Maybe make the hallway really bright with light. Paint one wall very dark and the other one light so the dark wall recedes. You could make the light colored wall a gallery of art. Graze it with light. Ceiling dark? Not sure.

Here's one where they've used a medium dark bright color.

Maybe a great patterned rug to make the journey more fun! And a "light" at the end of the tunnel.

This post was edited by snookums2 on Mon, Mar 11, 13 at 22:29

Check out this article. #s 1, 3, and 7 are my favorites. I think a graphic or bold colored runner would look great in the space.

Adding white painted wainscoting also looks nice in long hallways.

And since you don't have a blank wall at the end to add a focal point, I think you should paint the door a bright or fun color and make that the focal point.

Here is a link that might be useful: Long hallway ideas

This post was edited by geokid on Mon, Mar 11, 13 at 22:28

Add lighting, a printed runner as stated above, paint that would coordinate with the rooms from and to and then just
add pictures.
The nice thing about hallways is that it gives you space between the other rooms for privacy and noise control. Embrase them!

I think I would embrace the art idea and install some track lighting point some down and some at the art wall. A long runner is a fun idea as well. I wouldn,t do a whole bunch of smaller art though maybe four bigger peices hanging at the same height. I was just at Red Robin this weekend and they have a really long hallway like that leading to the bathrooms. They had tons of pic of different sizes up and it was just too busy for that small and narrow of a space. It made it feel almost clausterphobic getting threw there. Even though I normally love to stop and look at pics.

You need to take the attention away from the ceiling. Something bold at the the end of the tunnel, something interesting (photo gallery/ art) during the journey on one wall and a great bright runner would be nice. I am not sure about the recessed lights. It might be nice to do picture lights for the photo gallery. This could turn out to be really charming!

A little background on the house. It's over 100 years old, has been added onto several times. When we bought it, the previous owner had lowered all the ceiling 2.5'. I'm working on getting them back to original height but the hallway will have to stay that height. The light currently on the ceiling is too low. If someone 5.11 or taller walks through the hallway they hit their head on the light. That's why I was considering two recessed lights. There is an AC vent right behind the current light that hinders me from adding anything there. How would I get lighting in the hallway that doesn't take the height away.
Thank you everyone! Wow! lots of ideas for the walls/decor! :-) I'm excited to start looking into more colors and possibly a runner. I like the idea of painting the door, I never thought of that. Thanks again for all the feedback!

A little background on the house. It's over 100 years old, has been added onto several times. When we bought it, the previous owner had lowered all the ceiling 2.5'. I'm working on getting them back to original height but the hallway will have to stay that height. The light currently on the ceiling is too low. If someone 5.11 or taller walks through the hallway they hit their head on the light. That's why I was considering two recessed lights. There is an AC vent right behind the current light that hinders me from adding anything there. How would I get lighting in the hallway that doesn't take the height away.
Thank you everyone! Wow! lots of ideas for the walls/decor! :-) I'm excited to start looking into more colors and possibly a runner. I like the idea of painting the door, I never thought of that. Thanks again for all the feedback!

What about a panel light with something beautiful backlit from above? It would have to have more than just mood lighting watts and couldn't be too opaque, but I think it could work.

Like this, maybe not quite so elaborate...

Here are some panels for in ceiling light fixtures. Not sure that you'd have to use them in fluorescent fixtures:

Here is a link that might be useful: ceiling panels

If I painted the door at the end of the hall, would I paint the entire door the same color or just the slats?

I put niches in my sister-in-law's long narrow hallway, and it helped make it seem wider. She had drywall and standard wood studs, though, so it was easy. I'm not sure how easy it would be in an old house.

My hallway was also dark and has an ac return air vent. We added white beadboard and painted the top half a very pale yellow. Then we added a light colored runner. I rarely turn the hallway light on now.

The return a/c vent was painted the same color as the beadboard and it's hardly notieable.

Since your hallway is narrow, I don't think I'd hang any pictures.

You don't see them so much anymore but "eyeball" recessed lights might work in your situation where you might have track lighting if the ceiling were higher. With the eyeball, you have the advantage of recessed, but you can move the bulb to highlight an area of the wall. Just google "eyeball light fixtures".

I'd paint the whole door. I'd also paint the trim either the same color as the door or the wall color. See snookums sencond picture with the blue door? The trim is painted the wall color and the door stands out.

Could you put in a solatube skylight or would that not work with your home? You could then have the panel like olychick shows illuminated with natural light in daytime and put fluorescent lights behind the panel to illuminate at night. Runner suggestion is also a good one. Can also hang a mirror strategically to reflect any light.

oakleyok: Do you have a picture of your sister's hallway redo? I'm also planning a hallway update and debating between the beadboard or chair rail. Would love to see an example, esp. to show my DH.

A lighting alternative would be to add a crown and recess cove lighting...it can go a bit lower on the wall as your head is typically down the center of the hall, not on the edges.

I was also thinking of the old lighting fixtures they used in offices a lot which was a fluorescent that was mounted to the wall behind a finished board that allowed the light to shine both up and down, but not across.

Or maybe you can find some wall art that provides light too.

[Modern Wall Sconces design[(https://www.houzz.com/products/modern-wall-sconces-prbr1-br~t_14186~s_2105) by Other Metro Lighting Designer Ledus

Depending on where the duct is located, you might have space to put in a recessed wall washing fluorescent fixture (cooper lighting)....

Or you can go with something smaller and wall mounted that will wash the wall (house of troy)...

Here is a link that might be useful: Ledus

This post was edited by AnnieDeighnaugh on Thu, Mar 14, 13 at 9:05

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