connecting spaces

IT is easy to walk from room to room and never notice the space in between. Hallways, passageways and corridors are simply spaces that are often left over and disregarded. It is too easy to become caught up with the design of several vital rooms and overlook the connecting spaces. Connecting spaces should not be an afterthought or seem out of harmony with the rest of the home. These leftover and forgotten spaces can be something special if you design or decorate them with an eye-catching impact. It doesn't have to be a costly piece of furniture; it could be a splash of colour or pattern, a practical piece of furniture that can turn a forgotten space into one well worth remembering.
Often corridors are long, windowless spaces. Sometimes these spaces are too narrow to accommodate any furniture. The best way to treat a corridor is to diminish the sense of travelling endlessly. Simply placing some pictures, paintings or photographs at regular intervals will give reference points. Dividing the passage into two or three panels of floor pattern designs or rugs will help visually break up a long passage.

Neutral or light colours work best in hallways and corridors because they make the best use of limited lighting available in these areas. Try to avoid heavily patterned or dark paint treatments in the passageway because they will shrink the space. Painting the walls with vertical stripes in subtle shades will change the proportion of the spaces. Use the same sorts of colours and textures in connecting areas as you would use in the rest of the spaces in the home. Using the same family of basic materials for surfaces and finishes will bring a sense of coherence and help to define the essence of the home.

Also, placing a large mirror on one side will open up and give the illusion of a much wider area. If the corridors have a large number of door openings, one idea is to make an interesting feature of the doors. By treating the doors with attractive paint finishes or special mouldings, it will liven up the space. If the hallway is wide enough for furniture but is unlikely to be used as a sitting area, it is perhaps best to display furniture that it is purely decorative. Or consider using the corridor's wall as a gallery for displaying collectibles or favoured-framed images.

For further details/information on this article or previous articles, contact Architect Rumana Malik email: afmalik@bangla.net.