How to Light a Short Hallway

Ceiling-Mount Light Fixture

• Your home may still have the standard ceiling-mount lighting fixture installed by the home builder. Unfortunately, these fixtures are often lacking when it comes to style and design. But ceiling-mount light fixtures are an excellent choice for lighting a small hallway because they often provide a bright spread of light. Ceiling-mount light fixtures are available in a wide array of styles that can add just the right touch of design and functionality to your home.

Wall Sconces

• Wall sconces provide compact, decorative and safe illumination for dark, short hallways. They also hold the added advantage of being able to showcase artwork and other decorative features. Wall sconces should be hung so that you cannot see the bulbs, and spaced about 72 inches from each other when mounted on the same wall. Select fixtures from the more streamlined styles of wall sconces, to ensure that they do not protrude too far out from the wall.

Chandelier

• If you like to make a big statement in a small space, a chandelier provides an elegant focal point for your hallway. Chandeliers are a statement piece that are available in countless styles and sizes that will work well in a short hallway. If you are looking for a little piece of wow to illuminate your hallway, consider adding a mini chandelier. But carefully consider the height of the ceiling and the overall size of your hallway to avoid overwhelming the space.

Recessed Lighting

• Recessed lighting is an excellent choice that is long on function, but somewhat short on style. Recessed lighting provides a compact solution that can also make your short hallway look larger by uniformly illuminating the broad vertical surfaces of the corridor walls. To achieve this technique, called wall washing, look for recessed lighting with trim styles that have an eyelid-shaped cover over the light’s aperture.