The hallway is often the first impression your home makes. It sets the tone, mood and style before guests even reach your living space. However, it’s often one of the most overlooked areas when it comes to design. One of the most powerful tools in elevating your hallway? The right tiles.
From colour and shape to texture and style, choosing hallway tiles is about more than just durability. It’s an opportunity to visually expand your space and reflect the personality of your home. Here’s how to do it like a designer:
1. Think Light and Bright Tiles for a Spacious Feel
Hallways are often narrow and lacking in natural light. If you want to make the space feel more open and airy, light-coloured, large tiles are your best friend. Warm creams, whites, or pale stone tones reflect more light and visually stretch the space.
If you like the idea of a smaller light tile for your hallway, pair it with a matching light grout so the area still looks as expansive as possible.
2. Use Shape and Pattern to Play with Perception
Tiles (Left to Right): Tile shape can dramatically affect how big or small your hallway feels. Rectangular tiles laid lengthwise can elongate the space, while herringbone patterns add movement and visual interest without overwhelming.
For tighter and narrower hallways, diagonal tile layouts can add a sense of width. It’s a designer trick that fools the eye, perfect for squeezing a little more visual space out of narrow corridors.
3. Match Tile Style to Your Architecture
The hallway tile you choose should complement, not clash with, your home's overall style. Here’s how to align tile choice with your interiors, whatever style they may be:
| Modern homes: | Think large, sleek tiles in matte finishes. Concrete-look porcelain or oversized terrazzo like those from our Origin Collection can give a minimalist edge. Our Reynoldston Collection also works perfectly |
| Victorian or period properties: | Go classic with patterned encaustic style tiles, with borders and corners or black-and-white checkerboard designs. These add character and nod to the history of the home. Our London or 1860 collections are perfect for this look. |
| Rustic or farmhouse style | Opt for textured stone, terracotta or wood-effect tiles. Natural tones and organic shapes bring warmth and authenticity. We have a wonderful range of authentic looking terracotta and stone look porcelain tiles, so the days of fussy sealing and maintenance is over. Go to Lithica Stone for a beautiful stone effect, or Marrakesh, Farmhouse Terracotta and Sardinian Terracotta for a terracotta look. |
| Scandi or contemporary interiors | Pale and lighter shaded neutral tiles with clean lines work best. Think soft warm greys, off-whites, and minimalist patterns. Manor House and Cambria are great choices |
4. Don’t Forget Texture and Finish
In high-traffic areas like hallways, texture matters for both aesthetics and function. Matte or textured finishes provide more grip (important for safety), but they also add subtle depth.
If your heart is set on a gloss tile, make sure it’s not too slippery or prone to showing dirt, especially in family homes or pet-friendly spaces where slip ratings are important.
5. Create a Seamless Flow
Hallways connect to other rooms, so consider how your hallway tiles transition into other flooring. Keeping tones consistent or choosing complementary materials can make your home feel cohesive. If you have a open-plan home, blending hallway tiles with kitchen or dining floors can create a unified, well-designed look.
Expand this idea further by taking the tiles into your outside spaces, blurring the lines between home and garden.
Final Thoughts...
Your hallway might be small and perfectly formed, or wonderfully open and spacious, but either way it has huge design potential. The right tile can open up your space, tie in with your home's style, and elevate everyday functionality into something beautiful. Whether you're working with a narrow corridor or a grand entryway, our tiles can offer the perfect balance of practicality and personality.
Ready to upgrade your hallway? Start with the floor, and let it lead the way. If you're unsure where to start, the Design Team at Baked Tiles are ready to help!
Leave a comment