Corridor lighting in the hallway

Without a good mix of natural and artificial light, your hallway can feel dark and uninviting, and it can also increase the risk of tripping over or bumping into things.

A well-designed lighting scheme that blends natural light with soft, directional, artificial light will make your corridor safer and appear brighter and more spacious. It can also highlight its unique architectural features to create a sense of calm.

How do you install artificial lighting in a narrow corridor? What type of corridor lighting should you choose to brighten your space? Lighting poses many questions, but there are two main factors to consider to create the best lighting plan for your scheme:

Think about the length, width and ceiling height of your hallway, the position of any windows and whether you can add roof windows to brighten up your space further. This will determine the arrangement and intensity of the light sources you require.

If you have a long, narrow corridor with no source of natural light, for example, it’s best to install several lights at regular intervals. If your hallway turns a corner, go for two matching pendant lights to unite the two spaces.

If your hallway is only used as a passageway, consider low-energy lights with motion sensors. You could also add sun tunnels to draw in natural light from above to brighten up your space and make it more energy efficient and cost effective. 

If your hallway doubles up as a home office or reading nook, for example, choose lighting solutions that combine comfort and practicality. Spotlights will illuminate the whole space, while a floor lamp by your armchair and a table lamp on your desk will provide more focused task lighting. To help your space feel really cosy and inviting, use accent lighting to create a feature of shelves or beams or other interesting decorative elements. 

To maximise natural light in your stairway, consider installing roof windows. These will make your space brighter and make it feel larger and more comfortable. They will also help to ventilate your hallway and bring in fresh air.

Strategically placed artificial lighting can transform your upstairs hallway from a bland thoroughfare into a tranquil space you want to spend time in. 

Try these ideas:

Hallway lighting should feel intentional, not incidental. Recessed spotlights or slimline wall lights will produce bright clean lines, while ceiling-mounted fixtures will soften your space with an ambient glow. 

If you have a high ceiling, a single pendant or cluster of hanging lights will add an elegant talking point. While LED strips along skirting can light your pathway at night for a contemporary edge and can be used to draw attention to shelving.

Final tip: Avoid high-consumption halogen bulbs and opt for smart lighting systems. These are more energy efficient and economical and you can adjust their intensity and colour to suit your mood. 

Optimise your corridor lighting for energy efficiency, cost and comfort with an automated lighting control system. These can include motion sensors that turn the lights on when someone steps into the corridor when natural light is poor.

It can also let you pre-programme your lighting to turn on and off at set times of the day. You can control your smart lighting remotely from an app to create a completely customised hallway lighting experience.

Ideally, you want to blend your artificial lighting with your natural light sources.

Installing roof windows, or sun tunnels, even in a small hallway, is the most effective way to maximise the amount of natural light that comes into your space.

Daylight helps boost your health and wellbeing and it reduces your electricity consumption and makes your home feel warmer and brighter.

Your building contractor, architect or surveyor should be able to tell you what’s possible in your space. An interior designer can help you best combine your roof windows with artificial lighting to ensure your upstairs hallway looks great at any time of the day or night.

Alongside artificial and natural light, you can also apply other techniques to make your upstairs hallway brighter.

• Pale colours will reflect light further into your space and push the walls out. Colour drenching, where you paint the walls, ceiling and paintwork in the same hue is currently very on trend. Avoid dark colours as they can make your hall feel dingy.
• Opt for glass doors, so that light from other rooms can filter into your corridor and brighten it up.
• A strategically placed mirror with a soft curved frame will amplify your natural and artificial light and open up your hallway, adding a quiet focal point without overwhelming your space.