10 Ways to Make Open Storage Attractive in a Hallway
No room for a coat cupboard? Don’t despair. Boots and outerwear can be displayed neatly in your hallway if you follow these guidelines
Anna Tobin
28 January 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist and editor. I regularly contribute to all the UK glossies and the national press and international press and I run www.dontcrampourstyle.com, the blog for people who live in homes that they've physically outgrown. Follow me on Twitter @theannatobin or contact me via www.annatobin.co.uk
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist... More
Without adequate storage space, hallways can easily become messy dumping grounds for coats, bags, shoes and school equipment. We don’t all have room for a bank of hidden storage, but even the smallest entrances can be kept tidy as well as functional with a few neat little open storage pieces and some ground rules.
Have a place for everything
If every item you discard when you come in has a home waiting for it right inside your front door, it’s much more likely to get put away, straight away.
While the whole family’s frequently worn outdoor clothes and shoes are on display here, this space doesn’t look a mess, because there’s a hook for every coat, plus baskets for scarves and hats and cubbyholes for shoes.
Explore simple ways to stay organised at home
If every item you discard when you come in has a home waiting for it right inside your front door, it’s much more likely to get put away, straight away.
While the whole family’s frequently worn outdoor clothes and shoes are on display here, this space doesn’t look a mess, because there’s a hook for every coat, plus baskets for scarves and hats and cubbyholes for shoes.
Explore simple ways to stay organised at home
Keep occasional wear elsewhere
If space is limited and you only wear your heels and faux fur coat to go out on a Saturday night, store them away in your bedroom. Only keep frequently worn outerwear by the door. That way, you won’t end up with a bulging, unattractive – not to mention difficult to access – mass of coats.
When there’s so much gear on your coat stand you can’t see it, you know that rarely worn items have snuck in. The vintage coat rack here is so lovely, it would be a shame for it to be completely hidden from view.
If space is limited and you only wear your heels and faux fur coat to go out on a Saturday night, store them away in your bedroom. Only keep frequently worn outerwear by the door. That way, you won’t end up with a bulging, unattractive – not to mention difficult to access – mass of coats.
When there’s so much gear on your coat stand you can’t see it, you know that rarely worn items have snuck in. The vintage coat rack here is so lovely, it would be a shame for it to be completely hidden from view.
Weave in decorative pieces
Hallway storage doesn’t have to be entirely functional. If there’s room, incorporate space for pleasing pieces that will help to make the hall more welcoming.
Here, a colourful orchid and copper cookware draw the eye away from a functional row of hooks holding everything from scarves and coats to the dog’s lead. The carved shelf brackets and legs also give this little area a sense of being an attractive piece of furniture rather than just a coat dump.
If dogs designed homes…
Hallway storage doesn’t have to be entirely functional. If there’s room, incorporate space for pleasing pieces that will help to make the hall more welcoming.
Here, a colourful orchid and copper cookware draw the eye away from a functional row of hooks holding everything from scarves and coats to the dog’s lead. The carved shelf brackets and legs also give this little area a sense of being an attractive piece of furniture rather than just a coat dump.
If dogs designed homes…
Invest in attractive coat hooks
If your coat hooks are hidden inside a coat cupboard, what they look like is irrelevant. When they’re on display in your hallway, however, it’s worth spending a little bit more on hooks that will look good whether they’re covered in coats or not.
This metal and enamel design adds a vintage touch to this Victorian hallway. It can take a good few coats, but still looks stylish when it’s empty.
If your coat hooks are hidden inside a coat cupboard, what they look like is irrelevant. When they’re on display in your hallway, however, it’s worth spending a little bit more on hooks that will look good whether they’re covered in coats or not.
This metal and enamel design adds a vintage touch to this Victorian hallway. It can take a good few coats, but still looks stylish when it’s empty.
Make it multi-functional
No matter how messy the rest of your place is, always try to keep your entrance hall tidy. It’s the first impression guests get of your home, and the first thing to greet you at the end of the day, so you want it to be welcoming.
A neat little all-in-one unit like this takes care of everything from keys to coats without dominating the space, and has room underneath for an orderly line of shoes.
No matter how messy the rest of your place is, always try to keep your entrance hall tidy. It’s the first impression guests get of your home, and the first thing to greet you at the end of the day, so you want it to be welcoming.
A neat little all-in-one unit like this takes care of everything from keys to coats without dominating the space, and has room underneath for an orderly line of shoes.
Be child friendly
If you have children, it’s crucial you have coat hooks or hanging space they can reach. If you don’t, you can’t blame them for littering the floor by the door with their bags, coats and shoes.
