How To Choose the Right Lighting For your Hallways

As the entry point to your home, and the area that will create a first impression for those that enter, you won’t want to underestimate the importance of hallway lighting. 

It is important to ensure you choose the right light hallway light fixtures as they will need to be suitable for tasking and create an inviting ambience, but don’t let the pressure to get your lighting right get to you! We’ve got all you need to know for choosing the best lighting for your hallway. 

Hallway Lighting Tips

Sadly, it is not as clear-cut an answer when it comes to what type of lighting is best for hallways. As there are plenty of different styles, shapes, and sizes of hallways, lighting will need to be based on those specific needs. 

Hallway lights should be bright enough to allow good visibility as they are a predominantly tasked-based area. We would recommend a mix of ambient and tasking light to create a powerful combination for a welcoming atmosphere, as well as being able actually to see what you are doing! When it comes to what colour light is best for hallways, we say the warmer the better to perfectly capture that inviting feel you’d want for those who enter your home.  Here are our top 10 ideas for perfect hallway lighting:

1. Lighting for a small hallway

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If you have a small hallway, wall lights offer a great solution and take advantage of an area that might not have another use, without losing valuable floor or ceiling space. 

Place the wall lights in specific sections of the hallway that require good lighting, such as coat stands or key cupboards.

2. Lighting for a big hallway

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If you have a large hallway, you will want to make sure you have lighting at least every eight feet long for optimum visibility, however, with more space, this is probably where you have the most amount of hallway lighting options, as most things will work. 

You could use multiple hallway pendant lights in a style that suits your home, evenly placed along the ceiling, or place wall sconces, on the wall to emphasise the space. For a more contemporary finish, place LED strip lights along the floor or ceiling edges.

Having the advantage of a spacious hallway also means you could consider a more statement focal piece created with pendant lighting at various heights to catch the eye.

3. Narrow hallway lighting ideas

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To make your narrow hallway look bigger and brighter, you will want to get clever with your lighting and create the illusion of space. Use hallway light fixtures that allow as much brightness through as possible, such as a glass caged light, and make use of wall space by installing wall lights and sconces. Keep walls bright in whites or creams, and even add a mirror to reflect light and create the illusion of space. 

4. Modern hallway lighting

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For a contemporary lighting idea in your hallway, try LED strip lights along the ceiling edge for a stunning, modern way of illuminating your hallway. If your hallway requires more lighting than this, you could always add in some recessed lights or a modern LED flush mount light instead. You may want to consider hallway lights in cooler colours, rather than warmer lights, as this lends itself more to a modern home. 

5. Lighting a dark hallway

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If you have a hallway with little to no natural light, it can feel dark, dingy, and not very inviting, but clever use of lighting can open up the space easily. Start by using light hallway colours to make the space bright and airy. 

The best lighting for a dark hallway will be to use a combination of pendant lights and recessed can lights, which will provide visibility for tasks. Further enhance the room's brightness with table lamps, and if you have any photos, illuminate these with wall-mounted picture lights for an additional touch of brightness. 

6. Farmhouse lighting ideas

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If you have a farmhouse-style home, you may find that you have lower ceilings or more nooks and crannies to negotiate. The best solution is to use flush-mount hallway ceiling lights that will provide beautiful, bright lighting without the need to give up valuable space. As the name would suggest, this style of light sits flush to the ceiling allowing the light to spread across the room enhancing visibility and ambience in the whole space. 

7. Traditional hallway lighting

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If you have a period home but don’t like the idea of a chandelier, there are alternatives. Glass caged candelabra style fittings as well as heritage style ceiling mount lights in brushed brass or oil-rubbed bronze would look wonderful in a traditional style home, whilst still providing ample lighting for the space. Add a further touch of antique with a Tiffany-style lamp; the stained glass will add a gentle ambience to the room. 

8. Hallways with windows

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Make the most of natural light in a hallway. Choose a front door with glazing panels to let the light shine through your entranceway, and if you have windows, choose ones with subtle frosting to ensure maximum light. Use spotlights directed at task-specific areas of the hallway, for example where people place coats, and table lamps to support the light from the windows.

9. Hallway with low ceilings

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If you have low ceilings in your hallway, it isn’t going to be practical to install an elaborate pendant light. You certainly don’t want guests being greeted with a swinging light bulb in the face as they enter your home! Look into using a flush mount light, as they take up minimal space by hugging the ceiling, without compromising on style. 

10. Statement hallway lighting

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If you want to create a statement hallway that evokes luxury, a great hallway ceiling lighting idea is to install a chandelier. Not only does this lighting style scream elegance, but it will also create a beautiful aesthetic in your entranceway with light reflecting from the delicate crystals. 

Summary

There is no need to compromise between practical lighting and welcoming, stylish hallway light fittings that support the décor of your home. Hallway lighting can be hard to get right, but these hints and tips show that there is a perfect style for every room!