15 Gorgeous Hallway Colors Designers Swear By

"I always think it's a mistake to try to make an interior room look brighter with white," says interior designer Tom Stringer. "I'd rather make it dark and interesting." His go-to dark color is Benjamin Moore's Van Buren Brown HC-70, which resembles semisweet chocolate chips. "It doesn't feel dark to me, just intimate and enveloping," he says.

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Designer Darren Henault has a probing question for the world: "Why do people treat hallways as a lonely, pathetic passageway?" His cure is adding seating, "even if nobody's actually going to sit." This makes it feel comfortable and inviting. In this space designed by Arent & Pyke, the soft blue accent color softens everything up while the striped barrel chair brings in a modern touch.

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"Usually, hallways don't get much sun, so I like yellow—a color that emanates warmth and light," shares designed Marshall Watson. "It won't take on that gray pallor that white and beige or tan can acquire when there's no window around," He explains. Then consider hanging a series of black and white photographs, as repetition works well in a corridor, he suggests.

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"I like black in a small hallway. Clients think you're crazy at first, but it's very romantic," Elizabeth Brauer tells us. "Do sconces or a chandelier on dimmers, because you don't want bright light flooding the walls." In this hallway designed by Arent & Pyke, the deep shade of navy still has a lively spirit to it.

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Kim Alexandruik's motto is to "go for impact." She encourages you to consider the hallway a playing field for bold accents, like unusual seating and colorful artwork that may be harder to integrate into other rooms. Her color of choice is a "putty-colored gray, with a hint of pink and lavender. Not too light, so it doesn't go vapid," says Aleandruik. Use this hallway designed by Mally Skok as inspiration.

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"To reduce that long tunnel effect, you have to dematerialize the walls," says designed Maureen Footer. She suggests lacquering them to reflect light and get that shimmery glow. These high-gloss green walls in a hallway designed by Christina Murphy are such a fun surprise.

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"A hallway should be the reverse of what's happening around it," says designer Birch Coffey. In this home designed by Arent & Pyke, the front door is painted a lively orangey-red color, so the entry hall softens things up with a muted pewter. Coffey likes Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter HC-172. "This seagull gray doesn't scream for attention, yet it has presence. Light, yet deep enough to look sharp with a contrasting trim," says the designer.

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Intense, eye-catching, and adventurous, we're loving the neon pink walls in this townhouse designed by Jonathan Berger. Use it in a foyer for a warm, welcoming, impossible-to-forget entrance, or to embolden a lackluster hallway.

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"Remember those boutique hotels with hallways so dark they made you feel like a mole? I think the drama should come from your art, and the paint should be fresh and light," says designed Betsy Brown. A nice in between neutral is a gorgeous backdrop for sculptural mirrors and unique lighting, as seen in this hallway by Arent & Pyke.

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A light, delicate pink that provides just a touch of oomph looks surprisingly good when paired with more modern, streamlined, geometric pieces. It also works brilliantly in playful, eccentric spaces, like this one designed by 2LG Studio. The pink color makes it feel open and bright while the elaborate, saturated blue runner grounds it.

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"Hallways without windows can and should be mysterious," asserts Susan Zises Green. She recommends trying a a deep blue with a lot of green that's wet and languid, like this glossy transitional space designed by Studio DB. Green also suggests carrying it up the ceiling to make it feel like a cocoon.

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Sometimes white really is the best option. "I like to use white in a space that has no natural light," shares Lisa Jackson. Her favorite is Farrow & Ball's All White 2005 because "it's not too blue, not too pink, not too yellow." She also says "there should always be a focal point at the end of a hall—a console table, a fabulous chair..." In this one designed by Jess Bunge of Emily Henderson Design, our attention is drawn to the minimalist mirror.

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People are often afraid of dark colors. But it's just paint, bottom line. Try it. You'll like it," Sue Burgess reminds us. Her favorite dark paint color is Benjamin Moore's Taupe 2110-10, which is a rich chocolate-y brown. You could also opt for a moody gray hue like this one used by Arent & Pyke. It's sullen and serious yet exciting and fresh. Plus, it pairs beautifully with a ton of color schemes.

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You can embrace color without going too over-the-top, as proven by this cheerful little hallway designed by Elizabeth Architecture and Design. Pale mint green is a lovely option to give a narrow passageway some fresh energy.

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"There's just something about white that feels very pure and fresh and doesn't compete with the rooms off the hallway," Alex Papachristidis tells us. The designer usually opts for Benjamin Moore Cloud White 967, using different finishes for the wall and trims to create subtle contrast. The soft white in this hallway designed by Hecker Guthrie allows us to focus on the striking blue carpet in the room ahead.

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