Many people choose to cover all of the floor areas in their home with the same product. While this may provide a pleasing flow of color from one room to another and impart an air of spaciousness to a property, it is doubtful whether a single product can fulfill the requirements of each individual room.

For example, carpets may be wonderfully soft underfoot and add a touch of luxury to a bedroom setting, but they are not necessarily the perfect option for a busy hallway, with children running in and out of a muddy garden all day.

Timber and tiles

Timber flooring is relatively hard-wearing and imparts a warm glow to its surroundings, perfect for the hallway. It can, however, be affected by small particles of grit brought in underfoot, which can wear its surface to a dull finish. Ceramic tiles are extremely durable, but avoid tiles with a highly glazed surface, as they may become slippery underfoot when wet. Unglazed quarry tiles and natural products such as slate and terracotta are good afternatives. Bear in mind that slate and terracotta need to be sealed on a regular basis to maintain their appearance.

Both timber and tile flooring look particularly good in a hallway setting if surrounded by a border detail. This helps to highlight the shape of the hall, and can even be used to give the appearance of a rug or pathway.

Carpets and linoleum

Although carpets may not be the most suitable flooring for the hall itself, diey should not ruled out entirely. A stairwell is the perfect place to introduce this type of soft flooring, which can be continued onto the landing area above. Most colors and designs of carpet work well in conjunction with natural timber, but a little more thought is needed if you are combining it with one of the other natural floorings mentioned above.

Another option for the hallway is a semihard flooring such as linoleum, which comes in a wide range of designs and colors.

Color choice

The color of the flooring you choose for your hallway is just as important as the type of product used. In general, light colors will make the area appear larger than if it were decorated with dark colors. Warm colors, such as pink and peach, will give the hallway a cosy, welcoming feel, while cool colors like blue and green, for example, will make it appear more airy and spacious. Cool colors also make a room appear look more formal.