Long dark corridor - ideas for decorating?

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

Our house has a weirdly laid out extension accessed via a corridor. It's currently got some dark fake wood panelling on it that we want to get rid of - but what to replace it with?

The corridor is about 3ft wide and 10ft long, then turns a corner for another 10ft. There is one tiny window squidged into the corner bit, so not much light.

Anyone got any ideas, or tackled something like this themselves?

[domesticslattern]

Dulux light and space paint works quite well compared with other paints. It is meant to bounce light around. Tbh sounds like anything would be better than dark wood panelling!!

[calendula]

What condition is the panelling in? The easiest thing would be 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of gloss in a light colour. That would make a massive difference and would hide the fake wood. Add some framed prints along the wall to give interest. Scandi look.

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

Yeah, I say 'want to get rid of' the panelling, actually DH started pulling it off this morning while I wasn't there. Just to see what was behind it, you know.

So now we have the top half of the wall with saggy lining paper, and the bottom half is naked plaster with various holes and gouges. ('I'll just Polyfilla those out')

Perhaps strip everything, apply lining paper and paint with a light&space colour.

Ooh, I do have a set of small Ikea prints in a variety of white frames that I bought to smarten up the house we were selling... although not enough to fill giant corridor without looking all lonely!

[calendula]

Looks like you will have to strip and line then . Light and space paint is good. For the pictures you could take lots of fast shots of a motif in motion eg child kicking a ball and put them all along the corridor.

[Pannacotta]

Rather than try and make it appear light and bright, which will be tricky, why not embrace its natural darkness and paint the walls a dark colour. It will make the rooms leading off it seem much lighter and the dark walls will be a good foil for photos/prints etc.
A bit like the first pic here (if the link works ok)
www.houzz.com/ideabooks/286206/list/Paint-it-Black

[HerRoyalNotness]

Ow about some well placed mirrors to bounce light from the window into the corridor too?

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

Thanks for all ideas - I was thinking of placing a full-length mirror at the corner, but you would be able to see yourself walking towards it and could be a bit spooky at night. I think I can probably cope. Maybe.

[wonkylegs]

I'm not a fan of that black corridor, I once viewed a house with something extremely similar and it was depressing just passing through.
What about horizontal mirrors and good lighting - something like this
I've seen a far better one but can't remember where (if I do I'll pop back)