When we had to make decisions on all of the flooring at once I think I rather rushed the choice for the hallway. We had looked at wooden flooring but in the end we went for carpet which has now proven to be rather a mistake. Our front door has marked the carpet where it opens and of course entering the house from the drive onto the cream carpet isn't the best.
So I am thinking of making a change but I am sure that I need to get it right this time as it is a costly mistake to make once let alone twice. My concern is also not to make the area any darker. We have six doors off the hallway and the wooden staircase, which I do not want to paint so I am a little concerned that a wooden floor might be too much perhaps, but at the moment that is the favourite option.
So in a very long winded way I am trying to ask for your help. What would you suggest we change the floor to so that it is more hard wearing, in keeping with our country style and will make the room lighter? Big ask I know but all ideas and opinions very welcome!
Below are a few ideas I picked up from House to Home and their excellent resource bank of room ideas.
There is a lot of wood in this picture, which doesn't look too much I don't think.
Stone is another option possibly. We would have to keep our stairs carpet for now and this cream one looks OK next to the tiled floor.
Another option to add light, that I have thought about before, is changing our front door. At present it is solid wood but I did like this design with the glass at the top so that people cannot see in but light is still able to filter through. Also this idea of splitting the surface might be a possibility maybe.
Although this hallway is too much stone for us I like this door design to let in light too.
So there are a few ideas, like I say any help would be really appreciated. Many thanks in advance friends.
Oh, I'm glad you mentioned changing the front foor - I was going to suggest that you could get one with a window to add more natural light.
ReplyDeleteI think a light wood floor would look lovely - also if polished it will reflect more light into the room (not obviously but it will help)
What colour are the walls? They look like a peach? It would prob be worth painting them cream or white to make them brighter against the wood?
Good luck, making a hallway look lighter is always a difficult task x
I think pale wood floor boards would do the trick, and a front door with window panes- higher up ones, in a country style.
ReplyDeleteMy sis-in-law in Ireland has a lovely big country house, with wooden floors and wooden doors and it really doesn't look like too much wood. She's accented it all nicely with fabrics. You could put a colourful rag rug mat on the floor inside the front door for a splash of colour too, and to break up the wood a bit.
I like Rhianne's idea about creamy walls too.
Tell you what I'll do... I'll come and take a look, shall I?!
I'm with the other ladies. A light wood floor would really brighten things up!
ReplyDeleteI would say lighter floors + a door with windows, too. We have this problem throughout our home - we get very little natural light + none of our rooms have windows on more than one wall to let more light in. I can definitely understand where you are coming from!
ReplyDeletechanging the door would help a bunch. also a wood floor or maybe a travertine type tile would be lovely and be easy.
ReplyDeleteThis is really good for me too :) Our lounge room is dark even when it's sunny and there are two window here already. But because we have a town house we can't change the outer things :( I would love an extra window to let more light in.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you come up with.
hello cassie!
ReplyDeletei like the ideas mentioned already. I would put in hardwood to match your existing wood throughout your home and would paint out your walls in the entrance a pale cream or white. I was looking at stairs and thought that it would be really pretty if you painted just the rising part of the stairs white or cream and left the top of each step wood to match your railing....similar to this photo:
http://www.scotiastairs.com/photo-gallery/white-square-balusters-white-square-post-1.jpg
you could try and brighten it up just with paint first to see if that makes enough of a difference before you try out new flooring. I don't think that wood floors and doors & trim is too much if the walls are light & fresh!
i'm excited to see what you decide to do!
xo.
k
I agree with the door idea and although I love wood, tiles are easier to clean the mud off and there's a great variety in colours - some of them are very country-style.
ReplyDeletePS. Still don't have your address
In our last house we had a limestone floor in the hallway - it definitely brightened things up. I think changing the flooring to a much lighter colour will do the trick, whether it be stone or wood. All our visitors loved the limestone floor and would immediately comment how bright the hall was as they came in. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI third (or fourth!) those that have suggested the combination of a windowed door and lighter wood floors. I'm always amazed at how a wood floor lightens up a space...both in color and in weight! Sometimes carpet just feels heavy in a space, and wood floors feel airy and simple!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck!