Decorating Ideas For Stairs And Landing

17 clever hallway, stairs and landing ideas you need to see

June 28, 2021 / Fifi McGee

Hallways, stairs and landings are key places in any home. We run up them and through them, down them and out of them but they tend to go under appreciated in daily life.

They're a crucial part of how we live in our homes and yet we rarely give thought to them as a style-able space. So we think it's about time they got the attention they deserve and chance to inspire your next project to transform small spaces with huge potential.

We've rounded up a whopping twenty style ideas to fit hallways, staircases and landings of any size and with any budget. Read on at risk of inspiring an immediate makeover 😂 …and if you're stuck on where to start when it comes to home design, then be sure to check out Home Design Lab to learn exactly how to transform every room of your home with cohesion in mind.

1. It's all about the wall

With zero floor space to spare, there's an awful lot you can do with jazzing up a wall. Take your cue from Jamie at Mindfully Grey and go in with contrasting wallpapers, an industrial hook rail and some coordinating prints across the breadth of the wall. This project is practical, simple and easy on the budget. We reckon you could easily DIY this. Give it a try!

Monochrome Landing idea Credit: @ericadavies — idea for Styled monochrome decor on a landing - image: @erica_davies

2. Maximise your landing like Erica

If you're lucky enough to have space on your side, follow @erica_davies' lead and open the space up with select furnishings. Monochrome and sepia tones keep an airy feel and the practical storage and seating make great use of spare space. It's feels like a whole new room!

small hallway ideas - Credit: The Grown Up Edit

3. Get your DIY on

Even with minimal space, there's lots you can do to a plain hallway. We love how Wendy of The Grown Up Edit has flexed her DIY skills to make the most vacant space over a period radiator with a nifty console table. A super practical way to maximise space, she's also all over the industrial trend.

decorating ideas for stairs - Credit: @seasidevictorianhome

4. Make a mirror mosaic

Who doesn't love a mirror arrangement. Fiona and Greg @seasidevictorianhome have used these vintage pieces to bounce light from the skylight around the staircase landing, but still in keeping with the chic monochrome vibes.

5. Create a staircase gallery wall

Try clustering your precious family photos, memos and motivation words together on a gallery wall just like @balion.house. It'll brighten your day each time you dash up or down the stairs. This is also a really handy idea if you're working to tight budget as you can use any old frames or spare plaques without the need for too much coordination.

Two tone hallway idea - Credit: @ourhomeupthehill

6. Opt for on trend hallway tiles and two-tone walls

Lucy and Josh of @ourhomeupthehill have kept it simple with a contrasting colour scheme but added pattern tiles for extra energy and style in a plain space. Tiles in a hallway are also super practical for those with children or four-legged friends running in and out of the door. A clean, two-tone colour scheme on the walls give the illusion of detail like panelling at a fraction of the cost.

OFFICE Landing idea - Credit: @ciaraelliot — OFFICE idea in a spare space on a Landing - image: @ciaraelliot

7. Turn your landing into an office space

With more and more of us working from home, having a quiet sanctuary to work in can be invaluable. But not all of us have a room to spare for a home office. @ciaraelliot has set her desk up on her landing, with a beautiful garden view to boot. Find a dreamier work space, we challenge you!

8. Keep styling simple

Just a few key pieces can turn a hallway into a styled space. Pick a favourite print, lamp and trailing plant just like @intheloftroom, with a minimal picture ledge or narrow shelf. It'll take up barely any space and give a chilly corridor a cosy feel.

MIRROR IN A HALLWAY - Credit: @mrst_house — full-length MIRROR decor idea for HALLWAY - image: @mrst_house

9. Love a long hallway mirror

Bringing a full length mirror into a cute corner combined with a lamp can give life to quiet corners. When it comes to mirrors, the bigger the better and this is a gorgeous piece paired with creamy surrounds in @mrst_house home. We love the bold pop of leopard print and lamp tying in to give it all such a warm feel.

MONOCHROME Hallway - Credit: @samanthajonesathome

10. Mix monochrome with timeless furniture

Even the most chic of staircases can be made a personal part of the home with coordinating prints. @samanthajonesathome irresistibly chic house is reflected in simple monochrome prints and a character-filled antique chair for a softer touch.

Hallway STORAGE idea - Credit: @simshilditch — Idea for a Bespoke built-in storage unit in a Hallway - image: @simshilditch

11. Create the ultimate organisational space

Where space permits, creating an area to not only organise the usual hallway clutter (boots, coats, umbrellas, dog leads) but also to organise yourself as you go in or out of your house. We absolutely adore how @simshilditch has thought of everything in this hallway space, with hooks, baskets, shelves, a boot rack and even a bench seat all together in quite a slim, built-in structure. Plus, it looks divine!

Landing ART - Credit: From My Living Room

12. Minimal touches for maximum effect

Making even the simplest of additions to a staircase wall can make a huge change in the overall feels. Andrea at From My Living Room has gone for a single statement piece of art in shades that coordinating with her surround colour choices. Pair that with the clean lines of a pendant light and you've got yourself a new an improved space without losing any of the airy feel.

Landing READING NOOK - Credit: Running From The Law

13. Create a landing reading nook

Sara from Running From The Law has used her vacant landing space to create a cosy reading nook and make the most of the natural light flooding in. She's replicated the same colour scheme from the opposing wall to tie the whole landing space together as a room in itself. Her nook also goes to show that a standalone bookcase can look just as grand as a built in.

Storage idea in hallway -Credit: Lavender Julep

14. Store your shoes

This hallway idea to store shoes and all those bits that come in handy near the front door is very clever and great for slim hallways. Julie of Lavender Julep has taken simple Ikea furniture to the next level with a little DIY-ing. Even though her hallway is quite narrow, she's transformed a small section of wallspace into something super useful.

15. Adorn your steps with greenery

We're all for the surge in popularity of foliage in the home. Say hello to Kacey Musgrave's delightfully simple plant basket styling as featured on A Beautiful Mess. Full points for keeping it simple and focusing on just a few key shades to contrast with the bright white surroundings.

hall GALLERY WALL - Credit: Domino Mag — colourful hallway idea using a GALLERY WALL - image: Domino Mag

16. Go for a feature hall

Gallery style arrangements of character-filled framed images aren't just reserved for staircase walls. We love how Luke Edward Hall has lit his gallery hallway up with a punchy shade of yellow, filling the space with energy and framed curiosities for guests.

hallway RADIATOR COVER - Credit: Design Soda — hallway idea with a painted RADIATOR COVER - image: Design Soda

17. Celebrate hallway radiators

Finally, we're going back to basics and celebrating the wonderful things you can do with a simple radiator cover. With a lick of coordinating paint, the ledge will give you the perfect height to frame wall hangings with shelved decorations and plants, just like Ruthie from Design Soda.

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What can you do with your hallway, staircase or landing? We love seeing your DIY before and afters so please do share! Even if you're in the planning stages, send us your ideas.