I am interested to see any suggestions, too. I have a similar long hallway.

I was toying around with the idea of hanging some chair railing and wallpapering the top half and creating some faux panels with a little quarter round and some other trim/molding on the bottom half of the walls... I am just scared that it will make it look even more narrow.

36 inches isn't too narrow for some art. You aren't going to be able to hang something with a huge frame, but you can definitely do things with thinner frames.

i need to know where you got that light fixture!

Interesting space! Unless the picture is misleading, it looks like you have a lot of height to work with - what about painting walls and ceiling a darker grey or taupe, then hanging colorful mobiles, ala Caulder? You could run cable lighting down the length of the hallway and shine the lights through the mobiles to create interesting shadows on the floor and walls.

large mirrors on both sides evenly spaced along the length of the hallway.

I like that hallway! But I do agree that it's too narrow for art, but scones would look good on the walls. Also, you could do something more interesting with the paint -- a repeating pattern done with stencils, or bold stripes, or whatever.

im thinking a big, sizeable mirror on one wall and a collage of pictures on the other.

What about some patterned wall paper or a striking neon color with black & white photography? I have a tiny hall in my home and it's currently lime green and I am ready for a change. I really nice wallpaper (albeit a little expensive) at www.imgswallcoverings.com

Oooh, you could also paint very wide, vertical stripes in two similar colors so that it doesn't look so long and narrow.

I would love to see a horizontal stripe or two in a similar shade of blue but with some metallic shine to it - I love the blue and the contrast of the ceiling

I had pretty much the same problem only I had a flight and a half of stairs running through it. I decided to make the best of it by looking up optical illusions and painting my 'hallway' to look like anyone standing at the top of the stairs to appear at least 20 feet tall. My second choice was an Escher-like repetitive pattern that ran part way up the wall. IE; if it's awkward and there's nothing you can do about it then have fun with it. IF you'd like something a bit more conventional then I would suggest building niches between the studs and installing lights and sculpture pieces. Hope you find a happy solution!

Love Jynxnjez's idea.

I'm thinking you should hire twin girls in blue dresses to stand at the end of the hallway at all times.

The 36" width is large enough to hang some art on the walls but perhaps not wide enough to admire it.

My instinct is to paint the walls, ceiling, trim and doors in a kaolin (off white towards the greys) and use the wonderful tall ceilings as the support for potential art and leave the walls open. This color would be a timeless compliment to the espresso colored hardwood floors without making the hallway seem smaller than it is.

A series of pictures, paintings, mobiles of choice could be hung from the ceiling with wire or good strength fishing line. Perhaps start off with just a few pieces to ensure the hallway doesn't get crowded. Things of like size could be hung back to back so items could be admired when walking from either direction of the hallway.

The light fixtures are unique and should play nicely in such an art installation.

Good luck Monika.

i agree with indofeenix. :)

A collection of old mirrors of various sizes may help the space look wider. Or large framed mirrors down the length.......

This is an impractical suggestion, but if I had the money, I'd hire someone to do trompe l'oeil murals or at least windows.

Since you own, I'd consider knocking the walls out into the adjacent public spaces (living room, dining room, den, kitchen) to open up the corridor.

I seem to recall a before/after of someone else doing a similar thing - Was it in Sunset Magazine too?

I posted some ideas some time back (sorry text is in spanish!) You could play with zig zagging light fixtures on the ceiling or wall sconces, mirrors, a long runner or carpet ... take a look at the pictures to get an idea: http://dondehogar.blogspot.com/2010/11/y-esos-pasillos-largos-que-no-bajan-ni.html

Hang japanese lanterns from the ceiling. Super cheap. Luna Bazaar has them in a loads of colors.

I like the colour you have now. I wouldn't change it; it's perfectly light and airy for the space. I also like what you've done with the white around the top.

I second the idea of a collection of old mirrors. I think that would be a nice addition.

