Single ceiling light for the whole hallway — One overhead in a 20ft corridor creates a bright pool at centre and dark zones at either end. Space fixtures evenly at 1.0–1.5× ceiling height for even illumination.

Ignoring vertical illumination — Hallways are defined by walls, not floors. A hallway that lights the floor but leaves walls dark feels like a corridor. Wall sconces or wall-wash angles make narrow spaces feel wider.

No motion sensor or occupancy control — Hallways are transitional. Always-on lighting wastes significant energy. Motion-triggered or occupancy-dimmed systems (10% standby, 100% on motion) are standard in commercial code.

Glare from eye-level fixtures — A downlight in the sightline at the end of a corridor is unavoidable glare. Tilt toward walls, use low-glare baffles, or specify recessed fixtures with shielding angle ≥45°.

Too bright for residential use — Hallways are transition zones. 5–10 fc is usually sufficient and far more comfortable for nighttime navigation. Always install a dimmer — full brightness should be the exception.

Missing emergency egress compliance — Commercial corridors on egress paths require maintained illumination during power failure. 1 fc minimum at floor level is the baseline — install battery-backed emergency fixtures.