A fairly large number of apartments, especially in Russia, have a long narrow corridor with a cramped entrance hall. The owners of such housing often have a problem how to properly design and equip the entrance area so that it is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. In the article we will answer this question and talk about the principles and design options for hallways for a narrow corridor.
One of the main tasks is the visual expansion of the territory. This can be achieved in the following ways.
Color scheme
The hallway for a narrow corridor is preferably decorated in bright colors, as they visually increase the space and make it more voluminous, as opposed to dark, which, on the contrary, will narrow it even more. In addition, for small rooms of this type, a lack of light is characteristic. Therefore, the more tender and closer to white the color palette is, the more warm, welcoming and cozy the atmosphere of this part of the apartment will become.
However, keep in mind that the interior should not be monophonic - it is better to play in contrasts. For example, to make the floor and walls in a calm color scheme, but to choose furniture in several shades more saturated, more juicy and bright, but not too gloomy - you should refuse black and dark brown colors. Vertical and horizontal planes can also be contrasting with each other, or - elements inside each of them.
Lighting
For a narrow corridor in the hallway, furniture with built-in lamps is perfect. It saves space, since it will not be necessary to clutter it with additional objects - separate lighting sources. In addition, the backlight will make the entrance room much more cozy and comfortable. It is desirable that the mirrors are also separately illuminated, as preparing to go out, it is necessary to clearly see your reflection.
You can also use compact LED lamps that will direct light into different areas of a narrow corridor, creating the illusion of additional volume.
Another interesting solution can be a picture, each of which it is desirable to equip with a separate backlight. This will visually increase the space.
It is worth considering such an option as an integrated light source in the form of a long and thin pipe running along the entire perimeter of the ceiling. It looks very beautiful and unusual.
Switches are placed on opposite sides of the corridor: at the beginning, at the front door, and at the very end, in front of the interior doorway.
Mirrors
An integral part of almost any hallway is the mirror. It is especially necessary for a narrow corridor room, since, in addition to its main function, this interior item performs another one - it creates an additional rather large spatial volume.
The mirror should be in full human height. It can be made part of a wardrobe, or you can simply hang it on the wall. It is best to place it at the farthest from the front door, unless, of course, the layout allows. A dresser with a large mirror will also look great in the hallway. However, in a very narrow and at the same time not too long room, it is more expedient to hang a couple of small reflective surfaces instead of one large one.
In general, there are a lot of options how to make a hallway for a narrow corridor with a mirror. Choose the one you like best.
Doors
Instead of standard interior doors, designers advise using sliding structures or even leaving an opening in the wall free, making it, for example, in the form of an arch, again with the goal of visually expanding the space.
But if you still decide to give preference to ordinary doors, then they should open not in the direction of the corridor, but in the direction of the rooms, so as not to narrow the already small area even stronger. You can also hang mirrors on them - this will make the corridor more spacious. The main thing to remember is that this element of the interior should be combined both in color and in style with everyone else.
Floor and wall decoration
When decorating the vertical and horizontal planes of the hallway for a narrow corridor, follow the principles that have already been described above:
- Using a predominantly light color palette
- The contrast of different elements of the interior in relation to each other (for example, the walls are light and the floor 3 shades darker) or the polarity inside each of them.
If you chose a tile for floor design, then its contrasting color scheme will be interesting and beneficial for a small entrance area. Perfectly in a modern hallway for a narrow corridor, alternating black and white large rhombuses or the same transverse stripes will look, the arrangement of a light tile in the center and a dark one along the edges, or vice versa, will also be a good option.
If you decide to cover the wall with wallpaper, then give preference to paintings with large prints or horizontal stripes that visually stretch the space.
As for the ceiling, designers recommend choosing the color based on its height. If it is quite low, it is better to make it lighter than walls, and for ceilings over 3 meters, you can use deeper tones.
Also, against the general light background of the hallway, bright, catchy details will look great, for example, you can hang colored paintings on the walls, and supplement the floor with small green, yellow or red rugs.
What should be the furniture
Remember the main rule! When creating a hallway design for a narrow corridor, give preference to multifunctional furniture so that you can arrange all the necessary things in a limited area. First you need to determine the minimum set of items that should be in this area. It will be the furniture of the following types:
- Functional. All kinds of cabinets and other products for storing clothes, shoes and other items.
- Additional. Hooks, key tables, shelves, etc.
- Furniture for seating. Chairs, stools, ottomans, etc.
- Mirror.