I have a ridiculously long skinny hallway also. The previous owners had one side of it painted an awful spring green and the opposite wall and the other wall a dark evergreen. We painted it the same color as the living room, and I have mirrors hung on one side, and plan on adding more art to the other. It's hard to balance what I want because of all the doors.

Everything is moving your eye down the hall, making it look even longer than it is. Also, the paint is making it look taller and narrower than it needs to.

I would remove those white lights at the far end - they make the eye travel in a way you don't want it to.

I might have the ceiling paint come down the wall, maybe to chair rail height, to trick the eye into thinking that the tall, narrow hallway is lower and wider.

I might put in a ceiling track down the hallway or maybe drop the ceiling a bit and put in recessed lights. Wash the side walls with light.

Small scale art would work on the walls - but I can't imagine anyone looking at it. Maybe some of those stick-on graphics in the same color as the lower wall or stencil something interesting - you want something to break the wall, but not something to really look at. Or wall paper in a small-scale print.

@ kerimaus
BWA HA HA HA!!! You made my day!

It seems from the pic that this is a tall hallway - perhaps loftier than the average ceiling height of 8 feet? If that is the case, perhaps instead of using the walls, you could use the ceiling to hang empty frames (or other arty pieces) in a cluster behind the light fixture from the direction you most frequently enter the hallway? May look kind of fun, or Disney Haunted Mansion-esque - not sure.

If you use the walls, I would avoid framed pictures and the like, as you would not be able to view them the same way you would in a wider hallway, and even the slight protusion of the frames may make the hallway look more narrow/cluttered. But, perhaps you could do something with written art - paint squares or circles at regular intervals and at different heights the length of the hallway with painted sayings. As guests walk down, they can stop to read each one (reading something seems like an activity you can be closer up to than looking at an art piece). If you think you will get bored with the words, you could use chalkboard paint. Wall decals could work too, just to provide visual interest to keep leading you down the hallway, but I wouldn't add any element that would narrow the walkway even more.

A couple of long patterned runners (I'm picturing a chevron design) are a must!

I might hang some mirrors on the walls. Also, especially with the blue walls, I'd be tempted to hang bird sculptures from the ceiling, maybe throw in a UFO.

I agree with kerimaus.

Just wanted to say I don't think you should hang lamps from the ceiling, since I like the fixture that's already there. I also like the paint job. I guess mirrors. I wouldn't put art, since you can only stand 3ft away from it to view....

@GIN That would look awesome! You could also just get some printed trompe l'oeil murals which would be much more affordable.

Put up a sign saying Caution!! 5 & 1/2 minute hallway ahead. Enter at your own risk!!
Then play lots of Poe music in the hall.

Why not make it a gallery of interesting light fixtures? To break up the linear-ness of it, I would do some graphic painting on the wall- diagonals!
http://lulupainting.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/stripe1.jpg

REDRUM! =D

Yes.
"Come and play with us, Danny. Forever. And ever. And ever.."

I also have a narrow hallway I have no idea what to do with, so be sure to let us know what you do!

I always love hallways like this to hang all your photos of friends and family, salon style. Mix in mirrors and smaller decorative objects.

Def agree that the easiest thing is to put up at least a couple of large mirrors for a feeling of space. In between and opposite these I'd put a collage or two of framed pics that look good as a group from afar and also that have individual interest close up - family photos, illustrations, framed postcards etc. I'd centre each of these features at eye level. Not too high. I'd also veer towards a lighter colour on the walls - and I'd start the white ceiling paint a little nearer to the tops of the door frames, for a little more balance. Good luck! It's got tons of potential! And I love your light fixture!

