Hallways: Interior designers show how to make an entrance

Hallways should be an inviting space rather than a dumping ground for shoes. We talk to the team from TV's 'The Salvage Squad'

Fri, 30 May, 2025 - 18:00

Carol O’Callaghan

A hallway should set the scene for our taste. It should be an inviting space. It should never be a dumping ground for shoes.

Fans of Virgin Media’s The Salvage Squad are being teased by presenter Brian Dowling posting on his Instagram about filming getting underway for the second season.

We have a while to go before it reaches our TV screens with the fun of shopping expeditions for salvage, and trades interpreting designs to meet deadlines, all on €1,000 budgets, so to get design inspiration for hallways in the meantime, I caught up with the designers from season one, including Belfast-based Peter Irvine.

Brian Dowling, presenter of 'The Salvage Squad'.

Peter, of The White Home, who made over a Drogheda family’s living room and is now immersed in filming season two. “There’s a common misconception that the hall should be a diluted version of your home,” he says.

“Make a statement as soon as you open the door. My mum made a beautiful tapestry and I have it by the door. Have low-level lighting with dimmable lamps. You can put them on a timer, and it makes coming home nicer. It’s your home, your rules. We got rid of the door between the hall and the living room. It was always open anyway. Taking it away has created a better flow.”

So, what would be his ideal hall look like if budget were no object? “The luxury of space, natural light to have a tree indoors,” he says. “I don’t need shiny tiles and a central staircase. I love the woody, natural aesthetic. I love the Spanish villa on the hill look with no marble floors. Just the sun and the views. It’s also good to have something soft under your feet if you can, but not if you have three kids going to rugby.”

A sturdy repurposed sideboard is given a painted facelift to create a luxury hall table with a surface for styling with accessories. Picture: Annie Sloan

Natasha Rocca Devine created a space for a couple and their canines on her episode of The Salvage Squad, but went on to a much bigger and more personal project: Building her dream home. She says she designed the hallway with intention. “It’s one of the spaces I am most proud of. It combines everything I love: Elegance, sustainability, and a boutique hotel feel.”

Using sustainable stone for structure and impact, she added a vintage chest for history and character, and then referenced her love of art deco. “I styled the feature wall with art deco wallpaper, along with commissioned art from Irish artist Aishling Hennessy, and a strong pendant light that complements this, just like you would find in an entrance to a luxury townhouse or hotel.

"The textures are layered, the tones are warm, and the scent is always seasonal and subtle. The hallway does not just look the part. It feels like our home from the moment you walk in.”

For DIY interior hall projects, she suggests having a focal point. “Lead with a memorable statement, whether it’s a bold piece of artwork, a beautifully styled console table, commissioned art, or an eye-catching mirror,” she says.

“To truly elevate a hallway, think beyond the visual. I love using soft pendants or sconces on dimmers, a hallway runner underfoot, and natural materials like rattan, stone like Cosentino, or wood. Finish with flowers such as Silk Prestige, a subtle scent from a diffuser or candle to make that first step inside feel like a warm welcome.”

A compact console table with abstract art and a warm wall colour set an inviting tone as you step through the door. Picture: Oka

Aoife Tobin of Style So Simple helped a mother and daughter in Cobh, Co Cork, revamp their dining room in The Salvage Squad’s first season, and she now has her attention on her own home. “If you have the most beautiful hallway but people don’t know where to hang their coat or they want to take their shoes off, it can make them feel uncomfortable, so have a designated space,” she says.

“It’s hard to get furniture to fit a normal hallway, so look at your joinery. If you’re getting built-in wardrobes, look at the hallway at the same time.

“Usually when I’m doing a hall, I look at the architectural detail; coving, panelling and floor. Things like artwork, creating ambience with lights, and mirrors to help a small space look bigger.”

Having recently moved into her new house, she views her hallway as among the areas for attention: “I have a normal-sized hall, but because it’s mine, it’s my dream one. At the moment, I’m looking at my kitchen, utility and panelling, including joinery and panelling for the hall too. My husband said, What? But I told him he’d appreciate it in the hall later, not coming home into a mess.”