It's the first part of your house visitors see, but often the last you think about. Here's how to stop your hallway being just a passage to somewhere else and turn it into a talking point in its own right.

Skinny, narrow, short or square -- like figures, hallways come in all shapes and sizes and all too often seem to be a problem. But instead they could be the perfect place to make a statement.

Author Jane Burdon, whose book Room Rescues focuses on decorating solutions for awkward spaces including halls, says: "The hallway and the stairs are the core of the home, and provide a link to all the other rooms. You can stamp your personality and can afford to be bold and imaginative precisely because they're not areas for sitting and relaxing, but places where you want to make an effect and set the scene for the rest of your home."

Here are her tips to making an entrance you'll be proud of.

SMALL HALLS: Painting skirting boards the same colour as floors subtly suggests a larger surface by blurring the edges of the room. Keep internal doors open or even remove them so you 'borrow' space and light from neighbouring rooms.

narrow HALLS: Distract attention by adding a dramatic colour or painting one of the shorter walls. Choose a colour such as red or orange, which will square a room by making longer walls appear shorter.

Avoid lining longer walls with coat rails -- instead use a shorter wall or corner. On a short wall, paint both the door and surround the same colour as the wall, so 'hiding' the door. The same trick works for radiators.

low ceilings: Use uplighters to direct soft light towards the ceiling making it appear further away. Accentuate the vertical with floor to ceiling paper on walls, and using a vertical stripe pattern. Replace an existing skirting board with one in a simple, shallow design or remove it altogether. Paint floorboards the same colour as walls.

High ceilings: Bring lofty ceilings down a peg or two by painting the area above the picture rail a warm shade deeper than the walls. (If you don't have a rail install one). Use pendant lights and avoid uplighters.

dark halls: Use shiny and reflective surfaces to bounce light around by using gloss paint, and adding mirrors. Don't use either advancing wall colours or receding shades that are pale. Opt for a middle ground that makes dark rooms warmer and less gloomy. Boost daylight levels with halogen bulbs.

GOLDEN RULES

DO

* If the area is large enough, use it to display a collection of pictures or photographs which could be hung so they ascend the stairs to lead the eye upwards, helping to create a feeling of space. Hang a designer rug on the wall, such as the Paul Smith Love Rug from The Rug Company, £695. (020 7229 5148/www.therugcompany.org).

* Lay flooring that is similar in shade to the connecting rooms which allows the rooms to visually flow into one another, again increasing the sense of space.

* Choose colours for the hall, stairs and landings that will harmonise with the rest of the colour scheme for your home, otherwise you will immediately divide up the area.

* If you have high ceilings either fit cornicing or coving or use spotlights to highlight those as these features will draw the eye up and add interest.

* A mirror is an easy way to add light and can also make the hall appear larger.

* Use one piece of furniture to give focus but ensure it is practical as well as decorative.

DON'T

* Dump all the clutter there. Make sure there is adequate storage for coats and shoes, but keep possessions relevant -- for example store away summer coats in winter and vice versa. Bisca makes bespoke staircases which can incorporate storage drawers in the steps, ideal for shoes or even valuables. Staircases start from £1,500. (01439 771 702/www.bisca.co.uk)

* If you have a heavy traffic hallway with the constant comings and goings of family and pets avoid impractical choices such as pale coloured carpet. Use easy to clean tiles or lino, scuff proof paint, and if suitable fit a dado rail so you can paint a darker shade in an easy wipe silk finish on the lower part of the wall so fingermarks and scuffs won't be so obvious.

* Don't use huge patterns for wallpaper which can overwhelm a small and often cluttered space.