Easy hallway refresh - decorating with new and vintage finds

Today, I'm sharing an easy hallway refresh. It includes modern and vintage finds, some help from good friends and a pinch of sparkly lights. While this hallway refresh was easy to put together, it wasn't very easy on my heart – until it was finished and then it made my soul sing!

Let me explain.

Before the hallway refresh

Can I tell you something? There's one area of our home which I've been neglecting. Nobody talks about it but it's kind of the elephant in the room. It used to be one of my favourite spaces but recently it's been a place to avoid.

It's the hallway.

Can you guess why?

The hallway used to look like this. Sorry for the bad quality pic, it was taken on my phone.

Before the hallway refresh. A photo of our black and tan, Australian Shepherd 'Brilli' laying on her pallet bed at the bottom of the stairs.

My oldest son made a bed from a pallet for our sweet Brilli. We painted it the same colour as the walls in the hallway, a subtle blue-green.

Every time we walked in the door, Brilli was excited to greet us. My husband used to joke that no one greeted him with as much enthusiasm as Brilli did. It's true!

After Brilli left us, the hallway has never felt the same. It was somehow cold and uninviting and no one lingered there any more.

Time for a mini makeover!

I've been thinking for ages about what I can do to revamp the space. It took us forever to get up the courage to remove Brilli's bed so even thinking of a hallway refresh is a major feat in itself!

Whilst I was thinking about my conundrum something wonderful happened.

A vintage French table for the hallway

Do you remember when I was looking for a drop-leaf table for my multifunctional workspace? Well, a dear friend said she had one that she didn't need and would I like to take a look? Truth be told, I'd already found a pine drop leaf table on eBay that was just perfect for my workspace. You can see the pine table makeover here. You know, I'm not one to turn down furniture so of course, I went to take a look.

It's perfect!

A vintage French wooden table decorated with candlesticks placed on a stack of books, A DIY pressed flower pring, a silver clock, a small white vase with a white and green flowering branch and a wooden bowl in the shape of a leave filled with moss and acorns.

Well, if I'm honest, it's perfectly imperfect! The top middle section is warped and I'm not going to be able to fix it but that's OK, I can work around it. I think it looks beautiful as it is but it does need some work. There are marks on one side of the table and the varnish is flaking on the bars across the bottom so I'm going to need to sand it at some point. I'm just not sure what kind of finish to give it and whether or not to paint it. Maybe, I'll sand it then see how it looks and make a decision from there.

Just look at the inlays carved onto the drawers at each end of the table, aren't they pretty?

Showing the inlaid pattern and brass handle on one of the side drawers of a vintage French table.

The table was found at an antique shop in France and transported to Germany where it lived quite happily with my friend and her family for years. Now, lucky for me, my friend doesn't need it any more and the table is on the move once again. All the way to the end of the street! I'm so happy to be able to include this lovely table in my hallway refresh!

For the moment, I've given the table a pretty re-style.

Handmade (free) wreath

I was lucky to find a pretty wooden window frame online and decorated it with a handmade wreath. The wreath is made from cuttings of Spirea Japonica (Albiflora). We planted a row of these small round shrubs in front of the hedge facing the street. While I was cutting them back a few weeks ago, I realised the cuttings would make a lovely rustic wreath for the hallway. The Spirea wreath needed a little extra something so I added some pretty ribbons in neutral tones.

A handmade brown twig wreath with two contrasting ribbons in white and beige.

If you want to see how I make my wreaths, you can take a look at the post 'Grass wreaths and how to make them'. The basic process is the same for all wreaths.

DIY Grass wreath

Speaking of grass wreaths, this large wreath looks great hanging over the stairs. I made it last summer and it reminds me of Brilli. I always found the best natural decorating materials when I was out walking with her.

Full front view of the wood and white staircase after the hallway refresh. With black metal lanterns burning on the stair treads. Three rattan lanterns are burning at the bottom of the stairs. A small brown drop-leaf table is against the wall and decorated with a wreath attached to a white wooden window frame, a wooden bowl and a candlestick.

Hallway refresh table styling

Wooden bowl

Another item that reminds me of Brilli is this lovely wooden bowl in the shape of a leaf. I aim to fill it with the seasonal bits and bobs I find on my walks just as I did when Brilli was with us. She was the best treasure hunter. The coaster underneath the wooden bowl is also leaf-shaped.

I've stacked some books on the left side of the table to balance out the display and added a candlestick on top. You can find a tutorial for making the pressed flower print here.

Decor on the vintage French table include a brown wood candlestick placed on a stack of books, A DIY pressed flower pring, a silver clock, a small white vase with a white and green flowering branch and a wooden bowl in the shape of a leave filled with moss and acorns.

Lanterns

We used to have a nightlight plugged into the wall socket so that Brilli could see her way on the stairs at night. For this hallway refresh, the nightlight has been swapped out for lanterns. These wicker and rattan lanterns will add a bit of sparkle to this corner. If you follow me on Instagram, you know how much I love lanterns!

You've got post!

Last but not least, it was time to change out the post box. The one we were using was made by one of the boys when they were little. I still love that little post box with the hedgehog painted on it but my boys are all grown up so, for this hallway refresh, I think it's time for a grown-up post box too!

A wicker post basket in the shape of an open letter is attached to the wall next to the staircase.

I found this rustic rattan 'You've got mail' post basket here.

Hallway refresh - Finished!

Now, instead of making me sad, this area of the hallway makes me smile. Each time I pass through and see all the natural décor, I'm reminded of Brilli and the lovely walks we took every day.

Wood and white staircase. Black metal lanterns are on the side of each stair and on the wall is a large dried grass wreath. Attached to the wall to the left of the staircase is a rattan post basket in the shape of an open envelope.

The table will get a revamp at some point but first, I need to decide on the finish. Should I paint it? Maybe I should paint half. Perhaps, I should just re-stain it? What would you do?

For now, my mini hallway refresh is finished. I'm so glad I challenged the elephant in the room. Now this space is full of memories and is a joy to pass through.

Something else I know for sure is that this little French table makes my soul sing – funny how vintage furniture can do that!

If you liked this hallway refresh, please leave a comment, it will really help me out.

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