best use of limited real estate ($170, target.com). Seven color options match all aesthetics.

• Place two Adjustable Tabletop Lamps from Wisteria on a console, and you have a calming spot of symmetry to pass by every day ($149 each, wisteria.com). “Minimal and lovely,” as LaValle says, they can be made taller or shorter to better complement artwork or other elements. Senner adds: “I often think of table lamps being used in hallways more for mood/atmosphere versus practical lighting; a couple of well-placed lamps on dimmers can create a really serene space at night.”

• A hallway can be a missed opportunity for storage. That won’t be the case with Gabby’s Chelsea Demilune, whose shape also makes it easy to walk around ($997.50, shopcandelabra.com). Keep tops of furniture clear, as Senner says: “Too many items on top of a console table or desk will look cluttered and are prone to getting knocked over when people pass by.”

• “Stools are a great accessory for hallways, whether under a console table or by themselves,” LaValle says. “They can hold a plant, a little box for dropping items into or just [add] interest.” She has a Zigzag Garden Stool from Burke Decor in her own home ($246, burkedecor.com).

• A wide hallway with built-in bookshelves at the end is the dream. If you can’t do built-ins, try a two-shelf bookcase, such as the Gunmetal Holden Open 2-Shelf Bookcase from World Market, and accessorize with a nice table lamp and art ($200, worldmarket.com). Another option is to pair two along one side of a hallway, as long as there’s room to walk down the hall without bumping into them.

• Both LaValle and Senner agree that the biggest mistake to make with a runner is getting one that’s too short. CB2’s Tweed Dark Brown Linen Runner is a generous 10 feet ($169, cb2.com). For extra-long hallways, consider a custom rug. Senner says exposed floor space should be the same size on all four sides of the rug — like the frame of a picture.

• Because a hallway is not an area where you’ll need to concentrate on tasks for a long time, generally speaking, LaValle likes to focus on the form over the function of the lighting. She especially likes star-shaped flush mounts, such as the Crystorama Astro Wide Bronze Ceiling Light Fixture ($150, lampsplus.com). “There’s a lot of great lighting out there that’s not meant to light a whole dining room but is great for a hallway,” she says.