Lighting is important in any home in the world. Interior designers, real estate agents, and staging professionals will tell you it's true. If you want your home to feel cozy, it should be well lit and your hallway should be too.
That's pretty straightforward in most of your home. You put a lamp on your bedside table, you hang a lamp above your dining table. But what about the smallest and most complicated spaces? Specifically, how do you light your hallway well?
Problems with solutions
Because the corridors are very narrow, they present two problems. First, the minimum space available requires a certain type of light. And, of course, it is the most difficult type of light. You can't just place a lamp here or there. When you need to light up your hallway but keep hallways clear, mounted lighting is your only option.
The other hallway lighting challenge results, again, from the narrow hallway design, which can make you feel claustrophobic. Your hallway should be fully lit. Otherwise, you run the risk of feeling too confined. But do not worry… There are solutions to both problems.
The need for maximum floor clearance can force your hand to choose certain types of lighting, but there are still plenty of good options available. You can easily defend yourself against that claustrophobic feeling by mounting lights in strategically placed locations along your hallway. Use these tips to get all the details you need to light up your hallway wonderfully.
Choose your lighting
Most aisles are designed to be wide enough to allow a single person to move comfortably through them, but not much more. If your hallway is wide enough to accommodate a console table, then you have to feel lucky.
For those others with hallways that need every available inch of width to make them comfortable, wall or ceiling mounted lighting is what you need. With these options, you will keep hallways open but you can still create a hallway with a warm and inviting glow that will be the envy of your guests.
Pendant lighting
Pendant lights can be a success for your hallway, but you will have to find one that really attracts attention to hang it and transform that space. Pendant lighting is best for hallways with high ceilings. Otherwise, a low-rise lamp could induce that feeling of claustrophobia that is best not achieved.
Wall sconces
You do not necessarily have to place a ceiling lamp to illuminate the hallway. Sconces can help you provide ample lighting without having to pull out more than one stool to change the bulb. However, this type of lighting is best for wider hallways, as the sconces will stick out from the walls, invading the space of the corridors.
Sometimes the simplest solution is the correct one
Sometimes the simple solution is the correct one. Lighting with traditional lamps is an easy and effective way to illuminate your hallways. Since the fixtures themselves are likely to go unnoticed, this style of lighting works with virtually any style of home.
Architectural lighting
If you want to add an architectural feel and get highly customizable lighting, lighting like this is the right choice. This style is ideal for industrial and contemporary spaces.
Mixed lighting
Who Says You Can't Have It All? You can mix and match these types of lighting to find the ideal way to illuminate your hallway.
Placing your lights
Now that you've chosen your lighting style, you have to make sure you have enough light so that your hallway feels light enough. Here are some quick and easy tips to help you:
- Place lights the same distance from each other. Smaller lights with lower wattage bulbs should be placed closer to each other.
- Direct your gaze into the hallway by placing a light near each end.
- If you choose sconces, you will need to place them high on the wall to attract attention and make the space feel open. Otherwise, you risk getting all that medieval torch vibe on a castle wall.
- Stand at both ends of the hall and check for darker patches. You will need to make sure that the light remains constant and does not diminish the brightness between the lamps. Light up shaded parts of the hallway as needed to keep the space open and inviting.
Once you take all of this into account you are ready to light up your hallway like a lighting professional. And sure, your guests may never realize what a great job you did but that's what matters because it means that it will be all right by not feeling like they are going through a cavern when they walk down the hall.