Here, plain white hooks unobtrusively line the panelled staircase, or choose fun, colourful hooks to turn them into a feature that will help entice younger children to be tidy.
If you have children, it’s crucial you have coat hooks or hanging space they can reach. If you don’t, you can’t blame them for littering the floor by the door with their bags, coats and shoes.
Here, plain white hooks unobtrusively line the panelled staircase, or choose fun, colourful hooks to turn them into a feature that will help entice younger children to be tidy.
Corral wet umbrellas
They may seem old-fashioned, but umbrella stands are incredibly useful and will ensure your hall floor doesn’t get stained with rainwater or strewn with drying brollies.
Umbrella stands now come in all kinds of shapes, designs and materials, so you should be able to find one that works nicely with your interior.
They may seem old-fashioned, but umbrella stands are incredibly useful and will ensure your hall floor doesn’t get stained with rainwater or strewn with drying brollies.
Umbrella stands now come in all kinds of shapes, designs and materials, so you should be able to find one that works nicely with your interior.
Pull up a chair
If you have the space, position a chair by your hallway open storage area. If you provide a place for people to sit down, they’re much more likely to take their outerwear off where you want them to take it off and put it away where it should go.
Check out storage seats to suit any space
If you have the space, position a chair by your hallway open storage area. If you provide a place for people to sit down, they’re much more likely to take their outerwear off where you want them to take it off and put it away where it should go.
Check out storage seats to suit any space
Bring in baskets
Baskets are a great solution for hallways with little or no built-in storage. Throw everything from bags and hats to scarves and gloves in there. You could even have one for less frequently worn shoes and boots. Teamed with hooks for coats, they’ll keep your hall clear and functional.
Baskets are a great solution for hallways with little or no built-in storage. Throw everything from bags and hats to scarves and gloves in there. You could even have one for less frequently worn shoes and boots. Teamed with hooks for coats, they’ll keep your hall clear and functional.
Get a shoe or two in
If yours is a shoes-off house and you want to avoid a puddle of footwear by the front door, see if you can squeeze in a small bench or table under which shoes could be neatly lined up.
Here, a handy little console table has a pot on top for keys and rows of shelves underneath for shoes and boots.
TELL US…
Have you come up with an innovative way of keeping your hallway clutter-free? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
If yours is a shoes-off house and you want to avoid a puddle of footwear by the front door, see if you can squeeze in a small bench or table under which shoes could be neatly lined up.
Here, a handy little console table has a pot on top for keys and rows of shelves underneath for shoes and boots.
TELL US…
Have you come up with an innovative way of keeping your hallway clutter-free? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Related Stories
Gardens
How to Disguise Rubbish and Recycling Bins Outside Your Home
Need to hide unsightly bins in your garden or driveway? Take a look at these clever ideas for inspiration
Full Story
Storage & Organisation
7 Ideas for Children’s Bookshelves
Need bookshelf or book storage ideas for your kid’s bedroom? Browse these stylish rooms for inspiration
Full Story
Living Rooms
10 Excellent Ideas for Alcove Storage
By Kate Burt
Those spaces either side of your chimney breast – are you making the most of them? Read on to find out
Full Story
Storage & Organisation
9 Things No One Tells You About Creating Storage in Your Home
By Kate Burt
Stuck for more storage? Look no further than our pros’ ideas for maximising space – beautifully
Full Story
Storage & Organisation
7 Ideas for Acing Your Open-plan Room’s Storage
By Kate Burt
Open-plan living spaces come with their own specific storage challenges, but there are several ways to tackle them
Full Story
Storage & Organisation
How to Achieve ‘Barely There’ Bedroom Storage
By Kate Burt
Let your bedroom feel serene by keeping your storage discreet
Full Story
Storage & Organisation
How to Declutter Your Home and Keep it Tidy
Need help to reclaim your space? Discover the tricks of the trade with this expert advice
Full Story
Storage & Organisation
9 Ways to Use Storage Baskets and Boxes Around Your Home
By Kate Burt
Easy to access, handy when it comes to tidying, and perfect for adding texture… Try giving these storage stars a whirl
Full Story
More Rooms
How to Pack More Into Your Loft Conversion
By Eva Byrne
Converting a loft can be a great way to create more space, but only if this typically awkward area is optimised
Full Story
More Rooms
7 of the Most Organised Hallways on Houzz
Are you ready for a storage masterclass? These neat hallways have it covered
Full Story
Some really nice ideas here. We'd say a simple bench looks great in a hallway against a wall. They are slim enough not to take up too much room, shoes can be stored underneath and it's a place to sit when pulling on/off wellies, etc!
We use a vintage bureau with nice carving and huge cupboard for shoes, the top is s display area and post collector, and the desk part closes up but stores lots of oddments.