Your front hall is perhaps not the first space you think about decorating, but it has an important and very basic job to do, and warrants your attention. This is the entry point into your home.
A thoughtful plan that considers immediate needs, such as where to hang up coats and hang keys, makes arriving home easy and welcoming. The colour of the walls, the lighting, any furniture or accessories have an instant impact on how comfortable you feel, and what you can expect from the living areas.
Entryways are not created equal. Layouts vary from spacious, with a full closet and room for a table and chair, to tiny with room only for a mat for shoes and a coat tree. No matter the size, here are some ideas that will build on your personal style:
In the hallway shown in the photographs, the homeowners lean toward a traditional style with details that were lacking in their new builder home.
Good lighting is essential. There was plenty of light from large windows during the day. For nighttime, I chose a chandelier that lights the hall from above with a gentle sparkle.
A hall mirror was on their wish list, always a perfect solution for enlarging a space and making it brighter.
However, there was no blank wall space, so I hung an antique framed mirror from the ceiling in front of the window. The windows are dressed in white sheers flanked by the warmth of textured gold silk drapes.
Painted skies are a popular way to decorate a ceiling. Rather than paint the whole ceiling, why not paint a small vignette? The illusion of a framed skylight is not difficult to produce and makes a stunning whimsical picture.
The frame is made with stencils, so tape off the area and start with the sky. Clouds are easy to paint, watch the sky and study photos to get the feel.
Clouds move in one direction, they are whiter on top as the sun hits them, shadowy underneath, and at sunrise and sunset you鈥檒l see gorgeous streaks of pink and ocher.
To replicate this cloudy sky, begin with a pale blue base coat. Then, mix a very transparent white glaze, three parts glazing liquid to one part paint. Use the runny white paint for drawing in the shape and direction of the clouds. They should have some form and movement and look as if they are all blowing in one direction. Next, use undiluted (thick) white paint to plump up some of the clouds. Finally, for a realistic highlight, brush on small areas of ocher colour to suggest that the sun has caught the clouds.
Check out stencils at your art and craft store or on the Internet. You will find a variety of frames and mouldings, including circular shapes. This was a two-part stencil, one for the moulding and the second to add the shadows that create the three-dimensional effect.
Since the hallway is connected to the other main-floor rooms in this home, I chose three tones of grey for a harmonious flow.
The hallway is pale grey, the dining room a mid-tone, and the living room was painted a dark tone to add depth and a seductive quality to the space. High-gloss varnish was applied to the living room walls so that it stands out, yet blends with the other rooms.
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Debbie Travis鈥檚 House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email your questions to [email protected]. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at twitter.com/debbie_travis and visit Debbie鈥檚 website, debbietravis.com.
