Hallways are one of the most overlooked areas in many homes when it comes to adequate lighting. Homeowners will spend a reasonable amount of money purchasing and installing lighting fixtures for the foyer or entryway of their home and then neglect the adjunct hallway.
Before considering hallway lighting, it's a good idea to take a look at the hallway surfaces. Look at the finish on the walls and the ceiling as well as the type and color of the floor. If the various surfaces absorb light (that is, they are darker colors), you may want to consider repainting the walls and the ceiling with lighter, more reflective colors. If the floor is hardwood or another surface that would be hard to change, consider lighter colored throw rugs along the passageway.
If there happens to be a window at the end of the hallway, you may be surprised that this window can be more of a problem than a solution to effective lighting in this area. Here's what often happens. The extreme contrast between the light from the window and the reliably dimly lit hallway can create a glare effect that effectively reduces the illumination from the window. This can be exaggerated if the floor also reflects the glare. In other words, untreated windows at the end of a hallway can cause more problems than they are worth. What you should consider is minimizing the glare factor by installing window treatments such as drapes or awnings or blinds.
Remodeling a hallway with good lighting may involve more work than is involved in reworking lighting in other areas of the home. Many hallways, particularly in older homes, have few electrical sources that you can tap into and, as a result, you may find yourself with the chore of teasing out drywall and other surfaces in order to install the needed electrical sources. If you are faced with this challenge, you should ask yourself if it's worth the extra work involved.
I'll assume that you are dealing with new construction or are willing to tackle the existing construction to get the job done the way you want it.
Wall sconces are among the most popular fixtures used to illuminate hallways. This indirect lighting provides a very nice, soft effect and a sconce should be placed about every ten feet along the hallway (for purposes of safety). Sconces are also very attractive when used on a dimmer switch. At night, the dimmer can be adjusted so that there is just a hint of light in the hallway but enough to navigate safely through it. If possible, use sconces that match the style of any pendant or chandelier that is used in the foyer or entryway to add continuity to your overall lighting and decorating design.
Track lighting adds a modern look to hallways and other areas in your home. Use halogen track lighting in hallways with at least an eight-foot ceiling to focus attention on artwork or a collection of photographs or other items used as wall decoration. Modern track lights incorporated a wavy looking spotlight that can make a hallway appear to be shorter than it really is. Placing at least some of your hallway lighting high on the walls with the light directed downward will add flair to your decorating and will make the hallway area look more open.
The walls at or near the end of a hallway should be illuminated.
Recessed ceiling luminaries or surface-mounted luminaries can also be used to provide a nice touch in hallway areas. Light from these fixtures should indirectly reflect from a light-colored ceiling surface and are appropriate fixtures to highlight doorways and the end of a passageway.
If the length of your hallway (s) permits, consider mixing several different types of lighting fixtures to add drama and interest to this often ignored area.
