Designing for those In-Between Moments
Not every space in a home is meant to be a destination. Some are meant to be passed through, glanced at, felt more than used. These in-between spaces; hallways, landings, and thresholds, often hold something quietly essential. They shape the rhythm of a home. They give us pause. They offer the small moments we don’t plan for, but feel the most grounded in.
In a world that more often than not prioritizes what’s big, bold, and functional, transitional spaces like these invite us to consider a different kind of value, one that’s more emotional, more sensory, and less obvious at first glance.
THE BEAUTY OF PAUSE
It’s not everyday you think of the hallway as a place to rest, is it? But, why couldn’t it be? What if that stretch of space between the bedroom and kitchen, the same space you probably cross a dozen times a day, offered a moment to exhale, to notice the quality of light, to feel the materials underfoot?
Design isn’t only about what we do in a space. It’s also about how a space makes us feel, even if we’re only in it for a few seconds at a time. It’s these in-between moments that help fill our days.
LIGHT, SHADOW AND STILLNESS
In transitional areas, light takes the main stage. It can spill down a stairwell, or creep across floors. It moves across walls as the day unfolds. These spaces can become vessels for stillness and observation…but only if we allow them.
Designing with light in mind, maybe placing a mirror where it catches the morning sun, or leaving a wall intentionally bare so shadows can fall uninterrupted, adds that little extra something to the everyday. It’s subtle, yes. But leaves a lasting impression, and maybe in ways we never expected.
INTENTIONAL, NOT OVERDESIGNED
There’s always that temptation to make every inch of a home useful. But utility doesn’t always mean shelves, seating, or storage. Sometimes intention is simply about restraint. Maybe it’s a well-placed sconce. A change in flooring underfoot. A quiet material palette that transitions gently from one room to the next.
These decisions don’t necessarily demand any attention, but they do support continuity, mood, and comfort in ways that feel intuitive rather than forced.
MOMENTS OF CONNECTION
These liminal zones can also become places of small connection. Take for example, the wall you brush your fingers against as you pass by. The nook where a framed photograph lives. The landing where you might find yourself pausing for a thought mid-conversation, or you catch a glimpse of the light shifting outside. These are moments that are not designed for performance, but for presence.
They may not appear on floorplans as “rooms,” but their absence would be felt. I like to refer to them as the glue between spaces, the soft edges that keep the home from becoming just a series of boxes.
DESIGNING THE QUIET
Food for thought; I’ve always said that good design doesn’t have to shout to be heard. It speaks softly. Making you stop and listen. It invites you in, and then makes room for you to stay a little. In-between spaces allow us that much needed time to slow it down. They give us that gentle nudge to remind us that beauty isn’t always in the obvious. Instead, it’s very often found in the space between.
