As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
This is as true for your home as it is for yourself. However, the entrance halls and porches of our homes are often the most neglected rooms. This is probably because they are amongst the trickiest of spaces to design. They are often small, sometimes dark spaces that we expect a lot from; they are multi-functional, high-traffic spaces. These elements can make the task of designing a hallway a daunting process. But don’t let it be. We have some great suggestions to help you on your way by picking the perfect floor for your entrance way.
The very first thing to consider is that your hallway sets the tone for the rest of your home. Hallways are transitional spaces, often with many doorways and a staircase leading from them. So whatever décor you choose for your hall it needs to work flexibly with the rooms leading from it. Whilst it is important to bare this in mind, it is not necessary to be overly cautious with colour, just considered. It may be that it is right for your home to use neutral tones, but it’s not the only route you can take. Your floor will play a key part in linking and transitioning from your hall, so just make sure that your style decisions are cohesive.
Identifying the perfect flooring for your hallway very much depends on the demands of your space.
Is a hard floor right for you? What colours and tones will suit your space and home? Is a plain or patterned choice the right solution for your hall? For a hard floor, is there a laying pattern that will help you make the most of your space? Do you have pets or children that mean an easy-to-clean floor is important? Let us take you through some options to help you find the right floor for the entrance to your home.
Wooden flooring
Wooden flooring can be a great option. Whilst light-tones can brighten a space and make it feel bigger, don’t fear mid-toned and dark woods as these can be more forgiving in terms of showing up daily dirt and dust. Good quality wood flooring offers lasting style and can be revived by future sanding back and re-sealing if it marks over time. Have you already got an old wood floor in your hall? If so, then perhaps a refresh is the option for you.
If you choose a wooden floor, then think about whether you want to go for larger planks or smaller parquet style tiles. Hallways make a great place to lay an intricate parquet pattern because very little is covered by furniture, allowing the design to shine.
Engineered wood is a fantastic alternative to solid wood for entrance halls. Engineered wood is made from several layers which are designed to make your floor more stable when it comes to withstanding fluctuations in temperature and humidity when compared to solid wood.
Vinyl Flooring (LVT)
If you would like the look of a solid wood floor or an intricately tiled floor but are worried about the upkeep with the inevitable wear and tear of a busy hallway, then Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) might be the perfect solution for you. With designs from large wooden planks, to detailed parquet tiles, to stone look slabs and ceramic effect designs, LVT has something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a Victorian ceramic design or a traditional herringbone parquet, there is an LVT option for you.
LVT is softer and quieter underfoot than more traditional materials, whilst still offering a traditional look and feel. It will help reduce the noise of a busy household as they come and go. It is also so easy to keep clean too, and has a resistant wear layer coating each tile, making it resilient to scratches and scrapes. It can easily be cut to fit unusually shaped rooms, around doorways and at the foot of staircases.
If you choose a traditional plank design, you may want to consider laying it at a 45-degree angle in your hallway as this helps to visually enlarge a space.
Boarders are also a great option when it comes to defining the perimeter of your hallway and allowing you to lead off into adjoining rooms with similar yet different flooring.
Carpet
With the advances in carpet materials, carpets can be both practical and warm & inviting. Even in a high traffic area like a hallway, there are a lot of carpet options available. Most carpets are now bleach cleanable, which makes such a change when it comes to knowing that you can always get your carpet looking as good as the day it was fitted. These carpets are moisture and grease repellent, which is useful to know if considering carpet for your hall. And of course, carpets are great at dampening noise and come in many patterns and shades.
So, what will you choose for your space?
If the entrance to your home is quite small avoid using patterns with a lot of detail. Instead, choose large format tiles, perhaps in a highly polished, light neutral shade. This type of tile will create the illusion of a larger space and make the most of the natural light available. In larger, more open-plan spaces, you can consider more intricate designs, such as a beautiful parquet herringbone pattern or a Victorian checkerboard.
Think about running your hallway flooring through to other downstairs rooms with hard floors to give a consistent feel, making your home feel joined up and more spacious.
If you do choose a hard floor, a hallway runner can provide comfort as well as being the final touch that brings the design elements of your hallway together. Consider whether you want to make a statement with your runner or whether your flooring is the centrepiece. If you want your flooring to do the talking then keep your runner or rug more muted, with a material such as natural jute.
Whilst stairs are often a large feature in a hallway, there is so much to be considered and so many different options when it comes to choosing flooring for staircases, that they deserve a whole post of their own! So, keep your eyes peeled for an update dedicated to lovely staircases.
And one final thing, whatever flooring you choose for your hall, a doormat is essential to help prevent grit and dirt entering your home and causing any long-term damage. You can buy washable door mats as well as those made from more traditional materials such as coir. When we fit a floor for you, we can even create a recess for your door mat to sit in.
