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4 Curtain Ideas To Create Welcoming Hallways

Redesigning your hallway is a big project, as it is the first part of the house people see when they enter. 

It is also the entrance to each room and what you look at the majority of the time you are at home. 

As such, it is important to think carefully about what paint colour you choose for the walls, the lighting, hallway furniture and even details such as door knobs and panelling. 

Something that really helps to elevate hallway design is choosing the right curtains, as these can really tie the look together, whether you choose colour-popping fabrics or calming tones in natural materials. 

For inspiration on what to pick when mulling over your curtain choices, read on!

A welcoming ambience

If you want to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere when opening your front door, you might want to consider opting for subtle tones in your curtains. 

For instance, sage greens, pale blues and dusky pinks are incredibly popular at the moment as they aren’t shocking or too daring, and they offer a calm and natural transition between the rooms. 

This means if you’ve opted for Benjamin Moore’s Colour of the Year 2026 Silhouette AF-655 and painted your living room in the espresso-charcoal brown, it will still feel like a smooth shift going from one of these muted tones in the hallway. 

In fact, Benjamin Moore recommends the following shades as complimentary colours if you are looking for something that will look great next to this striking paint:

Soft colours, including earthy shades like a subtle terracotta or pale mustard yellow, also look great with other bold choices, such as navy blue powder rooms, pottery red kitchens, and rich greens. 

These also allow homeowners with neutral-painted walls to add pops of colour to their hallway if they are not brave enough to paint the entire space in a more daring shade.

Open up narrow hallways

A problem many of us have is narrow or dark hallways. Whether you have a period property with a tight passageway or a modern home with no natural light, you can suffer from dimly lit entrances.

Therefore, it is a good idea to choose fabrics and colours that will brighten up the space. 

You can do this by choosing neutral colours, such as beige, cream or light grey. These make the hall feel brighter and less closed in. 

Semi-sheer curtains or natural textures, such as cotton and linen, are also wise options, as they allow any natural light to filter through, so the hall feels less dark and, subsequently, wider and more spacious. 

Light fabrics and neutral colours also have the added bonus that they feel timeless and suit a variety of properties really well. They are also really versatile and suit many shades and styles. 

So, if you fancy jazzing up your corridor with a bolder colour or new accessories later down the line, you won’t have to change your curtains as well. 

Add character to your hallway

However, curtains are a great opportunity to add character to a hallway, particularly if you are keeping the walls neutral and light. 

You could opt for deep, regal tones such as forest green or crimson red if you want a dramatic style. 

Alternatively, charcoal or deep navy could add a modern touch to a house. 

Another advantage of having darker curtains is they hide stains, which is important as hallways are the busiest areas of the house and are often victims of unsightly blemishes. 

Choose the size carefully

It isn’t just the colour and style of curtain that is important but also its size. 

You might first think of just getting fabric that fits the height and width of your window. However, opting for a long-length curtain that reaches the floor or even puddles slightly at the bottom can add a touch of elegance to the space. 

It makes the hallway look timeless, regal and sophisticated, and can even give the illusion of taller ceilings, adding space to the passageway. 

Another way of making the hall appear bigger and more spacious is to install the curtain pole higher than usual and beyond the sides of the window frame. This gives the impression of greater width and height. 

There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to hallway curtains, but it is essential to choose ones that will suit your home and your personality, as this can make all the difference when creating a stylish hallway that you’ll just want to show off.