A Hallway Story: Taping the Outline of What’s to Come

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Hallways are often overlooked. They’re transition spaces—just something you pass through. But this time, I decided to shift my perspective. I wanted to treat this hallway like a real part of my home, worthy of design and intention. And in doing so, I’ve found myself genuinely excited about this small but mighty transformation.

Planning Without Overthinking

I didn’t sketch a layout or make a digital rendering. Instead, I leaned on a few inspiration photos I had saved and started taping directly onto the walls. I knew I wanted two stacked picture frame boxes, but I didn’t want a chair rail—that felt a little too traditional for the look I was going for. My goal was a clean, bold statement, something more modern that still played well with the architecture of my older home.

Test run in tape — my way of previewing the trim layout before committing. Watch the full taping process here.

Once I taped out the first wall, I was hooked. Even the painter’s tape alone made the space feel more designed. Originally, I only intended to tape the wall that faces you as you walk up the stairs, but once I saw it, I knew the entire hallway needed the same treatment. So I committed.

Each wall in the hallway has different dimensions, so I calculated spacing based on my preferred visual balance—between the baseboard and crown, between the frames, and around the doors. I used both a laser level and a handheld one, but with my nearly 100-year-old home (where nothing is quite straight), the manual level ended up being easier to manage in most areas.

The Feel I’m Going For

This hallway is meant to feel warm, textured, and collected—but still functional. I want it to invite you in. The mood board I created reflects this intention, blending different shapes, materials, and tones to stretch my design comfort zone a little.

I naturally gravitate toward deeper, moodier tones—especially navy blue—and marble finishes. Those elements have found their way into nearly every room in my house. From marble countertops and fireplace details to navy upholstery and decor accents, these touches show up in large and small ways throughout my home. This space will be no different. There’s also a quiet sophistication in mixing metals, so brass, bronze, and hints of black all live together on this board.

Want to explore the full hallway mood board? Find all the sources here.

Everything I’ve chosen—down to the drink table and console—should not only look beautiful but feel usable. That means drawers that actually hold things, a wingback chair that invites someone to sit down, and pieces that tell a story over time.

Small Shifts, Big Decisions

There haven’t been any major pivots yet, but a few subtle changes have helped the design evolve.

For example, I originally planned to create a slipcover for the wingback chair, thinking it would be a fun DIY. But as the mood board came together, I realized I wanted something more tailored. I’ve since decided to have it professionally reupholstered in a navy, charcoal, and black patterned fabric—something a bit unexpected for a traditional chair like this. I love the contrast of old and new, classic and modern.

I’m also still deciding on the faux olive tree. It’s my front-runner, but I’ve seen a few other options in person that could work. Once the furniture is in place, I’ll make the final call.

On the Horizon

The next step is sourcing and purchasing the trim itself. I’ve looked online, but there’s no substitute for seeing it in person—especially since I need nearly 250 feet to complete the full layout. I want to feel the depth, see the profile, and be confident that it complements the heavily textured walls in my home.

One final decision still lingers: whether or not to paint the baseboards and crown molding the same color as the walls. Right now, they’re white, which is classic—but part of me is drawn to the more modern, monochromatic look. Painting everything the same color could help soften the visual inconsistencies in my older home, where corners and ceiling lines aren’t perfectly square. But it also opens the door to feeling like I’d need to do it everywhere else.

For now, I’m going to wait until the trim is installed and reassess once I see how it plays with the wall color. My gut says the monochrome might be the right move here—but like most parts of design, I’ll know better once I see it with my own eyes.

Wrapping Up

This hallway is the first space in my home that I feel like I will actually finish. Fully. And that’s a big deal for me. I have a habit of starting strong, getting two-thirds of the way through a project, and then letting life—or indecision—stall things. But this time feels different. The tape is up, the vision is clear, and I’m excited to see this through, all the way to the gallery wall at the end.

More updates to come soon.
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— Heather