Too much clutter in your hallway?

Ghostbusters Trap for Hallway

For most homes the very first area that we welcome guests to is the hallway. The place that we enter the front door to, where we are likely to meet, greet, wipe shoes, take off jackets, place away umbrellas and importantly make our first impressions…

The reason why first impressions are so important is that they last well beyond that moment. This is thanks to something called the primacy effect, which means that when someone experiences something before other things in a sequence, they remember that first thing more.” 5 Reasons Why First Impressions Are The Most Important by StartBlox.com

For home owners we are very likely to use the hallway to store all those things we are to need when we are about to leave the home. Mostly we will see jackets, shoes, umbrellas, hat stands, shoe racks, bags and more. We spend very little time in the hallway that in most occasions it is forgotten for most of the time we are at home and what the eye doesn’t see then we kinda get away with. If the hallway is fairly busy with stuff then it is a job for another day.

For sure, most homes will not have the space for storing those outside clothing items and in most occasions we usually want these items to hand as we are about to open the front door and leave the property. Though the question I have is that can your hallway effect the value and the desirability of your property by effecting first impressions?

When potential buyers are to visit your home they will of course had many first impressions impacting them such as the area itself to the quality of neighbours and of course the impression they get from the property outside to include garden / entrance. Some people will have been encouraged at this point or possibly even already striked the property off from their list. Concentrating though on those still with interest we must make sure that their first impression within the property is a good one.

I suggest to stand in your hallway and evaluate what really is necessary and what extra space you can make in order that when you do meet and greet potential buyers coming through your door, their impression is spacious rather than compacted.

Questions to ask yourself:

  • Do I really need that many jackets, maybe you can filter them down to seasonal?
  • Shoes! Some of us love shoes, but do we really wear the ones in the hallway that frequently? Think about making space in your bedroom (under the bed).
  • Hat stands / umbrella buckets. Nice features for big hallways, quite space munchers for smaller ones.
  • Mirror. These will always help to both brighten and widen areas. Think about adding a mirror to give your hallway extra depth.
  • Colour. You may have your very own colour scheme going, but go for brighter colours / wall paper if possible.
  • Lighting. Think about brighter lighting and not bulbs faded by heavy light fittings. Choose brighter bulbs.
  • Fragrance. If you can, add an inviting fragrance to the hallway by way of air fresheners.

 

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Savvy summer sellers drive best July for sales agreed since 2020

The average price of property coming to the market for sale drops by a seasonal 1.3% (-£4,969) this month to £368,740. August’s price drop is in line with the ten-year average following the bigger than usual falls in June & July Savvy summer sellers are pricing realistically to attract holiday-distracted buyers. Lower asking prices and…
Read More
Home and Living

Expert Review: Pantego Electrical Services – Reliable and Affordable Solutions

When it comes to maintaining safety and comfort in your home or business, high-quality electrical work is crucial. For residents and businesses in Pantego, reliable electrical services are available through licensed professionals who prioritize customer satisfaction. In this review, we explore Pantego Electrical Services and highlight why Darby Electric Service is a trusted choice for the community.…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Storytelling for Homeowners: Producing Content That Connects Emotionally

In the quick-paced global of online facts, information by myself is rarely sufficient to encourage or have an effect on. Whether you’re a home owner sharing your protection adventure, a blogger covering indoors traits, or a real estate professional assisting customers discover their dream homes, storytelling is the important thing to building belief and emotional…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

This Summer’s Extreme Heat: What It Means for UK Gardens

The UK has been enjoying plenty of warm sunshine during the early weeks of the 2025 summer season. In predictions made by the Met Office for the three-month outlook there is plenty more hot weather to come. According to the government agency, the UK’s meteorological summer is twice as likely to be hotter than normal…
Read More
Breaking News

No-fault evictions by bailiffs up 8%

New figures show that in the 12 months since Labour came into Government, no-fault evictions by bailiffs in England have risen by 8%. Labour has pledged to end no-fault evictions under its Renters’ Rights Bill, which is going through Parliament. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice there were 11,402 repossessions by…
Read More
Breaking News

Leasehold Lettings Under Pressure: Landlords Blocked from Improving Flats

New research from LRG (Leaders Romans Group) reveals that leasehold structures are creating a growing barrier to progress in the rental sector, limiting upgrades, pushing landlords away from flats, and lowering tenant confidence in how buildings are managed. According to LRG’s most recent Lettings Report, 58% of flats let by landlords are leasehold. Among these,…
Read More