Well liljenster, do you have photos of your hallway? How is the rest of your home decorated? Both could really help us help you find the perfect lighting. If I lived in a contemporary home I'd want the curvy track lighting with little spots (zenon if possible) to aim at art/photos and the floor too of course.

Well the carpet means you don’t have to worry about fake wood/wood look tile against real wood - but if you are thinking of hardwood in the future that will be (or should be) a consideration. Many dislike the wood look tiles that look fake - for good reason - so you’d have to spend more than you’re likely thinking you’d spend. And then there is the consideration of tile being very hard on feet & back, which may not be a consideration right now but will likely be one in the future. LVP has gained traction and is being used more widely and people seem to like it, but like anything else you’d need to research and see if it will work for you/your family, as well as potential resale value if you’re in a market where LVP may devalue the house. If that’s not an immediate concern then you can scratch that off the list of things to look into as you find the best option for you/your family/your house. As someone who has hardwood throughout, except in the foyer/mud room area since we get snow in winters. I will say that is also my preference and it holds up very well while also providing the ability to refinish if/when necessary, which LVP and laminate do not. That’s a one and done and if it scratches or splits or other damage occurs, repair is difficult if not impossible since styles are discontinued all the time and unless you buy extra when you install you might not be able to match it and then have to do the entire area all over again.

Your rug is pulling the space down into drabness. Needs some pizazz! How daring are you? You don't have to go this far, but you still have a way to go if you want pizazz. Repeat the gold from your art. Some people love color! Or go a bit more exotic... For high traffic, this one is indoor/outdoor with a more traditional look

That's true, I think a runner is probably better though because I still need some kind of entry rug in front of the door and that might look more awkward/less elegant? Not sure. Yeah, a floor lamp wouid be better there, and provide more light. There's a hall light of course but I rarely use it. I have a light sensor that turns that small lamp on when I come down the stairs and that provides better illumination for the stairs than the hall light. Upstairs there is an ugly three-lamp spot kinda of thing I need to tear out too that I don't use much either. I hate the stairs but to get the cool modern wire urban railings I want is going to be way too costly and I'd need to get all the damn honey oak painted first. Three years maybe? Kitchen is the first major remodel. You can probably imagine the country cabinets. just moved in September, it's a work in progress...