12 Best Hallway Colors for a Bold Entryway
Bring charm to a narrow or dark corridor with these interior designer-approved shades.
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Just like your bedroom, living room or dining area, your hallway can benefit from a fresh coat of paint to make it pop. While graphic wallpaper, art and new furniture are all ways to bring style to any narrow or wide hallway, you can't go wrong with one of the best hallway colors below. Here, we share bold, bright and calming neutral tones for any aesthetic you want to pull off — from modern or traditional to coastal or eclectic.
Many of our suggested paint ideas are designer-approved, making them perfect for an entrance hall or hallway leading to an inviting bathroom or bedroom. You'll find an array of daring colors, like Sherwin-Williams' Framboise, as well as more soothing shades, like Benjamin Moore's Spa or Blue Angel. Some picks, like black and warm whites, are even on our list of top paint color trends for 2023. What's more, we invited a group of interior designers to weigh in on their favorite hallway paint colors from past projects (you won't be disappointed).
As you browse these hallway paint colors, think of the mood you want to evoke for your family and guests. Whatever it is, the right hue is out there for you!
Pelt by Farrow & Ball
This long, narrow hallway was brought to life with walls painted in Farrow & Ball's Pelt and the trim in Benjamin Moore's White Dove. "We wanted a color that would act as a great backdrop to the client’s artwork, including pieces created by their children, while speaking to other colors used in adjoining rooms," says Cooper Herrlinger, design director of Liz Caan & Co. "Paired with a Missoni runner by Stark, the hallway acts as a gallery space and draws you through the home, while reflecting the personality of this fun family."
Alabaster by Benjamin Moore
"In this space, we used Benjamin Moore’s Alabaster for a warm white," says designer Sarah Vaile of Sarah Vaile Design. The surrounding white makes the front door the entry's statement piece, along with the chandelier and gold accents throughout. "We often like to refer to a crisp white foyer as the palette cleanser in the middle of many colorful rooms," Vaile says.
Framboise by Sherwin-Williams
"For the hall off of this powder room, we envisioned a space where party guests could find a quick escape from all the action," says Vaile. The gossip nook is beautifully painted with Sherwin-Williams' Framboise, "otherwise known as a fermented raspberry drink," she notes.
Golden Hour by Clare
Designer Naïka André of NJA Interiors loves yellow for its fun, happy and optimistic feel. "When selecting paint colors for this space, we wanted to pick one that's represented in the sunrise and sunset," she says. This led her to choose Clare's Golden Hour paint color, making it "the perfect backdrop for the client's amazing art collection."
Charcoal by Rust-Oleum
Don't be afraid to try a darker color, like charcoal, on your hallway's walls. The moody yet elegant shade is the perfect backdrop for bright furniture. Try the darker hue in hallways leading to the bathroom or powder room, or use it for the entryway if the surrounding areas are white.
Spa by Benjamin Moore
Designer Michelle Boudreau of Michelle Boudreau Design gave this narrow hallway a refreshing look with a soft spa green color. "Decorative wood dividers create a subtle separation whilst letting sunlight through," she says.
Blue Angel by Benjamin Moore
A soft blue only adds to this entryway's abundance of natural light. "The color was selected as a way to create a cozy vibe in the hallway so the built-in seat will become a location where one can get away from it all and read or scroll," says Carolyn Thayer of Carolyn Thayer Interiors. "With a large adjacent door overlooking the ocean, blue seemed like the perfect color to enhance rather than fight the tones."
Smoked Salmon by Benjamin Moore
"In this hallway leading to the laundry room and a guest bedroom, we wanted to turn heads and use a fun pop of color," says designer Amy Kummer of Amy Kummer Interiors. Patterned wallpaper was used on the ceiling and walls, while Benjamin Moore's Smoked Salmon appears on the cabinets. "The hallway evokes feelings of happiness and joy and makes a stylish splash in an otherwise mundane space," Kummer says.
French Gray by Farrow & Ball
Designer Gemma Hill of Bayswater Interiors loves Farrow & Ball's French Gray because it "varies from day to night between green and exhibits more gray undertones in the evening light." It's a soothing shade that complements the limestone flooring in the entry. "The area is a mix of traditional and contemporary and French Gray seems to sit well in both periods," Hill notes.
Black by Benjamin Moore
Get creative and introduce contrast with a black-and-white color palette, similar to this setup by ML Designs. "We wanted to add some drama to the space by painting the doors black to tie in with the Phillip Jeffries wallpaper we used for the archway," says designer Maureen Lindstrom.
Great Barrington Green by Benjamin Moore
"The stair hall for this project was not only a space used daily, but also one that acted as a feature wall for the three-story row house," says Evelyn Pierce Smith of Evelyn Pierce Design Studio. That's why a deep mossy green was the right neutral for this narrow communal area. "This gentle sage green tied the spaces together beautifully and paired well with the warmth of the wood rails, floors and frames," Smith says.
Drift of Mist by Sherwin-Williams
This hallway's gray paint color has a slight purple undertone that helps the antique runner, reclaimed wood and mix of eclectic pieces pop in this Arcadian home from By Design Interiors, Inc. The dark ceiling is a unique touch that adds a dose of contrast and modernity to the design.
What are the best paint colors for a narrow hallway?
Narrow and compact hallways can benefit from lighter paint colors, like off-whites, light neutrals and pastels to appear more spacious. Unless preferred, you want to avoid deep shades that'll make your hallway seem constricted. According to Benjamin Moore's Color and Design expert, Nivara Xaykao, airy blues and crisp whites help to create the illusion of open space. Painting bulky electrical panels the same shade can also help your hallway appear wider.
Are there certain hues that work best for hallways with little light?
Consider bright and airy shades for hallways with minimal natural light — think Alabaster and Blue Angel by Benjamin Moore. Decorating with metallic accents, like a gold mirror, and colorful wall art can also boost light-starved spaces.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
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