Paint it white like many of the sleek vintage-modern older homes on here; it will brighten it up and make it feel larger. Then hang a few bold, cool items. If you do pictures you might consider adhering them to the wall and using stick on frames, or painting the frames onto the wall so that you don't lose space or risk people brushing against them. If you go with white you could do a cool colored ceiling/ top of walls. Great old house with bright white, interesting feel: http://emmas.blogg.se/2011/february/the-home-of-fritz-hansen.html

If I had that space I would do something like this. http://dornob.com/interior-design-wall-art-incredible-optical-illusions/

Several photo sites offer reusable/removable decals of your favorite photos. You could have a gallery hallway without the issue of protruding frames. If you have kids, it would also be fun to paint one side with chalkboard paint and let them have fun with that...

for those of you who are interested about the light fixture, it was a ready made magazine diy project that apartment therapy posted here: http://emmas.blogg.se/2011/february/the-home-of-fritz-hansen.html

i definitely like the idea of mirrors , i probably wouldn't paint it white since its so narrow and scuff marks or dirt marks would probably be more pronounced,

I would head to the nearest Salvation Army/Secondhand store and buy alot of interesting, mismatched frames. Spray paint them all one colour (white... but you can get really crazy with like a burnt orange or deep yellow) and hang the empty frames in an asymetrical grouping along the long wall to break it up but not make it feel weighted.

I'd also repaint the walls a much lighter blue... make it feel more open than it actually is.

Paint the top half of the walls white or a pale tonal offwhite, and the lower half a softer, dustier blue (definitely not darker though), all the way along, with a dado rail dividing the two colours. At the moment the perspective means the ceiling bears down on you, and the floor rises to meet it. Separating the two with a very pale colour up top and a cool, light tone below will open up the top half of the hallway for the illusion of more space.

I think little clusters of pictures would be nice, all framed in a similar fashion. One big picture could work as well, spaced further along - I think the main thing is to first open up the space with colour.

Hi!

I actually have a similar hallway and had a similar situation, what I did was buy these really cool shower curtains that have black and white photography on them and hang them on the walls, I always get so many compliments on them!

I wouldn't usually plug my blog (not into that) but I did JUST blog about my hallway a few days ago and I have pictures of it here: http://froms2k.blogspot.com/2011/01/small-space-long-hallway.html

Hope that helps!

Thanks,
Shannon

Small framed art would work. I love the idea of a series of 2x3" frames.

I like the idea of painting stripes ala jeremy&kathleen: http://bit.ly/4MECQz
Alternatively, go with vertical stripes (more tone on tone) and hang some window-like mirrors like centsationalgirl did here: http://bit.ly/fpRqVB

I agree with ddaisy88 that painting very wide, vertical stripes in two similar (and light) colors makes the hallway look shorter. The ceiling paint could go down the walls until the doorframe. A wood rail along the wall would give the sensation that the ceiling is not too high. You could also install a shelf above the back door and add put some nice objects on it. Maybe a row of 3 paper lanterns would make the place not just brighter but also shorter. A round mirror on one side and some framed art on the other. Please, look at this https://picasaweb.google.com/alicesp/20110203#5569544822231385282 Good luck!

Gloss white against flat white - wide vertical stripes, or diamonds or large circles to play off of the light fixture. Though I would take down that fixture and put up wall sconces with nice play of light on the walls. That way the change in paint surfaces would be enhanced.
I love hallways, where else can you find such an intimate space, with a destination. I personally wouldn't clutter it with pictures.

I'd paint the whole hallway a lighter warmer color (maybe even beige, since you have the sharp white trim to contrast).

Then I'd use artist acrylics to tint some of the same base paint other colors and paint a wavy line at wainscot height long the length.

OR I'd install atwo pieces of molding like a chair rail with a channel between the pieces. Then I would mosaic the line between with actual mosaic tiles or even a paper mosaic. (or dominos laid end to end or postage stamps... the point being a changing patterned strip framed by the molding, just for some quirky interest...)

36 inches doesn't give you much space to stand back to look at anything, and I know I would probably brush against any projecting frames and dislodge things, so I'd avoid framed art or mirrors, myself.