It’s common for a hallway to feel noticeably colder than the rest of the home, and it often becomes more obvious when the heating has been on for a while. The hallway sits in a part of the house where warm air naturally escapes and cold air gathers, so even if the living areas feel comfortable, the hallway can remain several degrees cooler.
One of the main reasons is the number of external connections that meet in the hallway. Front doors, letterboxes, older hinges and gaps around the frame all create small points where cold air moves inward. Modern doors are better insulated, but many homes still rely on older fittings where the seals have worn down. Replacing or improving the door seal often makes a noticeable difference, especially on days with strong wind.
Hallways also tend to have more open space and fewer soft furnishings, which means warm air doesn’t stay in the area for long. Unlike living rooms or bedrooms, there are usually no curtains, carpets or furniture to retain heat, so any warmth quickly rises or moves into neighbouring rooms. This is part of why hallways cool faster and take longer to feel comfortable, even when the heating is running normally.
If the staircase is open, warm air naturally flows upwards. The heating in the hallway may be working perfectly, but the warm air still rises towards the upper floors, leaving the lower level feeling cooler. Some people fit insulating curtains near the base of the stairs or use a thicker door curtain near the entrance to slow that movement of air. It doesn’t restrict the space, but it helps retain warmth where it’s needed most.
Another factor is the radiator output in the hallway itself. Some properties have small radiators in that area to avoid overheating a small space, but if the radiator is undersized for the draught level, the hallway never fully catches up to the temperature of the other rooms. Checking whether the radiator is heating evenly or whether the flow needs balancing can help. If the radiator isn’t performing properly, balancing the system is often enough to bring the hallway temperature closer to the rest of the home.
Even after improving the heating, the hallway can still feel cooler if the loft hatch or upstairs landing allows warm air to escape. Adding seals around the loft entrance or improving insulation in that area usually reduces the temperature difference between floors, helping the hallway stay warmer without increasing the heating settings.
Once the main draught points and heat-loss areas are dealt with, hallways tend to stay far more comfortable. The key is reducing the amount of warm air that escapes upward or outward, and strengthening the insulation around the entry points. If you want a broader look at improving heat retention throughout your home, this guide brings the main steps together: How to Keep a UK Home Warm for Cheap (Complete Guide).
