Hang a big sparkly chandalier that emits white, not yellow, light and paint the walls a pretty, slightly shimmery light silver gray and the trim crisp white.

To me there are two things that you could easily change that would really help it out.

1.) Fix the lighting- it is high, it is intense and it comes across as very harsh. Maybe get a chandelier that brings it down a little bit and softens the light. That would be the first thing I would do because after you do that, all of your other decisions might change

2.) The yellow door and trim. Althought it is light, it doesnt come across as cheery, but rather sickly. Once you change the light see if you need to revisit the paint color.

I agree with the first two comments so far. If you still want a pop of color after that - I wonder if painting the ceiling a sky blue might be fun. Or, a multi-color runner.

It seems (without seeing photos) that it would be difficult to connect all the colors you have in your various rooms. I like the frames wallpaper and you can add to it as times goes. At the same time if you arent careful that can come to look very haphazard.

Do the Blik bird decals -- I'd want to do a lot of them though. Like you're in the middle of a flock. Might be a bit much after a late night at the neighborhood bar, however....

Also, LOVE the contrade (sp?) scarf on the window -- huzzah for the snails! Their clubhouse was right behind our hotel in Siena, and they came out and did a flag waving/tossing performance in their full checkerboardesque regalia in the parking lot. In honor of one of their member's birthdays. Siena is a great, soulful town. You should do a post on most graphically strong souvenirs from trips abroad. I have this killer plastic tablecloth from Mexico....

I second the white light suggestion. I have one of those very typical long, narrow, dark New York hallways, and by swapping the regular bulbs for white light CFL's it opened up the space. As a matter of fact, whenever I have the light on, and then step into the kitchen for minute, I always forget that the light is on and think "Where is all that sunlight coming from?" It was the best thing I did to make it a welcoming space, not a space to hurry through.

hmm... THIS hallway.... we-ell it will never be a linger and admire what I've done hallway (you can't step back)

you could make it super useful

and/or crazy

a wild multicolored victorian wallpaper, William Morris, Art Nouveau

well who's gonna do that?... but pick a deep pre-raphaelite color

lots of clothes hooks, instant party cloakroom, get as much off the floor as possible

a full length mirror positioned so you can check yrself out before you go out in THAT (meaning you can step back through the doorway into one of the connecting rooms to do so)

a deep storage shelf above the front door for luggage

and I love the idea of the chandelier the nuttier and tinklier the better

a long long mat that will remove all dirt from incoming shoes as you come on in

oh I don't know... it's a toughie

I'll miss the whimsy of the crayolas

HEY

what about candle wall sconces all along the walls?

magic when called upon

Could you guys please stop with the "we" and "our" nonsense?

I like the chandelier idea.

Also, I'd suggest adding a chair rail, paint the lower half a darker color than the lighther half. I'd suggest the bottom a gray with white on top - just like http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/inspiration/inspiration-danielles-photo-wall-059651. Some colorful pics on the wall would also help liven up the space.

Chandelier, silvery grey on the walls, crisp white trim and a lovely blue ceiling. (all ideas from above).

I think it could look really elegant.

Why is there a scarf hanging on the door? Is there a window that you don't want to look out of?

I'd install flat-stock MDF panels @ 4-6" wide about 5' from the floor on all the walls wrapping around the hall - then paint the hall walls and ceiling a soothing pale, pale grey-blue and all doors, trim and this new rail a semi-gloss black Then I'd install small brass hooks on the new rail - at about 6" intervals all around the hallway - these would be used to catch coats, scarves, bags, etc. I'd leave the window on the door clear - no curtains, etc - just simple clean glass window.

Finally, I'd replace the bare bulb with a new hanging lantern light fixture - such as this one:

http://www.beautyoflighting.com/product/943-AB

Assuming that none of your colours clash, but rather complement, it might be cool to paint a stripe in the room colour leading out of each room into the hallway... wrap partway or all the way around. Make them horizontal, or add a graphic twist with knots to "tie it all together". (sorry, couldn't help myself ;) )

You definitely need some sort of chandelier or pendant light. Color is extremely necessary. Maybe do Vertical stripes with silver and white, or two monochromatic colors, and you could always paint the front door a bright color to contrast. Something needs to go on the wall as well.

