also use it to display decorative accents, potted plants, and seasonal decor.

Bring in a Bench

The long and narrow shape of a bench is perfectly suited for a narrow hallway. It's a versatile piece of furniture that doesn't take up excessive space and can easily be decorated for any season using a couple of throw pillows. If you need extra storage, you can opt for a bench that has a hidden storage compartment.

Go Bold

Instead of a narrow hallway being an uninteresting passageway from one space to another, infuse it with plenty of visual interest and pack a design punch with bold paint colors.

Paint the walls, doors, and trim for maximum impact, and continue the colors into the adjoining rooms for visual continuity. Whether it's an accent wall, artwork, or decorative textiles.

Use a Glass-Front Cabinet

A glass-front cabinet is a great choice for a narrow hallway as it provides plenty of storage, but the glass front is visually lighter. It also allows for a mix of practical storage and decorative displays within the cabinet for a nice combination of form and function.

Install Wainscoting

Wainscoting or beadboard breaks up the boring look of a plain wall in a narrow hallway and adds depth, dimension, and color contrast—if you choose to paint the wainscoting a different color than the wall.

It's also an excellent way to cut costs if you're installing wallpaper—use the wallpaper on the upper portion of the wall and supplement with wainscoting on the lower half or two-thirds of the wall to save some money.

Read Next: 16 Hallway Storage Ideas to Try Yourself

Read the original article on The Spruce.