Hallway lighting: Ideas and tips for a bright welcome

The hallway in your home or apartment gives guests a first impression of you. That is why this often overlooked space needs careful thought in terms of furniture, decoration and of course lighting. The right light in the hallway will make your guests feel welcome right from the start. Especially because most hallways lack natural light.

You therefore need to choose the right lamps and luminaires to create a warm and inviting ambiance. This guide will show you how to use LED hallway lighting for a bright welcome.

1. Basic lighting: Special features in the hallway

The floor plan of your hallway differs from that of any other room in your home. Hallways are usually narrow and long. Most hallways have few or no windows that would offer natural light. All these are challenging features for basic lighting. But don't worry: here you will find useful tips and tricks for finding the perfect lighting solution for any size hallway.

The rule of thumb: A brightness of 100 lm per square metre is completely sufficient for any hallway.

How do I light up a narrow and long hallway?

A long, narrow hallway usually offers very limited options for lighting. In most older buildings, hallways usually have just one power outlet on the ceiling. This problem can be solved in various ways: One idea would be a rail system for the ceiling, for example our URail system. These practical light rails will bring light into every corner.

A hallway with a suspended ceiling will do well with LED recessed panels or recessed spotlights. Have a look at our Interior Lighting page if you would like to know, how many recessed spotlights you will need for good hallway lighting. There you will find an easy formula for calculating the right number of recessed spotlights.

Another alternative for hallway lighting would be LED strips, for example our MaxLED system. Tucked away in profiles, they are virtually invisible when switched off and they offer pleasant basic lighting when switched on.

How do I get enough light into a dark hallway?

Many hallways in houses and apartments are very dark and without windows for natural light. Here you will have to brighten things up with the right hallway luminaires and lamps. Diffuse light distribution is the key.

Our recommendation: LED panels. These flat ceiling luminaires emit their light in all directions for a nice and soft distribution. Additional functions like 3-step-dim and tunable white help you find the perfect brightness and light temperature.

Cable and rail systems are also a great idea for dark hallways. And since these practical system solutions come with a variety of spots, spotlights and also panels, every corner will be lit exactly you way you want. Our URail rail system also comes in a choice of three colours: Black, white and chrome matt. You can have a design that matches your interior theme perfectly.

Paulmann Tip:

A wall mirror in the hallway isn't just good for a last glance to make sure you look good before you leave home. A mirror reflects light, which will help brighten the space around it. It will add a point of light as part of your general lighting concept.

2. Atmospheric zone lighting: How to illuminate walls and get staircase lighting right

The right ambiance is crucial if you want to give your hallway a unique character. Wall luminaires will help you do just that. They add features to boring walls and highlight specific areas of your hallway.

Staircase Lighting: Safety first!

If your hallway spans across more than one floor, then you will have to give extra attention to your staircase lighting to prevent accidents. Clear differences in brightness between individual steps add safety and help with orientation. LED strips are a practical and easy to use choice here. You might also want to think about motion sensors – then you won't have to fumble for the light switch in the dark.

By the way: Recessed wall luminaires installed near the floor or along the side of the stairs can be a really good solution for making night-time trips to the bathroom a whole lot safer and you don't have to get blinded by the bright ceiling light.

3. Decorative light concepts: Indirect lighting in the hallway and accent lighting for pictures and paintings

Use indirect lighting for an extra elegant look by your front door. Here too, LED strips are a good choice and they are easily attached behind a side board or other pieces of furniture. The light from the LED strips is reflected back from the floor or wall, giving the highlighted pieces a floating appearance.

Picture luminaires ensure that your paintings, photographs and pictures on the wall get the attention they deserve. You get to re-live beautiful moments with family and friends, plus they make great conversation starters for your guests.

4. Which lamps to use in the hallway?

We would definitely recommend LEDs. They are super economical and it won't be the end of the world if someone forgets to switch them off overnight. That makes them not just good for your wallet, but also great for the environment. In general, modern LEDs now offer all the options that used to be expected of other illuminants – be it a candle-like colour temperature or daylight white brightness, a dimming function or the option of including the lamps in your Smart Home system – all that and more is no problem for these sophisticated lamps.