Hi Everyone!
Alright friends, let’s have a chat about the hallway shall we. This is one of those spaces in our home that’s been a slow and steady evolution. I address it every year or two by adding a few new details or changing it up a bit. When we first bought or house it left a lot to be desired with its funky paneling, weird lighting, and lackluster floors, but I could see its potential and was smitten with the original hardwoods and built ins.
Over the last 6 years the space has evolved into one of my favorite visual moments in our home. I truly believe hallways are the unsung heroes of a house. They are often neglected when it comes to design and styling, but can be the perfect place to get creative with color and pattern. I added a gorgeous shibori wallpaper in ours, changed out the lighting with some vintage crystal chandeliers, added new hardware on the built ins and pulled in a vintage runner to finish things off.
I love the way things have come together, but I’ve always wished there was more natural light in the space. Because the hall is a bit narrow and placed in the center of the house it can feel a bit cavernous. We get peeks of natural light around the corner if the bedroom door is open and from the bathroom skylight, but I’ve always wished there was a way to add just a bit more natural light to the space.
After adding a Velux skylight in our bathroom I immediately started plotting on ways to add one in other areas of our home and I instantly thought of the hallway. My dreams were promptly crushed when we realized it wouldn’t be possible because most of our homes major systems are in the hall ceiling: the HVAC, whole house fan, two light fixtures, plus attic access. Womp Womp:( BUT ALL WAS NOT LOST friends! I remembered Velux offers a Sun Tunnel® Skylight that could be the perfect solution for getting natural light into the space around the obstacles of it needing to be integrated around the existing systems up on the ceiling. We were able to tuck one in toward the end of the hall and its made a massive difference!
Yall! I was shocked at the difference! I honestly wasn’t expecting so much light. I still can’t believe what an immediate and dramatic difference it made to the space. Even days after the install I would catch myself trying to turn off the lights because it just floods in all day. Interestingly enough it looks like a recessed light, but it’s not! There’s a lens installed on the roof and it connects via a very reflective aluminum tunnel to a diffuser installed in the ceiling, bringing natural light right to the space where you need it. PLUS it even has a solar nigh light feature so we get a soft glow into the space at night too.
I love that a Velux Sun Tunnel® Skylight is a cost-effective way to add bright clear daylight to just about any space and they are especially good for smaller spaces, like hallways, closets and pantries where you don’t necessarily need a sky view. The tunnel can be installed around attic obstructions such as HVAC units, trusses, rafters and exhaust fans, making Sun Tunnels ideal for rooms that don’t have a direct path from the ceiling to the roof above….like our hallway! There’s even an option for a low-profile design that creates a sleek and unobtrusive appearance on any roofline, and their pre-fabricated light tunnel makes them quick and easy to install. Seriously, the install is SO fast! Ours took less than an hour and a half! Plus, they come with a 20-year tunnel warranty. With a Sun Tunnel Skylight even the trickiest fifth wall can bring beautiful bright natural light into your home.
Now I’m off to find the next space in the bungalow to add a skylight. I’m on a mission friends! Where would you add a Sun Tunnel Skylight in your home? If you’re ready to explore some skylight options, you can click here to find a Velux installer near you. Until next time friends….
*This post is in partnership with Velux. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much for supporting the brands and content that keep me creating!
Taquana Outlaw says
I love this! I agree hallways are unsung heroes in our homes. I will share this with my recent retired mom and auntie. They both have/are emptynesses. Pray for me! This journey was pleasing and therapeutic. My hallway gets an abundance morning and noon light from a small bathroom window. I laced the walls with three vintage diamond shaped mirrors. They were originally brown. I repurposed them by spray painting them black. This was a great read. I’m looking forward to playing around with decorative light fixtures and a possible gallery wall. Thank You…
Beth says
It’s amazing what the addition of a window or two will do! We recently replaced a small window with a huge one and it’s been THE best thing we’ve done to our house thus far!
Juanice says
So freaking magical Shavonda! If this is how you’re kicking off content, we better buckle up buttercup!
Hope says
I had literally never heard of this, it looks amazing! Such a great option! The hallway looks wonderful!
Christina says
Ok this is so gorgeous. But – you HAD me at “an hour and a half.” WTF?! That’s how long it takes to change out a freaking boob light fixture (if you’re me and mine).
