Hallway lighting solutions

The hall is the first place you see when you enter a house so it needs to make a statement and establish a style of its own

A decorative chandelier is the perfect solution, especially if the hall has a high ceiling or forms part of the stairwell so that there is plenty of space for an overhead fitting. The quality of the light emitted - either by multiple candle bulbs or by crystal droplets surrounding a single, central bulb - is diffuse and not very practical but if the front door has a glazed panel it will provide plenty of natural light to illuminate the space by day, and the fitting itself creates a dramatic design feature by night. Long corridors present their own problems, and one good solution is to space simple tungsten bulbs between the ceiling beams, using clear glass for crystal brightness and letting the visible filaments add their own sparkle.

Choose light fittings that flatter the space or contribute character to prevent halls and corridors from feeling like transit areas

In rooms with fairly high ceilings, use chandeliers to help balance the proportions of the space and add decorative interest to bare areas.

Leave doors to adjoining rooms open to supplement corridor lighting, balancing the light levels and bringing the house to life as the lead the eyes towards areas of interest.

Use a row of simple clear bulbs to turn a corridor into a gallery, leaving them exposed and sparkling or shading them with small metal coolie-style covers to create a downlit effect.

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