Tricks for Making a Narrow Hallway Wider

Do you happen to have a hallway that is narrower than you would like? If so, here are a few tricks for making a narrow hallway wider. By using one of these methods, strategies, or ideas you can improve the look of your hallway, possibly even increasing the amount of storage space in it, without going to the added expense of doing a complete remodel.

• Don't forget the flooring. Take a good hard long look at what you have on the floor of your hallway. While you may be tempted to use a throw rug, area rug, or even a runners in a narrow hallway, you really want to avoid doing that. The reason is rather simple in that clear floors help create an overall illusion of spaciousness. This philosophy should also extend to any furniture you may think about putting in the hallway as well.
• Use some mirrors. Simply hanging a mirror in a narrow hallway can help create an added sense of space. While everyone knows it is imaginary, a mirror somehow allows people to think that there is more space in an area than there really is by reflecting and refocusing light (both natural and artificial). In many ways a mirror can often "trick" people into thinking it is a window, and thus provide the sense of space or depth that is missing otherwise.
• Decorate at a minimum. Perhaps one of the biggest drawbacks to narrow hallways is that they can easily become cluttered looking. Often all it takes to have a narrow hallway look cluttered is to have just one item too many placed in it. What this means is that you need to avoid hanging several pictures, or placing several pieces of furniture in it. Instead, you will want to hang perhaps one single large picture (if you are certain that you want them) and leave it at that. If you do decide to hang a picture as well as a mirror, try to have them on opposite walls.
• Recess the lighting. In narrow hallways even the lighting can contribute to a cluttered look. One way you can help remove that look, and help provide a bit of extra room is to have your hallway lights be recessed or pot lights. These types of lights will not only allow you to still get all the light you need, but also be used as an accent of any artwork that you have in the hallway.

Keep in mind that these are only a few of the available tricks for making a narrow hallway wider, or at least appear to. If, after you have tried these, and you are still not happy with the results you may want to look into saving some money for a remodel project. While it is definitely more expensive to do a complete remodel it will not only make your hallway wider, but it will also give you the opportunity to make other changes that you may have wanted for a while as well.