The choice of a specific design solution and the list of items that will be present in your hallway depends on its size. If the territory allows, you can install a sliding wardrobe, or give preference to angular, hull or modular designs, choosing the most suitable and most advantageous option for yourself. However, when buying furniture, especially a cabinet, keep in mind that its depth should not exceed 45 centimeters. In the case of a very small corridor area or too narrow, it is more logical to use a combination of hangers, hooks, shelves and shoe stands.
Object placement principles
One of the most important rules for placing items in the hallway for a narrow corridor is that you can not install furniture along both of its long sides - you can limit yourself to only one of them. Remember that the width of the free passage should be at least 55 centimeters so that it can be comfortably moved around, as well as drag, if necessary, some things. The narrow plane can be left empty or placed on it with a mirror, chest of drawers, ottoman, or a smaller part of the corner structure, if it is assumed.
The entrance hall for a narrow long corridor is best divided into 2 zones: one - the entrance - will be designed to store clothes, and contain functional furniture, and the second will become a kind of rest area with seating, or maybe even a small table. These sections are demarcated stylistically, which is done with the help of different floor coverings, the presence and absence of certain decorative elements for wall decoration, you can also separate them from each other with an arch, if the area allows.
Entrance hall for a narrow corridor
A good functional option for decorating the hallway is a wardrobe. It is spacious, roomy and in it you can arrange all the necessary clothes and shoes. This allows you not to clutter up the territory with additional shelves, hangers and hooks. It is advisable to purchase models with mirror doors so that you do not have to look for additional space in the small hallway for fixing the mirror, as well as to expand the space. Suitable with transparent doors or without any at all - with partially or completely open shelves.
Sliding wardrobe can be placed both along a long wall and occupy a completely short wall. In the latter case, this will visually make the room more square.
Cabinet and modular hallways for narrow corridors
Similar constructions are also suitable for small and long rooms. Cabinet furniture consists of separate parts (cases) interconnected. In order to save space and create volume, it is better to choose designs that will contain fewer cabinets, and more open shelves and hangers.
The modular system is very popular today. It is formed of autonomous components or modules, for each of which you can determine the place in the hallway that you want. This is especially convenient for a small area. Thus, it is possible to use corners and a narrow wall and place there some blocks of a modular system, for example, a shoe cabinet. In addition, over time, there is the opportunity to do a permutation of the modules, if you want updates. The set includes a variety of furniture items: cabinets, cabinets, mirrors, hangers, chests of drawers, etc.
Corner constructions
In conditions of limited space, when it is desirable to use every centimeter of the territory, the installation of corner furniture will be an excellent solution:
- Firstly, such cabinets allow you to place a large number of things in them, from hats to shoes. Therefore, you will not need to look for a separate place for hooks and shoe shelves, as they will become part of a single multifunctional design.
- Secondly, the corner of the room, which usually remains empty, will be optimally and correctly used. A similar hallway option for a narrow corridor is very practical and economical.
Additional recommendations for placing things in a narrow hallway
If the corridor area is too small and this makes it difficult or impossible to install a large cabinet to store all the necessary items, then there are other options for their compact location.
- Wall shelves - you can place on them not only useful things, but also those that will become an additional decoration of the interior, for example, all kinds of figurines, souvenirs, vases, etc.
- Hooks are very functional, as they take up very little space and serve as a convenient place to store outerwear, umbrellas, hats and other things. And today you can buy hooks made of various materials and aesthetically interesting, so that they can also be beautifully integrated into the overall design idea.
- Benches that are best combined with baskets or drawers for storing different wardrobe items. This is a very practical solution: it’s convenient to shoe on the bench, and in the boxes that are best placed under the bench, there will be all the necessary things.
- Ottoman, chair or chair.
Tips for arranging the hall in Khrushchev
Apartments of this type are characterized by long corridors with very small hallways. Here are some recommendations for their most beneficial design:
- Stylistic unity. The apartment is best done in the same design style. This will connect all the rooms together, thus creating a feeling of large space.
- With the general unity of the design of the rooms, it is better to divide the walls into several zones, having done this with the help of various decorative elements made in different color shades, but in harmony with each other. Also try playing with decoration and lighting, make the ceiling more heterogeneous and multilevel.
- When arranging the entrance hall for a narrow corridor in Khrushchev, try to use mainly light shades, both in furniture and in the design of walls, floors and ceilings.
- It is advisable to use mezzanines - shelves located at the base of the ceiling.
- It is for such apartments that reduced furniture samples that are developed by some manufacturers will be indispensable. For example, there are hallways 30 cm deep for a narrow corridor. They are usually carried out to order.
You have learned how to design the most modern and practical hallway for a narrow corridor. Using the information received and based on your taste stylistic preferences, you can make the entrance area of your apartment as functional and interesting as possible!