One of the more vexing problems of apartment decorating is how to decorate your hallway. This part of the apartment tends to be overlooked as many people think of it as simply a passage from the outside to the inside or a connection between rooms. But the entry hallway can prepare your guests for the rest of the apartment and should ideally be warm and welcoming. Your other hallways should also contain points of interest that delight the eye.

Here are some hallway decorating ideas:

What to Do About a Narrow Space
One problem with many hallways is that they’re narrow. Therefore, you might want to steer clear of heavy and bulky furnishings. Indeed, some apartment hallways are so narrow they might not have room for any furniture. This doesn’t mean that the hallway has to remain drab.

The floors of a very narrow hallway can be decorated with a runner, which is a long and narrow rug. A runner can be made of the same sort of fabric as a regular rug. These fabrics can include acrylic, polyester and nylon, though you might avoid delicate fabrics like silk because of the hallway’s heavy traffic. But just because a runner is sturdily built doesn’t mean that it has to be unappealing. The runner can be beautifully patterned, even with patterns traditionally found on Oriental or French rugs. Its colors can complement the room the hallway leads into, like the living room or the dining room.

What Sort of Lights To Use
You should also take care to hang the right sort of lighting for your hallway. A hanging lantern is ideal in a narrow space. A high ceiling might even be hung with a spectacular crystal chandelier while a ceiling that’s a bit lower can be fitted with a light with a textured glass or alabaster shade. One rule of thumb is to make sure the hanging lamp can easily clear the head of the tallest man you know.

Framed photographs or pictures provide interest for the hallway’s walls. The pictures can be simply framed in wood or metal and arranged in groups or arranged in a straight horizontal line that guides your guest into the rest of your apartment.

Decorating a Wider Hallway
An apartment hallway that’s somewhat wider can accommodate a shoe cubby or a bench with storage. There might also be a console table with room for bric-a-brac, a table lamp or houseplants or books. A mirror hung above the console table is another good touch. An umbrella stand and hat stand near the front door can be aesthetically pleasing as well a useful. Hallways that lead from one room to the other could also be decorated with bookshelves and can even serve as a sort of library.

These are just a few hallway decorating ideas that you can consider.