apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I would like to recommend searching for this exact thing in the handy-dandy search engine thingie up in the left hand corner of this here very informative website. This subject has been discussed in interminable identical questions. I know I've posted my great idea of a solution at least twice.

I've learned so very much from AT. I did it through combing the site and following links.

good luck!

sorry! right hand corner!

dyslexic's of the world Un-tie!

wall decals, hang fabric panels from the ceiling, paint it a colour, Wall paper with an awesome pattern.... your options are endless!

What about a little console table with a lamp on it for a landing strip?

First, I'd paint walls and ceiling in black or a color in a shade that's almost black...
...then I'd use the 3M hangers you can pick up at any drugstore or hardware store to hang your artwork.

With the lovely curved wall-into-ceiling, I am picturing a bower of trees...trunks on the walls with branches up and onto the ceiling.

Olga is right - the issue of the long-narrow-blah-corridor has been beaten to death.

How about revisiting the folks who have posted their questions here and received free advice - Find out what they did (if anything) and post the results?

I would paint the insides of the molding a different color, perhaps a nice cranberry or red.
If you can't really hang items on the wall you could use a textured paint to make it feel a bit more cozy.

I love the fact that it's curved.

I would say to start your own little art gallery full of family photos and artwork that you love. I've done the same thing with my hallway and i love it. I have movie posters, family photo collages, and even artwork that my family has done. Its very special to me and i get to pass it all everday.

bepsf - great idea! I would love to see some "afters" for good questions. follow ups, please!

I might paint the entry door(?) and accompanying wall a bold and differentiating color to bring it visually forward and make the hall have a more inviting destination.

It is also recommended to paint long hallways with a pearlescent paint to open up the space.

I agree with many here that this Good Question has been revisited many times and that there is already a wealth of information via the AT archives on handling this situation.

I second the idea for wallpaper. A really graphic print with a little sheen would look great, like this one: http://walnutwallpaper.com/wallpapers.php?filter=color&type=grey&name=Grey&paperID=202

But if that isn't possible, then perhaps you could paint the walls a neutral of some sort and then make a large triptych (or a series of smaller triptychs) from fabric wrapped canvases. Or instead of fabric you could just mark off whatever shapes you want and paint them in with bolder colors.

Also, I wouldn't worry about the concrete blocks too much. Our place is made of them as well and we had no problem using our drill with masonry bits.

3 tones of color--- 1. woodwork, 2. a band of color one foot or more from the top of the woodwork up the wall, 3. the rest of the wall and ceiling in the 3rd color.
I would use colors that are rich and on the middle to dark side---woodwork being the lightest color or shade.
Then hang a large rich painting on the big wall so that it can be seen from the other rooms. Overall a nice layering effect. The painting could be as simple as 3 large canvases (hung side by side) painted in other shades of color that work with the new wall color.
Then find a light fixture that will send light down onto the art.
Keep it tastefull and not funky in anyway---you won't grow sick of it so fast if you do.
Picking the colors, you are on your own!

Great idea pvett-- a painted bower of trees sounds fantastic! you could either go very realistic/trompe l'oeile or outline/stencils...lovely shades of green, stark black and white, or pale grey on white (good backdrop to something else?).

I would take larger pieces of wall art and place them directly across from each doorway where you can stand back and get a good look at them. I imagine people coming down the hallway for the first time would not even register the artwork because the space is too narrow to see it in perspective. When they would turn to leave a room, it would be an unexpected surprise. If you have a sense of humor and the budget for it, you might want to tie the artwork to the purpose of the room. Some rooms you might want to be more careful about than others.

That single light, in my opinion, is psychologically annoying -- moving in and out of the shadows it creates. (I've lived with enough of them to know.) I think you might get more out of the hall if you played up its darkness and created pools of light, used first and foremost to illuminate the artwork. And then perhaps adding visually interesting, but not too bright sconces, pendants or candles between the art. It would create a visual interest and draw people through as they move down the hall for the first time.

