WHEN it comes to decorating, hallways are often neglected compared to other rooms in the home. This is understandable given that it is quite possibly the room we spend the least time in. However, I strongly urge you to think again and consider that the hallway is potentially one of the most important rooms in the home when it comes to making a decorative statement. Some hallways may be small but they set the tone for the rest of the house and so are worth spending a little time on. This is especially true if your house is designed so that all the other rooms open off from a central hallway. It is the first room you see when you come home from a busy day and one of the very first things any guests will see when visiting so it’s important to get it right. I would recommend using bright or soothing colours in your hallway. Try an asparagus green shade which will create a refreshing and soothing welcome home at the end of a long day. Hallways often get used for storing an abundance of items including shoes, phone books and keys to name only a few so it’s vital that you have somewhere suitable to store these items. It’s really easy these days to get your hands on a gorgeous sideboard or chest which you can use to hide away all those everyday necessities. Nothing is more homely than chunky real wood furniture, so bear this in mind when choosing your furnishings. As with all your other rooms, don’t forget to accessorise with candles, flowers and photographs and I would always recommend hanging a mirror in your hallway for those essential last minute outfit checks. If you want you can include a coat stand but don’t overload this with coats or the room will look too cluttered. A decorative chair can look really stunning if the space allows but be realistic and don’t put one in unless there is still plenty of space left afterwards. As I’ve mentioned in the past, chandeliers are huge at the moment and they make a great focal point in the centre of a hallway. Lastly add in a stylish door mat or rug so that you can wipe your feet and avoid muddy footprints through your home. If you really want to make the best impression possible, make sure that the outside of your house looks just as welcoming as the inside. Give the front door a lick of paint and head to the garden centre to pick up some plant pots and fresh spring flowers to get gardening. Visit www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk for more interiors tips and sign up to the online mailing list to keep up-to-date with events and trend information. | 
