Our minds often turn to DIY over the bank holidays so this time why not give your hallway a treat. Not only will the entrance to your home look better but it will give you a lift too whenever you arrive home it if it’s had a makeover. And you never know you might impress your visitors.

According to Halifax Home insurance 45 per cent of us carry out some home improvement work over the longer weekends.

If you’re looking to update the look and feel of your home, the hallway is one area where simple changes can have a big impact. With this in mind, the design experts at Richard Burbidge have pulled together their top tips to make the most of your hallway this spring.

So whether it needs brightening up, decluttering, new furniture or a stylish tweak here are a few ideas to inspire you.

Bright and beautiful

A dark, gloomy hallway gives off the wrong first impression, creating a less than welcoming approach to your home. Use colour to make the entrance as light and bright as possible and if your hallway is narrow or small, neutral colours tend to work best to maximise the illusion of space.

Improving your stair style can create instant ‘hall appeal’ and that lasting impression for your visitors.

Instead of opting for standard stairparts, why not make a conscious effort to select the most appropriate style for your property. Richard Burbidge’s FUSION® range, for example, features glass panels that create the illusion of light and space, ideal for dark, narrow hallways.

Stair style

As well as creating flattering illusions, stair balustrades can also rise above the practical to become the main feature of your hallway. For instance, the Elements range mixes contemporary oak banisters with twisted iron balustrades, creating a real focal point. If you have wooden stairs, you could also consider adding some colour and interest by investing in a carpeted stair runner.

Clear the clutter

Clearing the clutter can make a difference straight away and doesn’t have to cost a penny.

How many of us hang our coats behind the front door, and let them build up over the winter months, dump our shoes in the porch and play acrobatics with the kids’ bikes in the hallway? Take the opportunity to give your hall a spring-clean; move the coats out of sight, invest in a shoe rack or put them away in the hall cupboard and demote the bike to the shed.

Functional furniture

Keep hallway furniture functional. When it comes to furniture it’s also a good idea to avoid clutter. Anything other than the bare minimum will get in the way of the morning scramble for bags, shoes and coats. Hallway furniture that doubles as storage is a great idea, for example, a storage bench is an ideal multi-functioning solution, while console tables are another good investment, providing a concealed storage solution and a handy surface for decorative items.

To find out how you can transform your hall this spring, visit www.stairproject.co.uk. Here you’ll find an array of the latest interior design trends, as well as Richard Burbidge’s handy planning tool, which can help with the designing of your new stairparts.

• For a limited time only Richard Burbidge is giving away £150 and £300 worth of free solid or engineered wooden flooring from their Express Range to Stair Project customers who are spending over £500 and £1,000 respectively, when refreshing their hallway this spring.