No furniture or stuff that sticks too far off the wall, though. You'll curse it everytime you walk around it.

Color? Not-to-dark gray with white trim. I love me some gray walls.

I wonder if "I have a long empty hallway" or "how should I refinish this maybe-antique piece of furniture I bought for cheap" is the most asked question on AT?

I have a bunch of art in my hall, but since you don't want to mess with nails in that wall, I'm going to say painting it any other color or trying some vinyl decals would be something to think about. Maybe get a funkier light fixture? A carpet runner?

Check out this shop on Etsy. They do some great decals that could be really cool.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5717811

How about an ultra skinny console table like this one from CB2? http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=114&f=4221

You could put some skinny objects on it, a small bowl for keys, etc.

Oh, and I'd definitely change out the light fixture for track lighting running much of the length of the hall.

...There's no way that's 5' wide. It's 2 feet, right?

Allsunday--That's what I was thinking. If the hallway was 5' wide you could really do something with the space. But that door looks normal sized which makes me think the hall is probably more like 40" wide.

This might seem like an irrelevant point, but my hallway is 36" wide and long and you really can't hang art since the viewer wouldn't be able to stand back enough to enjoy it.

I'd hang big mirrors at regular intervals on the side where you can install nails.

At the end of that hallway, which looks like it might be an open entryway into a living room (?), put a giant mirror.
Leave the walls white, then change that light for a hanging light fixture in black. A chandelier will work too.
On the blank wall, put large paintings or black and whte photographs in oversized silver frames.
I think you could even put 2 long fabric benches below where the artwork will hang...and you're in business!

the most obvious is some color (one for the ceiling and a contrasting color for the wall) and if you want to hang pictures without nailing into that wall you can try :

cable system that can hang from the ceiling like an art gallery
http://www.systematicart.com/servlet/StoreFront

or

hanging stripes from 3m (inexpensive too)
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Command/home/us_en/products/picture_hangers/game

the 3m hangers are great. my walls are impossible to put nails in and so everything is hanging on 3m hangers. for the really big, heavy pieces I use a couple of they. they come off cleanly and are easy to put up.

Hope this turns out when you open it---

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e_MQyZR1E6U/SKC4XevEavI/AAAAAAAAR_E/io9te09uLs4/s1600-h/6.jpg

Thanks for all the imput - I am new to AT and didn't realize my problem has already been done to death!

The 3M adhesive idea is great, as is applying decals. Rather than purchasing a ready made decal, I will attempt to cut my own design. Gulp!

Love that minimal steel console table! We take our bikes up and down the hall on a daily basis so blocking it with anything wider than artwork would be best.

The painting suggestion from poptart is great! Perhaps I will use this as part of the decal.

And yes I goofed on the width measurement - it's actually 4 feet (I stand un-tied with Olga).

I will post some after shots with the decals for your comments!

All it needs is a ball return, and some pins at the other end.

Hee hee - yes indeed LBHirise!

We do some putting practise with an automatic ball return device. I'm sure the neighbours below us just love that!

when I saw that long corridor I immediately thought of a long line. How about a mural of people standing in line (maybe obviously waiting to go to the bathroom). LOL Wherever the line goes- it'll be fun because you get to cut to the front of it.

Michael W and his console idea is talking about a concept I learned via AT and love - the landing strip - very important for an entryway.

For me, I'd start with the lighting fixture. It is crucial for a first impression for anyone walking in the door, it will make you happy, and it will be what helps illuminate whatever design decisions you make - it's worth the expense and the pain, and there are some great inexpensive pendants ou there right now. If this awesomely long hallway were mine all mine, I would stitch together a bunch of black and white striped IKEA runners to run the length of the whole thing, then use black frames on all the artwork I would hang on the walls.

ORGANIZE WITH STYLE!
Hang your best tops or bottoms on one hanger.
If you suffer from a small closet and need more space and want to stay organized than check out the HankyTankyHanger.

Thanks