I have worked long and hard on trying to transform my downstairs hallway from dark and boring to a little lighter and brighter. I dressed it up with DIY thrift store bookcases that I turned into pretty decent looking built-ins. A success! (links to the Hallway Series and video tutorials below).
However, I really dislike the stick on tile flooring that I installed about 8 years ago. It really has held up over the years but it isn’t the most pleasing to the eye. My problem is that the hallway is a transition between our foyer and the family room. The foyer has the original wood flooring while the family room is flooring that we installed because there was no original wood flooring in both the family room or hallway.
Another issue is the height difference. There is already a small incline between the foyer into the hallway. I’m concerned that if I add the engineered hardwood, it will create an even larger incline (the engineered hardwood is pretty thick) and it will make it into a small step. I found some stick on vinyl plank flooring at Lowes link here that is the same idea as my stick on tile but looks like hardwood. It is peel and stick and very inexpensive. Here is what it looks like online. I’m going to give it a try and see if it looks decent. I’m hoping the transition between the foyer/hallway/family room will not look too bad. We plan on selling our house in a few years and I need to get it looking good! Any suggestions?
Hallway Makeover Series
A Boring Hallway Needs Help (Hallway I)
Thrift Store Haul (Hallway II)
Thrift Store Bookcase Built In Challenge (Hallway III)
Thrift Store Bookcase Built-Ins: Trim and Ball of Wax Update (Hallway IV)
Thrift Store Bookcases Transformed to Built-Ins Before and After: (Hallway V)
Related Videos
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Foyer Makeover in Dark Chocolate Milk Paint
I love your lighter and brighter hallway. How did you get it so bright? Did you add new light fixtures and or more light fixtures? I have a dark hallway too.
Hi Vicki, I took down my dark curtains and added blinds plus I painted it a lighter color. I also painted all of the trim and the doors (this hallway has two doors) in a bright white. It really helped to brighten the space. I would like to add recessed lighting as well but we’ll see!
I can’t see the tiles underneath the rug but if you have different kinds of flooring on either side, I think your best bet would be to try to match one of them. Otherwise, after all the travail of demo’ing the existing floor, laying new floor +/- underlayment, changing the baseboards, changing the door jambs to meet the baseboards, moving the nice bookshelves that you built in, etc. – you’ll still have 3 different floors. If you can find something that looks the same to the eye, even if it’s a bit different (like the same wood tone but higher or lower or different widths,) you can use a reducer strip between them to both ease the foot and fool the eye. But if you can’t find anything like the flooring on either side, maybe leave it alone and just change out the rugs whenever you feel like a change. When and if you want to change the floors in one of the bigger rooms, extend the new flooring to encompass that space. We had a similar problem and I had to just bite the bullet and do a bigger project. Good luck, whatever you do.
Hi Nette, I agree on the flooring on each side not matching. I think this may be a good option because it should look similar. I won’t have to do any demo and just stick it down on what is there already. This is why I think I’ll try it because otherwise it would be too much effort. I am just looking for a quick and somewhat easy fix! We’ll see! Thanks! Stay warm 🙂
Vinyl plank flooring was installed in my office at work about 4 years ago and it has really held up good. Still looks good so I installed it in my kitchen and I love it. Easy to clean and holds up well. Also easy to install. I think you will be happy with it. You are so smart and talented I know you will make the right decision. Good luck.
Thanks for your advice, Peggy! I will give it a try 🙂 It doesn’t look too difficult!