Don't allow less than perfect hallway areas to put a dent in your holiday decorating plans! Narrow or oversized hallways can be festively manipulated with the colors of fall to create cozy transitional spaces for holiday entertaining. Lighter shades tend to add width to narrow hallways that are characterstic of older or historic homes. Use updated neutrals such as soft taupes combined with natural shades of wheat or cinnamon stick, to incorporate a stripe of color or border to a chair rail that lines the wall coverings. Darker, richer hues lend warmth to oversized hallways that are increasingly commonplace amongst many of today's newly constructed contemporary homes. Consider applying any of today's hottest specialty effect paint techniques to paneled wainscoting on hallway walls. Tones that are indicative of the Thanksgiving holiday season, such as spicy mustard mixed with bold cranberry offer dramatic visual treats with the added bonus of introducing interesting wall texture to the enlarged hallway space.

Transform any odd shaped hallway space into an imaginative seasonal focal point by infusing a balanced representation of color via paint. Do-it-yourselfers have long been aware that maximizing color via painted wall coverings instantly enlivens any given space. However, when working with an atypical shaped space, implementing darker shades of color within the ceiling and floor coverings achieves visual balance by providing a "squared" appearance to the entire hallway area. Paying careful attention to the current color scheme, select a floor and ceiling hue that harmonizes with existing decorative accessories and furnishings in the hallway. Introduce seasonal flair with decorative accessories that can be easily removed when the holiday is over. An eyecatching piece of handpainted harvest wall art or a runner that has been stenciled with autumn's plentiful fruits and vegetables represent small but colorfully impactful hallway options for festive Thanksgiving celebrations.