There are many things to consider when decorating a small or narrow entrance hall in your home. You may want to elongate the space to make it feel bigger, or create a good first impression with decor that is stylish as well as practical (such as having somewhere to put your keys without having to fall over a chunky table!) It is also important to make sure that you add clever storage for shoe and coat organisation so your narrow hallway remains clear and uncluttered and not messy and overwhelming as soon as you walk in the door. In this post, I’m listing five simple ideas on how to design a narrow entryway for seriously stylish small hallway decor.

1. Paint the stairs a distracting bold colour

2. Frame the entrance door to elongate the space

3. Draw the eye with large artwork

4. Put up a shelf to create a thin storage table with no legs

5. Keep things organised with stylish shoe storage

Keep your small entrance hall light but visually interesting by painting the stairs a bold colour

It is tempting to keep small, narrow entrance halls bright and white so that they do not feel uninviting or cramped. However, this lack of personality and colour can make an entryway feel very uninteresting and bland. Create a visually appealing hallway by painting the stairs opposite the entry door in a bold hue - this will draw the eye up and create a real statement while keeping the rest of the space light and bright. When painting stairs, it is important to do your prep work so that the paint does not scuff or chip with so much use. Lightly sand back each tread and use a durable, hardwearing floor paint that won’t scratch off.

If you live in a flat or a condo with no stairs, like those featured on the Emerald of Katong website, choose one or more of the following tips instead:

Frame the entrance door

Framing the inside of the entryway door is a great way to add a focal point and brighten up a narrow hallway. If you have the space, you can make the entrance door look grand by taking the colour over the door frame. Or, use a bright, statement shade that stands out and attracts the eye along to the end of the hallway - elongating the space and making it feel bigger.

Add large artwork to make the most of the wall height

While the entranceway may be narrow, making the most of the wall height by hanging large artworks distracts from the slender proportions of an entrance hall. Make sure that artworks are framed in thin, narrow frames to stop them from protruding out too far from the wall, or take inspiration from London interiors author Ruth Matthews who pasted her hallway wall in a wallpaper panel and then ‘framed’ it with some mitred wood trim for a slim, vertical finish.

Put up a shelf to create a slender storage table

Interior stylist and home influencer Kerry Lockwood erected a shelf over the radiator in her rental as a place to put her keys, add atmospheric lighting and display seasonal decor. As well as being practical, the shelf distracts from the basic radiator without taking up a lot of precious space or being obtrusive. For a rustic-look scaffold board shelf like Kerry’s, click here.

Stylish shoe storage

Shoe storage in any entryway is a must-have item, but it is particularly important in narrow hallways where floor space is limited. Invest in wall-hang shoe storage so that the floor remains clutter-free while making sure that the depth of the shoe storage is slimline (vertical pull-out designs work well).

Add A Rug For Extra Pizazz