Decorating kitchen corridors can be challenging, yet fun.
Interior design enthusiasts know that every part of the house is fair game for decoration. Usually the focus is on large rooms such as the living area or master bedroom, but even something as minimal as a kitchen corridor can be up for design grabs. Actually, the fact that the corridor is a smaller space provides a variety of opportunities that are different from large spaces. The corridor's reduced width and length can give you a number of design options in terms of artwork and functionality.
Trompe l'Oeil
Take a cue from a past exhibition at the National Gallery of Art --- use your hallway as a trompe l'oeil, described as a way of tricking the eye into believing something is real when it is not. Using a trained artist or your own skills, you can turn your hallway into a Tuscan courtyard, a Napa Valley winery or a Hawaiian luau by painting a trompe l'oeil scene (trompe l'oeil wallpaper is also available). Keeping to a kitchen theme for the corridor, you can paint a trompe l'oeil that makes it appear as if rows and rows of fresh bread (donuts, petit fours, sausages) are hanging in a glass window instead of just having a plain wall.
Chalkboard
Eliminate the need for dry erase boards that never fully erase or pesky slips of paper that get caught between the wall and your appliances by turning your into a fully functional chalkboard. Major paint retailers offer a brush-on paint that dries to the consistency of a schoolroom chalkboard. Use it for writing grocery lists, family to-do chore sets or to keep a recipe handy as you make dinner. Paint a small section of the corridor or the entire wall, then place a small basket of chalk and erasers nearby or on a shelf for handy list making.
Decorate for Size
If your kitchen corridor is narrow, there's not much that can be done physically without significantly impacting the home's structure. You can, however, work some tricks to make the space seem bigger, with just a few steps. First, remove any big structures blocking the corridor (end tables, coat racks, cookbook shelves) to maximize the width. If the corridor has track lighting or in-ceiling bulbs, reduce the wattage (dimmer bulbs provide a more cozy feel while brighter bulbs can emit a harsh glaring light). Make sure your colors match or are in harmony; colors that contrast make their smaller. For example, if you have red picture frames hanging in the kitchen corridor, make sure any runner rugs are colors such as maroon, deep pink or burnt orange instead of a blue or green.
Tags: kitchen corridor, kitchen corridor, space seem, trompe oeil, trompe oeil, your hallway