Hallway and Entryway Wall Decor Ideas
Good hallway wall decor makes the first wall you see count, and keeps narrow walls simple. Put your boldest print where it greets you at the door, use a row of smaller prints along a long or narrow hall, and choose light, warm colours if the space is dark.
Below: ideas for entryways, narrow and long hallways, dark halls and landings, plus prints chosen for the job.
Prints for this look
Start with the wall you see first
The wall facing the front door, or the one above a console table, sets the tone for the whole house. It is the place for a print with real character: a bold word, a strong colour or a favourite place.
Above a console table, aim for art about two thirds the width of the table, and leave 15 to 25 cm between the tabletop and the bottom of the frame. One A2, or a pair of A3 prints, suits most console tables. If you have lamps and bowls on the table too, a large print leaning against the wall behind them looks relaxed and is easy to change.
Narrow and long hallways
In a narrow hallway you see the art up close and side on, so smaller prints with detail work better than one huge piece.
- Go vertical. Tall A3 or A2 prints suit the narrow wall space between doors. Browse our vertical wall art.
- Keep frames slim and flat so people and bags do not catch them as they pass.
- Make a row. On a long hallway wall, a line of matching prints with even 5 to 8 cm gaps, or a wider equal spacing between doors, leads the eye along the hall. Keep the centre line at about 145 to 150 cm from the floor all the way along.
- Use a series. Prints from one set, such as city or travel posters, feel connected even when doors break up the wall.
A landing is often wider than the hall below it. That makes it a good spot for a small gallery wall, built around one A2 anchor.
Brightening a dark hallway
- Choose light backgrounds. Prints with plenty of white or cream reflect what light there is.
- Add warm colour. Ochre, terracotta, coral and soft yellow feel sunny even without a window.
- Put a mirror opposite a print to bounce light and make the hall feel wider.
- Light the art. A wall light or a lamp on a console table makes a dark corner feel deliberate.
Our prints are on matte paper, so there is no shine from the print itself. If glass in the frame reflects a bright door or window, try acrylic or move the print along the wall.
Should hallway art be the same throughout?
Not the same, but connected. The hall, stairs and landing are seen one after another, so repeat a frame colour or two or three shades all the way through and the house will feel joined up. The subjects can change from wall to wall.
Try your layout in the gallery wall planner before you drill. For more ideas, see our post on hall wall decoration.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Centimetres | Inches | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Shelves, desks, small gaps, sets of 3 |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Hallways, side walls, pairs |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Above a sideboard or small sofa, the anchor of a gallery wall |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Above a standard sofa or bed |
| A0 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Large walls, open-plan rooms, statement pieces |
All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.
