Looking for hallway pictures? The best wall art for a hallway is simple and easy to read at a glance: soft landscapes, botanical prints, neutral abstracts, black and white line art and vintage maps. Hallways are seen in passing, so a clear subject and calm colours work better than busy, detailed scenes. Hang everything along one eye-level line, keep the spacing even, and the hallway will feel like part of the home instead of a space you just walk through.
Here's what to hang in a hallway, how to arrange it, and how to size and light it so it looks finished.
Key Takeaways
- Choose art that reads at a glance. Landscapes, botanicals, neutral abstracts and black and white prints work best in a space people walk through.
- Use one centre line. Hang art with its centre 57 to 60 inches from the floor and keep that line consistent down the whole hallway.
- Match the layout to the wall. A row of matching prints suits a long wall, one statement piece suits the end wall, and a single piece or pair suits a console table.
- Keep frames consistent. The same frame colour and even 2 to 3 inch gaps make a hallway look calm and intentional.
What Kind of Wall Art Should You Put in a Hallway?
Hallway art should be easy to take in as you walk past. These styles work best:
- Landscapes and nature scenes. Soft fields, forests and coastal views add depth to a narrow space and make it feel more open. Muted, faded tones keep the hallway calm.
- Botanical and floral prints. Vintage botanicals and simple florals bring life to a hallway without much natural light, and they work in every style from traditional to modern.
- Neutral and minimalist abstracts. Beige, cream and white abstracts suit modern homes and help a dark or narrow hallway feel lighter.
- Black and white art. High contrast reads clearly from a distance, which makes black and white line art a good choice for long hallways.
- Vintage maps. A vintage world map adds character and gives guests something to stop and look at.
Browse the entryway and hallway wall art collection for landscapes, botanicals and abstracts that suit narrow spaces.
How to Arrange Wall Art in a Hallway
The right layout depends on which hallway wall you're working with.
A Row of Matching Prints on a Long Wall
Three or four prints in the same size and frame, hung side by side along one centre line, make a long hallway feel orderly and longer. Keep 2 to 3 inches between frames; see how far apart to hang wall art for larger frames.
One Statement Piece on the End Wall
The wall at the end of a hallway is the first thing you see, so it's the best spot for one larger piece. A 24x36" print draws the eye down the hallway and gives it a clear destination.
A Single Piece or Pair Above a Console Table
If your hallway has a console table or bench, centre the art on the furniture, not the wall, and keep the bottom edge 6 to 8 inches above it. One piece or a matched pair works better here than a full gallery wall.
A Gallery Wall
A gallery wall works on a wide hallway wall or along a staircase. Anchor it with one larger piece, keep a shared colour palette, and lay the frames out on the floor or with paper templates before you hang anything. For a step-by-step layout, see how to make a gallery wall.
How High to Hang Hallway Art
Hang hallway art with its centre about 57 to 60 inches from the floor, the same eye-level height used in other rooms. In a long hallway, keep every piece on that same centre line so the eye moves smoothly down the wall. For more detail, see how high wall art should be hung.
What Size Wall Art Works in a Hallway?
- Narrow walls: vertical 16x20" or 18x24" prints fit between doors without crowding the space.
- Long walls: a row of three or four 16x20" or 18x24" prints, or an arrangement that covers about two-thirds of the wall section.
- End walls and console tables: a 24x36" piece, or art about two-thirds the width of the table below it.
Not sure what fits? See what size wall art you need.
Frames and Lighting for Hallway Art
Hallways rarely get much natural light, so frames and lighting do a lot of work.
- Keep frames consistent. One frame colour down the whole hallway looks calm and finished. See whether frames should be the same colour.
- Choose lighter art for dark hallways. Cream, white and soft colour palettes reflect light and keep a narrow space from feeling closed in.
- Add light where you can. Wall sconces, an art light or a lamp on a console table make art read well in the evening.
- Avoid glare. Stretched and framed canvas have a matte surface, which helps in hallways with overhead lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wall art should you put in a hallway?
The best wall art for a hallway is simple and easy to read at a glance: soft landscapes, botanical prints, neutral abstracts, black and white line art and vintage maps. Hallways are seen in passing, so art with a clear subject and calm colours works better than busy, detailed scenes.
Should you put art in a hallway?
Yes. Art makes a narrow, plain hallway feel finished and welcoming, connects the rooms on either side, and gives the end wall or a console table a focal point.
How do you arrange wall art in a hallway?
Hang hallway art along one centre line about 57 to 60 inches from the floor and keep 2 to 3 inches between frames. A row of matching prints suits a long wall, a single statement piece suits the end wall, and one piece or a pair suits the wall above a console table.
What size wall art works best in a hallway?
Vertical 16x20" or 18x24" prints fit narrow walls between doors. A row of three or four of those sizes suits a long wall, and a 24x36" piece suits an end wall or the space above a console table.
How do you make a hallway feel bigger with wall art?
Choose light, airy art with open space in the design, like soft landscapes, coastal scenes or white and cream abstracts. One large piece on the end wall draws the eye down the hallway, and a horizontal row of matching frames makes a narrow wall feel longer.
How to Choose Hallway Art
Start by deciding which wall matters most: the end wall, the long side wall, or the wall above a console table. Pick one style that suits your home, such as soft landscapes, botanicals or neutral abstracts, and keep the frame colour the same throughout. Hang everything with its centre 57 to 60 inches from the floor, keep 2 to 3 inches between frames, and choose lighter art if the hallway is dark.
Next steps: shop the entryway and hallway wall art collection, all made to order as stretched canvas, framed canvas or framed fine art paper and shipped free across the U.S. and Canada. Decorating a bigger wall too? See how to decorate a large wall. Dressing the hallway for the holidays? See Christmas entryway and hallway wall art ideas.
