How to transform an awkward hallway into a beautiful cozy reading nook

I love my Dream Homies Facebook group, I get to help offer advice on interesting spaces that I would never have the opportunity to see otherwise. And Paola's hallway is no exception!Here's what Paola threw out to the Homies looking for help with....

"Looking for ideas to decorate my hallway. It is long and narrow 😥 What kind of furniture and where exactly. Thanks a lot for your ideas!"

First things, first, yes THIS is the hallway! Pretty cool, right?The interesting this about this space is that while there's a fireplace, it's really not the ideal focal point, for an entryway I always want there to be focal point with a wow factor when you first walk in. In this case, the focal point should be the wall on the other side.As far as hallways are concerned this is definitely not narrow! What I envision for this space is a cozy reading nook, or a place where people might sit and chat if you're hosting a party (this is of course without having any additional information about the rest of your home).Let's tackle this space step by step, starting with the floor plan.

Floor plan

Keep in mind I don't have any measurements, so I've drawn this floor plan out by eye. I want to keep the long wall free of furniture, in order to maintain the flow from the entryway to the kitchen area. That said, having no furniture in front of the fireplace would feel awkward, plus it's always nice to have some seating in front of the fireplace so you can enjoy it. The thing with this floor plan though, is that you want to keep sight lines open, so we'll accomplish this by adding a bench or ottoman in front of the fireplace.

Art Placement

1. Large statement art on the back wall. Normally, I'm all about statement art above the fireplace, but in this case I would suggest moving the amazing piece of art that is currently above the fireplace to the focal point wall.
2. Add a row of art on the long wall. I suggest about four frames all in the same size. This helps draw your eye throughout the space.
3. Hang a round mirror above the fireplace. Now that we've added five pieces of art throughout the space, another one above the fireplace would be overkill. Every room should have something shiny, so I suggest a mirror above the fireplace. A round mirror is a nice opportunity to break up all the rectangles and squares you see throughout with the art, fireplace and windows.

Decor, Lighting and Accessories

Decorating is a key part of making the space feel polished, but it's also an opportunity to camouflage certain architectural elements.

1. Large vases on the fireplace. I would remove all the small decor objects on the fireplace and minimize. The fireplace is quite deep and when you first walk in you'll be seeing only the side. Aim to have only a couple of large vases on the fireplace and nothing more. This will streamline things and ensure that what you see walking in is a well-considered vignette, that doesn't feel messy.
2. Add a tall plant beside the fireplace. Again, because the fireplace is so deep, I would want to break up that surface with a plant, this way your eye isn't drawing to the large blank surface.
3. Upgrade the light fixtures and add some lighting on a human level. I noticed there seems to be two light fixtures here, which is totally fine, I would suggest finding some new fixtures to replace those, or, what I would do is find one statement light fixture and remove the second. I would also find a floor lamp with a shade to go beside the far chair, this helps layer in more lighting, while adding some height. Don't be afraid to have the light and chair layering the art. People tend to try to hang art so it's clear of furniture and other items, but this is a no-no. Layering is good, homie!
4. Add a few throw pillows. This one is obvious, find some nice throw pillows to keep the space feeling colourful and happy!
5. You can consider layering a small rug over your carpet. This helps define and ground the space, and of course add some colour, pattern and texture. Lastly, I would consider a throw on the bench to break it up a bit as well.

So there you have it, my suggestions on how to transform your entryway into a wow-worthy space!