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Every time I come home, I’m reminded of why we upgraded from a studio to a two-bedroom apartment earlier this year. Now, we’ve actually got a proper entry. It isn’t the world’s grandest hallway but it’s something. With a laundry closet soaking up some of the already narrow space, I knew I’d have to make smart furniture choices. I knew exactly where to look for inspiration: British interior designers, especially those who are navigating tight quarters in Victorian townhouses, always get it right.
“Just because a hallway is narrow doesn’t mean it can’t make an impact,” says U.K.-based designer Laura Stephens. In fact, she finds smaller spaces are often the perfect canvas for bolder choices—her London project pictured above is proof. “I love using this opportunity to be brave, whether that’s with statement wallpaper, a striking tiled floor, or a show-stopping runner.” While my entryway doesn’t look exactly like any of the ones ahead (it doesn’t lead to a staircase, for starters), I was taking notes. A floating console table? Genius. Simple coat hooks? Done. A playful pendant? Easy enough to recreate with a lamp or sconces. Here are all the spaces I’m stealing my best ideas from.
Get a Patterned Runner
Bold stair runners are a theme here, which, in my case, I’m simply translating to a graphic floor runner. Stephens’ logic for this project was to enhance the beauty of the original floor tile by layering in a different pattern. “It’s a bit daring, but that’s what makes it work,” she says. The designer kept things feeling down to earth by painting the stairs in Farrow & Ball’s Pigeon, a soft green-gray, and bringing in a brighter console table from Rose & Grey.
Hit Guests with a Gallery Wall
Cavernous hallways are the perfect spot for gallery walls because it forces you to get up close and personal with the art. I love how Rebecca Hughes relied on larger works in this space and brought some playfulness to the traditional umbrella stand and rug with a Murano glass chandelier.
Chop Half the Legs Off Your Console
The first time I saw this Kate Guinness-designed space, I thought I was in for a DIY project that involved a saw and a lot of screws, but after a quick search on the Internet for two-legged console tables I found chic options on The Expert and Etsy.
Combine a Floating Table and Mirror
Tiffany Duggan, an interior designer and the owner of homewares company Trove, initially made this mirror-table as a one-off piece for a client, but it turned out to be such a hit that she now sells it in her shop. The piece even has drawers for stashing sunglasses and keys.
…Or Keep Them Separate
I couldn’t find a budget-friendly version of Trove’s arrangement, but there are plenty of floating tables and shelves out there that could be combined with a large mirror for a similar look. That’s essentially what Lizzie Green did in these tight corridors.
Save Space with Sconces
Rather than take up precious table space with a lamp, I’ll be mounting our beloved cordless Pooky sconces on either side of our mirror. But given the chance to hardwire fixtures in the future, I’d track down the painterly shades in this Anna Haines project.
Embrace the Shoe Bench
I have historically been anti-shoe rack in the entryway for the simple reason that I think it creates instant visual clutter. Then I saw this chic bench on Kinder Design’s site and loved how tucked-away everything looked. Article’s Kouva bench has a similar look and feel, and what it lacks in a third shelf, it makes up for in a seat cushion.
Make a Museum-Worthy Entrance
A drop-spot for keys isn’t the only thing you can float in a tight entryway. I love how this modern space by Rachael Gowdridge takes a gallery-like approach with a wall-mounted cube topped with flowers.