Also, it looks like that scarf on the door is to maybe add privacy to the window. I would get something that looks a little bit cleaner to cover the window, whether something that you hang on it, or even some sort of frosted film to go on it so it still lets light in, but gives you privacy.

I agree with the new lighting and getting rid of the Swiss Coffee trim (we had the same in our house when we moved in and painting it had a huge impact) but I'd go one step further with the walls and do Orla Kiely's Stem wallpaper.

I like the first wallpaper link with the bottom paint chip on the wall (but paint the ceiling) and def. replace that light. And lose the crayons.

I'd...
change the window treatment
get rid of monster crayolas
paint over yellow color
get a different light fixture
add crown moulding

I tend to think a stone-gray (slate) would work well with all of the other room colors, and with the yellow-ish trim.

Look back at all the posts on gray/yellow combos!

paint each wall a vivid primary or secondary color(satin finish, so it will be easy to care for) to go with the pop-art aspect of the crayons. then paint the doors and trim an uber-white white semi gloss.

then hang hang thrift store objects spray-painted in white(experiment with flat vs glossy finish), things like old plastic (or not) frames or mirrors, wall sconces, cherubs, 60's and 70's plastic wall pieces, etc. then find an over-scale chandelier(the "grander" the better) and spray it white and hang it in the center as low as you can without it being in the way.

if that is too much for your taste, then pick either of the colors of the crayon, paint all the walls that same color, the trim white and then do the white objects. i would go with the red walls mois-self!

Definitely change out the light fixture, but perhaps not something that hangs down too far if you do the following. 1) Paint the hallway sky blue - it sounds like a nice color against the colors in adjacent rooms.
2) Put those bird decals along the long wall heading towards the back door and finish it with a "birds on a wire" wall decal directly over that door so it looks like the flying birds on the long wall are headed to the wire at the end.

White walls and greige trim, like this:

http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=285

A sisal or woven rush runner, covering almost all the floor area;

A collection of mismatched hooks on the wall with the paint swatches, like so:

http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=4409

b&w framed photographs on the wall with the fuses (to cover fuse box)

And a huge chandelier in black glass, e.g.:
(hard to judge from just the measurements if these are the right scale)

http://www.livingetc.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=4409

http://stores.advancedinteriordesigns.com/-strse-534/Zoe-Chandelier/Detail.bok

http://picasaweb.google.com/vickbell/HelenGainsborough02#5123055741111805762

I'd make the black a very subtle accent colour (e.g., a couple of hooks, the photos, the chandelier).

I have a similar long and narrow hallway with a high ceiling. I have a long light fixture with three pendants and two spots on dimmer that works real nicely. Also have the Eames Hang-It-All coat rack. It's functional and keeps the floor clear. Also have a mirror. That's all I need. I would paint your door a real bright, vibrant yellow.

If you love the scarf - frame it on and hang it on the wall, agree it looks like a haphazard cover up. Not mad about the yellow....

Well, I'd do it differently.... I love a dramatic entryway. I'd pick a DARK color for the walls and trim and pop the entry door in a super vibrant color drawing the eye away from the sidewalls and to the entryway. I could see this working with a deep chocolate brown wall with darker semigloss trim and a door that is RED!... (or tiffany blue for something more subtle)... =D Then I'd add a simple but larger scale white pendant.

Black paint, white trim.

We have a similar situation with our hallway, not entry but connects different colored rooms. So far it's unfinished (July was move-in) but painted a flat version of the trim color, and we are thinking to add a chandelier and a multi-colored runner rug - not sure about what to hang on walls though. I might have to ask AT myself!

Go to the bar down the street and drink beer and play darts. Then when you come home later that night, go through the back enterance and kick over all the crayons on your way into the bedroom to pass out.

When you wake in the morning, you will be amazed at what a fun time you had the night before and come up with a genious solution for your hallway.

Love the contrada flag. You should have it framed and placed in the hallway.

love the contrada flag too! go leocorno! :)

As soon as I saw the frame wallpaper I knew what I, personally would do with it. I would ramdomly paint some of the frames in different colors and then (using photocopies of course) use double stick tape and put up some family photo's that could be interchanged. It would make it interesting when people came in the door looking at all the pics!!! Plus adding the color you want. I would also change out the light fixture to get one that hangs down farther and hang something over the fuse box to disguise that

I say paint the ceiling in a bright color like orange. That way you wouldn't have to worry about painting the walls.