Shavonda, this is absolutely gorgeous!!! I’m so glad you were able to sneak it in. What a beautiful surprise. Why do I feel like the best content is about to keep coming over the next month??!! 😉
Lacie says
Hello! The amount of light coming in is just wild.
Natasha says
And now I’m going down a skylight rabbit hole. Our house is so small, yet always feels so dark! I NEED this. Not just want, this is a need!!
Gaaah! I feel another #shavondamademedoit coming on!
Lynn says
Yes!! I love this. Looks amazing. So curious about the night light feature too! Would love to put one in our home as well. Curious about the install- is this a DIY thing or hire out? Thanks!!
Emily says
It looks great! I have a small dark bathroom that I would love to put a solar light in. It’s on my wish list!
JessG says
Love how it all turned out!
samantha says
this is SO good! i’ve been brainstorming how to bring light into my parents’ dark little hallway (also where their hvac and attic access are located) and squeezing in a sun tunnel is the perfect solution! going up to the attic to look around now! thanks!
Reva says
You’ve got me wanting to put skylights everywhere! 🙂
Lily says
Very cool – love the wallpaper and the skylight really shows it off to its best light.
Alyssa K says
Wow! It looks SO good! We have a similar hallway situation and now I’m going to look into this as an option to bring more light into the space.
Katie says
Amazing! Does it get hotter because of the light (I’m thinking of my south facing window wall that gets SO HOT).
E says
Completely stunning and an option I don’t often think of. Love!
E says
Stunning!
Carmeon Hamilton says
Yaaassss!!!! It’s been almost a year since our sun tunnel installation and I’m just as in love now as I was then! Love this in your hallway bestie!
vicki bennett says
The difference is incredible! It feels so welcoming and shows off that amazing wallpaper ???. What a brilliant way to make the hallway shine!
Meg says
Glorious Shavonda! I am in love with that indigo shibori wallpaper and now it just glows with all that light. Bravo!!
Jenny says
This looks incredible, Shavonda! Really brings so much energy and life to the already beautiful space.
Liz says
Wow!! It is so bright! My husband had one in his first home and had the same experience trying to try off the light. ?
Jaime says
Love the transformation! ☀️ I need some of these in my house!
Jaime says
Oops. Sorry for the duplicate comments!
Jaime says
Wow! Love the transformation! ☀️ I need some of these in my house!
Jaime says
Wow! Love the transformation! ☀️
Elle says
That’s amazing how bright it is! It looks so good!
Amanda says
WOW. This is an amazing change. So beautiful! I had no idea and now I’m plotting how to get one in here stat.
Kate F says
My mom added a skylight tube similar to this to the very dark closet/hall sink (??) attached to the main bedroom in their old house, which had a big window but only on one side wall, on the opposite side. It made a HUGE difference; that space was just a total cave and then suddenly was letting in light from a formerly super dark corner. I’ve loved see how you’ve used skylights; it really makes me think about future projects!!
Liz V says
Sun tunnels were one of the best things I learned in my interior design classes in college. My current home (townhome rental) has one installed in our garage cold storage and it makes such a huge difference! Love this hallway transformation, Shavonda!!
Alison says
It’s lovely! Such a charming space
Kadijah says
Dreamy!
Jeanenne says
Wow! What a huge difference. We have a dark kitchen and and have been thinking about skylights but I never considered one for our hallway which is equally dark… thank you!
Elizabeth says
Hi Shavonda! Wow, that sun tunnel made a HUGE difference!! Do you know if these can be installed in super snowy places (like 300-400 “ per year)?
Laura says
Wow! What a huge difference! I thought it was a recessed light at first!!!
Thank you! Loved seeing how the hallway has evolved!
Aimee says
Ohh I have a dark hallway that could use this! I didn’t want a whole big skylight back there but this is a great solution. Plus then I can put more plants back there! Thanks for sharing, i’m going to check this out.
Gabby S says
Could definitely use one in my hallway as well. That little bit of light changed the whole atmosphere and really shows off the designs in your home!
Stephanie Zell says
I’ve been wanting to do this in my super dark entry way, but was wondering about the cost. Any ideas?