Hallways are tricky because they rarely have much natural light of their own — most of it is borrowed through doorways and glazed front doors. So your instinct to play it safe with a clean white is half right and half wrong. Pure brilliant white goes grey and dingy in a dark hall. What you want is a warm, light neutral that reflects what light there is without turning sterile.
My go-to recommendation is Farrow & Ball Pointing — a soft warm white that feels fresh but never clinical. It's the classic hallway colour for a reason. If you want a touch more warmth and depth, Little Greene Joanna's or F&B Slipper Satin both have a gentle creaminess that flatters period and modern halls alike.
Now, the "but my hallway is really dark" question. You've got two choices, and they're opposites. Option one: go even lighter and brighter to maximise bounce — Dulux Heritage has lovely soft whites if F&B isn't your thing. Option two — and this is the braver, often better call — lean into the dark and paint it a proper rich colour. A windowless hall is never going to feel like a sun-trap, so a deep Hague Blue, Inchyra Blue or Mole's Breath turns a weakness into a strength. It becomes a dramatic, cocooning transition space rather than a sad grey corridor. Pair it with a brilliant white ceiling and well-lit pendant.
Whatever you pick, paint the woodwork and ceiling in something coordinating, not stark. A bright white ceiling over a coloured wall can look harsh in a hall — drop it to a soft white like Wevet or Strong White for a more considered finish.
Practical bit: hallways take a battering — bags, shoes, scuffs. Use a wipeable finish on the lower walls. Modern emulsions in a soft sheen or a dedicated durable matt hold up far better than chalky flat matt. Get a tester pot and look at it morning and night, because hall light shifts more than any other room.