Festive Hallway Decorating Ideas

Easily overlooked at other times of the year, the wall beneath a flight of stairs is an ideal backdrop for a wreath display, which makes an all-important impact on entering the house.

Get the look: Simple hoops of rattan or cane work as frames for some fir fronds, or find similar ready-made at The White Company. Be sparing to achieve this understated result.

Keep your hallway floor clutter-free by suspending decorations from the ceiling. Retro-style honeycomb lanterns create dynamic focal points. Try iridescent decorations, too – they’re very effective at picking up the light, creating shimmering, cloud-like formations.

In this cheerful hallway, traditional Edwardian detailing has been brought up to date through the use of aquatic wall paint shades.

Get the look:  Hung from the ceiling and echoing the hues on the statement chandelier are a collection of large tissue paper honeycomb balls, £4.75 each, Pipii. The walls are painted in Arsenic and Cook’s Blue estate emulsions, both £45 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball.

Turn the decoration volume down a notch and choose something simple. It can be just as effective as going all out at Christmas. Be it a small spray of greenery across the mantelpiece, or a single branch in a vase, the minimalist route brings a stylish air of Nordic simplicity to the festivities. Less really can be more.

Another space that’s often ignored during the rest of the year is the landing or turn in a staircase. Such spaces can be used to create displays that are ideally positioned at eye level.

Get the look: This young Christmas tree in a simple jute bag is crowned by a star fashioned from pipe cleaners. Potted tabletop trees by Clas Ohlson are £19.99 each, while Trouva offers jute baskets.

Gold provides a great welcome to the home. It’s warm, luxurious and twinkling, making every visitor instantly feel special. It's also super versatile – from crackled, old gold with an almost copper
tint, right through to bright, sparkling, virtually white gold. The opportunities to create different moods are endless.

Take a no-holds-barred approach for show-stopping results. This made-to-measure gold eucalyptus garland cannot fail to impress. But don’t stop there. A giant disco ball,
white and gold balloons, tassel garlands and silver paper chains together add an extra layer of impact. No need to try this one at home. Commission a florist for a similarly elaborate garland.

Get the look: Try eBay for giant disco balls. Metallic orb balloons in gold are £4.50 each at Talking Tables and glitter paper chains are £9 each from DZD.

Colours and displays that might overwhelm other rooms can be just right for the space that you spend the least time in. For a playful option, think beyond traditional decorations and welcome guests with a colourful light installation.

A group of vibrant character circus lights and other ephemera creates a theatrical effect and a conversation point here – great fodder for getting the Christmas party started.

Get the look: The Letteroom sells similar Hollywood letter lights, from £340 each. Find the arrow LED light at Partyrama.co.uk, £10.99.

Kick-start the party and create a few wry smiles with tongue-in-cheek decorating. Dispensing with a traditional tree has become de rigueur for those who want to make an anti-trad statement this season. So get on board!

It’s bonkers, but it works. This Tex-Mex-inspired scheme combines the customary festive colours with modern results. Saguaro cacti stand in lieu of a tree and a zebra head is swathed in lights.

Get the look: Blooming Artificial has a convincing faux Saguaro, £105.49.

Embrace the festive foliage trend for immediate impact – on the eyes and the nose. Bannisters make a great framework for a statement garland. This birds of paradise-themed arrangement lends an element of fantasy to this space.

Get the look: Philippa Craddock’s new faux garlands, from £75 each, have a neutral base, so you can customise the look every year. The Farthing has a similar vintage-style metal trolley, £175.

There’s something regal about decorating with feathers. They’re like costumes and there’s no better time than Christmas for a splash of the dramatic. While peacock feathers have ruled the festive roost, delicate swans and strutting partridges are elbowing in this year. Don’t be shy: feathers are meant to wow, so be extravagant.

Create a winter wonderland look for the staircase by looping a garland of delicate feathers in cool wintry hues around the bannisters. Lest the effect be too icy, vamp up the glamour and dress a chandelier with silk roses, tea lights and goose feathers. This bannister is adorned with ostrich feathers. You’ll need lots to recreate the effect.

Get the look: Try mixing in spadone, £3.70 each, and mini plumes, £10 for five, from The Feather Factory. The chandelier’s embellishments include goose nagoire feathers, from £7.20 for 10. Get the look with feather boa garlands, from £5.99 each, UK Christmas World.

Render decorations down to a single focus: lights. The advent of energy-efficient LED lights has brought many advantages with it, not least the ability to go to town with guilt-free Christmas lighting, safe in the knowledge that they’re not burning up precious fossil fuels. Net lights are a case in point and a beautiful way to give the hallway a touch of sparkle.

Curtain lights have that unmistakable wow-factor, which is ideal for a high-impact entrance hall. If the staircase won’t accommodate them, think about hanging one against a wall for a similar effect.

Get the look:These are 288 LED curtain lights, £60, Lights4fun.

Candles make wonderful hallway accessories. Both functional and decorative, candles can be used to light pockets of darkness, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Display candles in differing shapes and sizes within hurricane lamps in larger spaces. For smaller rooms, try arranging a cluster in front of a mirror, which can give the illusion of more space.

The warm glow of candles is a charming addition to this monochromatic scheme. Embrace the trend for alternative Christmas trees and use a simple tree-shaped candelabra instead, for a minimalist effect.

Get the look: Try Wayfair’s Christmas tree metal candelabra, £36.99.