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Neat Hallway Tips to Steal from Tidy People
Too laid-back to be tidy? Don’t worry, here are some practical ideas for managing a messy hall while still embracing the lived-in look
Of all the potential mess magnets in the home, the hallway is right up there. It’s the place where we tend to dump everything as soon as we get through the door and it can quickly gather so much stuff, it can be difficult to navigate. A messy hallway isn’t the most welcoming of scenes for unexpected guests, either. Here are some achievable ideas to help you manage your untidy tendencies without turning you into a complete neat freak.
Add some furniture
If you do have a little space to play with in your hallway, create more surfaces on which to place things. The upholstered bench, basket and coat rack in this hallway provide spots for outdoor kit to sit and make the space look more homely and welcoming.
If you do have a little space to play with in your hallway, create more surfaces on which to place things. The upholstered bench, basket and coat rack in this hallway provide spots for outdoor kit to sit and make the space look more homely and welcoming.
Drop to a child’s level
Kids create their own world of chaos, but giving them dedicated pegs on which to hang their coats and bags is an easy way to avoid a heap on the floor. Get them to choose their own hooks and give them a little lesson in safe DIY as you fit them. It will instill a sense of pride that might actually mean they’ll use the hooks.
Browse smart storage to help kids master their mess
Kids create their own world of chaos, but giving them dedicated pegs on which to hang their coats and bags is an easy way to avoid a heap on the floor. Get them to choose their own hooks and give them a little lesson in safe DIY as you fit them. It will instill a sense of pride that might actually mean they’ll use the hooks.
Browse smart storage to help kids master their mess
Put a dish on it
A small ceramic trinket dish or plate on a neat little table is a great way for the messy among us to feel as though we’re creating order. This is a perfect quick fix you can perform as you move through the front door into the house.
Having a dedicated place to leave your keys, travel pass and the contents of your pockets will mean no more fishing around for them in bulging bags – or losing them completely.
A small ceramic trinket dish or plate on a neat little table is a great way for the messy among us to feel as though we’re creating order. This is a perfect quick fix you can perform as you move through the front door into the house.
Having a dedicated place to leave your keys, travel pass and the contents of your pockets will mean no more fishing around for them in bulging bags – or losing them completely.
Lean on a ledge
Elevating your bag drop to a ledge like this beautiful wall-mounted piece is preferable to leaving it on the floor, and easier on your back, too.
Elevating your bag drop to a ledge like this beautiful wall-mounted piece is preferable to leaving it on the floor, and easier on your back, too.
Go for an open-wardrobe look
There’s something lovely about seeing a family’s belongings all piled together right at the front of the home. So instead of hiding it all away, use a system of open storage that makes it easy to grab and go. Separate pieces like these add character while leaving a neat impression.
There’s something lovely about seeing a family’s belongings all piled together right at the front of the home. So instead of hiding it all away, use a system of open storage that makes it easy to grab and go. Separate pieces like these add character while leaving a neat impression.
Line up some baskets
Baskets and crates, or even something like salvaged drawers, are the ultimate in affordable yet visually appealing storage, so make the most of a series of containers against your hallway wall.
Here, the homeowner has found an excellent, all-in-one solution in the form of an old gym bench with built-in baskets beneath it. You can make as much stylish use of a matching, freestanding set of almost any sort of boxes or baskets of an appropriate size; they’ll work wonders in disguising the many and varied types of hall clutter.
See more great ways to use wire and wicker baskets
Baskets and crates, or even something like salvaged drawers, are the ultimate in affordable yet visually appealing storage, so make the most of a series of containers against your hallway wall.
Here, the homeowner has found an excellent, all-in-one solution in the form of an old gym bench with built-in baskets beneath it. You can make as much stylish use of a matching, freestanding set of almost any sort of boxes or baskets of an appropriate size; they’ll work wonders in disguising the many and varied types of hall clutter.
See more great ways to use wire and wicker baskets
Make a feature of it
A dressmaker’s mannequin like this one makes a beautiful backdrop for coats and bags, and for other bits and pieces to accumulate around it. No one minds a mess when it’s framed so beautifully! Check out eBay and antiques markets for similar pieces.
A dressmaker’s mannequin like this one makes a beautiful backdrop for coats and bags, and for other bits and pieces to accumulate around it. No one minds a mess when it’s framed so beautifully! Check out eBay and antiques markets for similar pieces.
Keep it hidden
This compact cupboard has a spot for everything, all in one shallow space. Large pegs and shoe racks mean items can be stashed with minimal fuss, while bifold doors keep the area hidden when not in use.
Once you’ve got the empty cupboard built in, this is an easy area to customise for your own needs. Put shelves and hooks exactly where you need them, and do the maths with the family’s shoes, gloves and bike helmets to work out what goes where.
This compact cupboard has a spot for everything, all in one shallow space. Large pegs and shoe racks mean items can be stashed with minimal fuss, while bifold doors keep the area hidden when not in use.
Once you’ve got the empty cupboard built in, this is an easy area to customise for your own needs. Put shelves and hooks exactly where you need them, and do the maths with the family’s shoes, gloves and bike helmets to work out what goes where.
Upgrade your brolly stand
Probably the messiest item bar muddy boots (and anything to do with pets or children) is your soaking-wet umbrella. Leaving it by the door is the best way to stop it dripping all the way to the nearest sink or bath, so give it its own fancy stand. Suddenly, a soggy mess looks rather stylish!
TELL US…
How have you embraced the mess in your home? Tell us about it in the Comments below.
Probably the messiest item bar muddy boots (and anything to do with pets or children) is your soaking-wet umbrella. Leaving it by the door is the best way to stop it dripping all the way to the nearest sink or bath, so give it its own fancy stand. Suddenly, a soggy mess looks rather stylish!
TELL US…
How have you embraced the mess in your home? Tell us about it in the Comments below.
It makes perfect sense to store outdoor clothing near the exit, and it doesn’t have to be hidden away. Arrange an attractive row of hooks that are a feature in their own right to hang woolly hats and cosy scarves together to take a messy pile up a notch.
When the warmer weather comes, swap them for sun hats, beach bags and chill-busting evening blankets.