Your home looks like it may be 'vintage' so you may not want to paint the doors if they are in good condition but you may want to frame them. Have some fun in your hallway with some colour. After all you don't spend that much time there and it is the first impression everyone will have of your home when they walk in. Paint the trim one colour and the walls another. As others have said put some 'pop' in the area with what you hang on the walls. Perhaps you have a favourite painting or picture that can give you the inspiration for the colours to use.

Your home is lovely, my thoughts are if you are hesitating about the dado rails, maybe consider turning them into an elegant and timeless feature, by converting them to wainscoting? (I sense from your question that you are not a devotee of the Victorian style :-) I also agree with what the others have mentioned about changing the colours to something more neatural like a shade of grey that you like or a dusty blue, and leaving the lower half white. For a more updated look, you could look at updating the pendant lights to something a little more classic, (to your taste of course) and if budget permits, changing to carpets to perhaps a hardwood floor. All the best, I hope this helped. Ive attached a picture and link to an example. http://www.charmingzebra.com/2011/07/wainscoting-success-sort-of.html

hello... I've actually made up my mind going to go with the charcoal. it's only paint at the end of the day thanks

gorgeous pictures. thank you all for your comments. painting is still underway. turned out to be a bigger job than any expected. but its looking good. very white. i have never lived in a white house! i will post pictures when its finished. since you hall have been so helpful though i am going to keep asking your opinion if thats ok. im trying to update. eventually we will renoved kitchen and bathrooms and new carpets. but for now just trying to go slow. atm door all have gold handles...keep them / update? and i have taken the handles off the linen cupboards and wardrobes. i bought 300mm graphite but not sure. any hints? https://www.kethy.com.au/product/pm2810