21 Hallway Trends that Start with an Oak Shoe Cabinet

An oak shoe cabinet is a strong starting point for many of the hallway trends interior designers are currently exploring, because its warm grain and natural character sit comfortably with both soft, organic schemes and bolder, colourful ones. Fluted and reeded doors, limewash walls, earthy paint colours, sculptural lighting, natural fibre runners and curved mirrors all pair naturally with oak, while colour drenching, checkerboard floors and dark painted woodwork make it glow by contrast. In this article we look at twenty one trends that build outwards from an oak cabinet, grouped into furniture details, walls and colour, flooring, lighting and finishing touches. Each idea includes practical notes for real UK hallways, which are often narrow, busy and short on daylight. Whether you live in a Victorian terrace, a 1930s semi or a new build flat, you can adopt one or two of these ideas to refresh the entrance while keeping the oak cabinet at its heart....