How to Keep Hardwood Floors Looking Great


Although we travel through our hallways and staircases several times a day, most people take these passageways for granted. We give little thought to these areas, especially when it comes to décor simply because these areas are mere connections between the rooms we actually spend our time in.

If you’d like to spruce up a hallway or staircase in your home, the following decorating ideas are for you. Once you’ve transformed the space, you’ll never take it for granted again.

Artwork And Photos

Hallways and staircases are usually neutral in décor, making them the perfect canvas to showcase your favorite pieces of artwork or photos. With no furniture to clash with, you have the freedom to hang whatever you want, but keep in mind that framed pieces should be similar in size to create a cohesive design that looks well thought out and purposeful.

Lighting

Hallways can be a bit dark, especially since they usually have no windows to provide natural light. For this reason, it’s important to have ample artificial lighting to brighten the space and make it seem more inviting.

A beautiful modern chandelier or a row of recessed lights along the length of the hallway both are great choices to create a nice atmosphere in the space.

The Floor

Your hallway may see high traffic, but that doesn’t mean the floor can’t still be beautiful. Hardwood floors can be resurfaced to breathe new life into the space. They look beautiful with an area rug that portrays your personality, too.

If you’re looking for something a little more maintenance-free, vinyl flooring is a good choice as it comes in a variety of colors and is easy to clean.

Paint And Your Staircase

Hallways often include staircases, which provide an ideal canvas for enhancing the space. Strip your stairs back to their natural wood and give them a fresh coat of paint. A trendy DIY project as of late is the stairway paint fade.

You start with a dark color – like navy blue – and paint each step a lighter and lighter shade of the same color as you go up. This creates a dramatic effect that’s hard to look away from.

Seating

Most people don’t consider the hallway a place to sit down, but if you have the room, adding a comfortable chair or loveseat can be a lovely touch. Whether it’s to put your shoes on or to simply take a load off, you’ll be surprised at how often you sit down in your hallway if there’s a place to do so.

Of course, if your hallway isn’t big enough, don’t force the issue as it can make the small area look cluttered. Instead, try placing a bench against one wall, which takes up less space.

Although hallways get used a lot on a daily basis, most people tend to ignore the décor in these areas. If you’d like to spruce your hallway up a bit, try one or two of the suggestions listed above.
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