How to display photos and pictures in a hallway

5 September 2012

A hallway is the perfect space for a collection of art or family photographs. It's often the first area of your home that visitors see, and one that you pass through on a regular basis - the ideal location for the things you want on display. There's also usually a large amount of blank wall at your disposal, especially on a staircase where the double height of the space is just begging to be filled. There are a myriad of ways to display your pictures and photographs, from immaculate rows of small items, to striking groups of larger pieces. Whether you're a fan of maximalist gallery walls or minimalist arrangements, dark and moody or clean and bright walls. scroll down to see our favourite ways to hang your art in hallway spaces.

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Simon Brown
1/12
Black & White Photography
On the grey balcony landing of this converted artist's studio in north London, black and white photographs by Roger Mayne, John Deakin and Peter Rose Pulham hang above a Venetian eighteenth-century chest of drawers.
Jake Curtis
2/12
Green Walls and Black Frames
The entrance to designer Ben Pentreath's flat is through a white door onto the stairway, the walls of which are covered in framed artworks. The print based on Radio 4's Shipping Forecast (centre) is from Flowers and Fleurons, a small letterpress workshop in Brighton that produces hand-printed limited edition prints. This particular one is the 'Finisterre' edition in subtle greys, printed for Ben Pentreath.
The pendant light is 'Beat Wide Black' from Tom Dixon, while the red chair on the right is a Prince of Wales Investiture Chair from 1969 designed by the Earl of Snowdon.
Simon Upton
3/12
Picture Pyramid
A picture 'pyramid' was created in this hallway with a set of early-eighteenth-century prints, for which Farrow & Ball's 'Off-White' and 'Old White' provide the perfect backdrop. These paint colours also work well with the striped sofa, which was upholstered in 'Casa' (mica) from Roger Oates. Try George Smith for a similar Georgian sofa. The scheme belongs to Willie and Nickie Gething's West Country house, decorated by Willie's sister, designer Caroline Paterson.
4/12
Photo Wall in Small Space
In her flat - her home for the past 25 years - designer Jane Taylor has employed a number of clever space-saving devices, to turn a potentially awkward space into a smart, comfortable interior. Her home, which she shares with her husband Simon and their teenage son Henry is a typical Edwardian mansion block in Chelsea. Although they are purpose-designed, they're often an awkward shape and far deeper than they are wide. Her entrance door opens into a long, high and potentially rather gloomy corridor that connects the front rooms to the back. Jane has enlivened the it with pictures.

Alexander James
5/12
Black and White
An assortment of black-and-white photographs and engravings decorate the hallway of our locations editor Lavinia Bolton's Chelsea flat. (See 100 ideas for hanging art for more tips.) Many of these pictures were made by Lavinia, who studied painting and drawing at a Chelsea art school before landing her first job, working in the English furniture department of Sotheby's in New York. 'I had an absolute ball,' she says.
The simple colour scheme makes the hall feel airy and light, which accentuates the height of the space. The original teak parquet floors also emphasise its width - wide enough for departing guests to put their coats on without bundling into each other.
Mel Yates
6/12
Eclectic Gallery Wall
A large expanse of space in an entrance hall is perfect for starting an eclectic picture wall. Before putting holes in the wall, work out the arrangement you want by mocking it up with newspaper and using non-permanent adhesive to stick the pieces of paper to the wall so there are as few areas of space as possible. When you have the wall filled with the pictures in an arrangement you like, swap the paper for the pictures and it should all fit perfectly.
David Cleveland
7/12
IKEA Picture Ledge
A hallway or entryway is the perfect spot to display some pictures. This picture ledge (from Ikea) allows you to display a range of prints without it looking cluttered. Try fitting the ledges at a variety of heights in order to create a visual wall.
Paul Massey
8/12
Map Wall Mural
Maps look fantastic in frames. This huge example in designer Guy Goodfellow's house has been neatly cut into sections spanning floor to ceiling, taking on a similar look to a mural or finely patterned wallpaper. Symmetry is key to getting this look right. Make sure the gaps between your pictures are scrupulously even.

Sarah Hogan
9/12
Unframed Portraits
A collection of Forties and Fifties portraiture, deliberately left unframed, clusters the staircase of this cottage; with some works propped on the stairs themselves.
Rachel Whiting
10/12
Grid Arrangement
A grid formation is a neat way to display multiple works from the same series of pictures. In this hallway by House & Garden's Gabby Deeming, the walls have been painted with green Farrow & Ball emulsion. This is the ideal canvas for a display of drawings of flowers by Lucy Auge. The striped chair is a witty touch.
WALL Paint, 'Arsenic', £39.50 for 2.5 litres estate emulsion, from Farrow & Ball. Ink on paperartworks, 500 Flowers, 29 x 21cm, £40 each, by Lucy Auge. Aluminium A4 pictureframes (black), £3 each, from Tiger.
Chris Terry
11/12
Dark Background
Dark paint makes an excellent base for art. Pair with burnished gold and bronze accents for a warm, elegant look.
John Lewis
12/12
Blank Canvas
The blank space of a hallway leaves it wide open for your creativity. Think of a white wall as a blank canvas, ripe for making a feature wall. Family photos, a collection of pretty plates - the possibilities are endless...