update a hallway of 1980s bungalow

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holidayqueen

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Hi
I am looking for advice on how to update a hallway of a bungalow built in 1980 it is the standard L shaped type, it measures 6ft X 13ft in the entrance area and it corridor is 3.2ft x 25ft. The corridor is quire long and dark. The door to the house has one of those orange glass panels so it does not let in light. I was thinking about getting this replaced with some type of clear glass. I want to take up the carpet that is there but I am not sure what to replace it with would tiles in the entrance area with a carpet in the corridor that leads to the bedrooms be ok . I think that the full thing tiled might be cold. Would wooden floor on the whole lots be better? Any advice on how to light it up Any one do anything similar ? What other ideas might make it more modern ? All advice welcome please
 
you could 'tunnel' a rooflight down into the end of the corridor....
lets a huge amount of light in...
 
My parents have a similar L-shaped corridor layout. I would suggest you change the orange glass for clear glass (if it has a pattern or is frosted you'll still get privacy).

If you paint the walls a pale colour or white that will help - one thing I would strongly recommend you NOT do is use a dado rail or picture rail, as this will only make your corridor look longer and lower.

If you have any furniture in the hallway (console table, chairs, etc) then either painting it white or replacing it with white or light coloured furniture will also brighten it up. You can add coloured ornaments or cushions to stop it looking bland or colourless.

Never underestimate the power of mirrors to both increase light and make a small (or in your case narrow) space feel bigger (or wider). But pictures with reflective glass in the frames will also have a reflective effect (and also bring in colour to stop things looking bland or bleached out).

Finally I would suggest you use uplighters to make the make it feel more spacious - if you currently have pendant lights replace the lightshades with uplighter shades (they look like upside down shades, you can get them in most places), you'll be surprised at the difference that alone will make to the feeling of space.

Re the floors, I wouldn't go for tiles or wood on the floor as presumably all your bedrooms open off this hallway and it will be very echoey with wood or tile and anybody in the corridor will disturb anybody in the bedrooms. If you're dead set against carpet a good lino might work for you - the quality available is excellent now, and looks very realistic.

Good luck with it anyway :)
 
My aunt and uncle changed the doors for light coloured ones and it made a huge difference. I'd go wood or light carpet. Tiles are too cold for a hallway in this climate imho.
 
OP, we were in the exact same position 2 years ago.

Our solution was to rip up the carpet, lay pale laminate, paint walls/ceiling white and yes, replace the orange glass with clear frosted.

A few mirrors and funky art and your done. :)
 
TK Maxx is a good shop for mirrors and pictures and you can also get lamps there if you are thinking of putting a lamp or 2
 
what do people think of putting a door in the hall way? could have tiles/wood up to the door and then carpet after it for the bedrooms. splits up the long hallway and helps prevent noise travelling from living areas to bedrooms
 
fitzie79 said:
what do people think of putting a door in the hall way? could have tiles/wood up to the door and then carpet after it for the bedrooms. splits up the long hallway and helps prevent noise travelling from living areas to bedrooms
Click to expand...

as dark as it is now, it would be eternally darker with a second door.

also think about escape in case of fire.....
what if the electrics are blown in a fire and persons rush out into an enclosed hallway full of smoke??...

not a good idea in my opinion.
 
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