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Hallways Furniture Design Dilemma

hallway help I need help .. flooring and Shoe Storage

Simone Gonzales

3 months ago

Hello all , new year new start … I really need some inspiration on how I can make my hallway functional, attractive and workable for a family of 4 .. two toddlers and a husband with many trainers 🤣. What I need help with …

I have taken 3 photos

Porch … I love the wall tiles so would love something that kept with the theme
Main hall area a strange shape we do like less is better do need a function hall tree or seat and wardrobe would that work
Floor I would like to change the floor so oriole can walk in from the porch to take their shoes off rather than everyone sitting on the floor at the door entrance worrying about carrying mud onto a carpet .
Flooring … I don’t really want to have carpet but unsure what floor to have … ideally I would like the option of extending the flooring choice into the dining room and flow into the kitchen as I am guessing this may be better for the house overall ?? I was thinking a LVT … what colour would you go for ? Wood ,grey … open to any thoughts … the floor can’t be slippy
Seat and storage … I have a handmade pew as you can see but it’s not functional . I need something that will allow people to sit whilst putting their shoes and accessing shows from the front not the top to avoid damaging the shoes. Realistically we probably have around 10 pairs of shoes in the hallway / porch at one time and it’s driving me insane . I would ideally like to hit them so I don’t see them 🤣
Decor … I am not looking to paint but how can I make the room light brighter and a little more homely without clutter .

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Comments (30)

Isla Cherry
3 months ago
I love your period features. You need dedicated shoe storage or at least a low cubby style bench where you can slip them into slots to disguise. The only way to defeat entrance hall clutter is to build a giant storage cupboard (expensive) or put it away after use. That coat and rugsack overload is very bad feng shui. Conceal or put away. Is there room under the stairs for coat storage?
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Hi Isla , thank you so much for your feedback . We cannot use the space under the stairs as this leads to our cellar which is accessed via our dining room . So you think if I have something built where the pew currently sits would work and just don’t put things behind the door ? I think the flooring is what I need to sort so that people feel like they can walk in a sit down to put on or remove shoes . Would this still offer a good flow if I went forward with this idea ? At one stage I was thinking just to put a big wardrobe in that space with mirrors ?
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Carpet on the stairs will help with sound! But if stairs are good enough, just paint them all white! Add a stencil on the riser - numbers or a saying is always fun...or even add family member names. Do you like bold colors? If so, the handrail wall could be a green apple. Something that works w the pretty stain glass. Also upstairs, there looks to be space to make that a built in bookcase. As for under the stairs, you can take out studs but you can build deep shelves and give it a stair step look. If you have large gym bags, make some large enough to fit sliding them in. Whenever we put in storage like that, we add plugs for iPads and cellphones. Easy way to remember to charge them! Also, a narrow bench on wall opposite storage will help w putting on shoes.
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Empty out the furniture and fixtures there, including the lamp and ceiling fixture.Use a storage bench instead for a place to sit and remove shoes. Shoes or backpacks can be dropped inside it. You can get much better lighting from a fixture that has lights to wash the ceiling and to light the floor. What is under your stairs? Do you have room to install some storage there? Pull out stair drawers might work for shoes, and you might add some pull outs under the stairs if they are suited for it. A foyer should serve to introduce you, your style and the decor to be expected in the adjoining rooms. I would key furnishings and paint to what is going on in the rooms left and right of the foyer. Everything I see hanging on the walls is hung too high. The general rule is that the center point of a single piece or a grouping should be 5' above the floor. If the first piece at the bottom of the stairwell is hung at that level, you can use painter's tape to tape the center line all the way up the stairs and arrange pictures above and below the line, with a few centered right on it for a more pleasant arrangement. Not knowing much about the rest of your home or your personal style, I might suggest you paint a soft color like Sherwin WIlliams Sea Salt.
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PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago
last modified: 3 months ago
1. I think The Porch WIll looks great in wood cladding that has the same color as the door

This type of pattern or just white wall cladding

The wood one:

Some like to use darker paint to show elegance and mysterious:

2. Shoe Rack & wardrobe all depends on the shapes of your room shapes, you can modify your current bench into one rather than buying new one:

3. I would advise you to lower the floor on the foyer to minimize mud splasshing from the shoes, you can see japanese genkan for reference

4. I prefer wood floor giving more homey vibes, you can clean carpets but it easily stinks and if toddler plays with sticky stuff it'll leave stains or leaves a bump mark like gums, glue etc, many people cut out their carpets and sew hole with a patch but it's unnecessary if you don't use carpets in the first place and it's flammable. If you use granite/tile the heating cost will be bigger I assume but if you can afford it, you can use the non-slip granite/tile that they sold for bathroom it's not slippery at all

5.Bench storage as picture before

6.If Possible skylight

If you have floor above it you can try slanted skylight when there's no floor above it

Or Raise the height of window above the door

I'll prefer to hide my coat in a wardrobe and shoes as well to avoid it looks messy,

you can have additional shoe rack if you buy or build this kind of narrow shoe rack for the space under the window

what an unique house to live with, the fun side you can decorate it like hogwarts corridor if you want
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Hi Devy , would you remove the tiles ? I quite liked them 🤣 I don’t know if they are original but have been in the house since we bought it . What flooring would you then choose ? Also I love the dark colours but the hall is too dark already , being a terrace house we have limited light entering this space so we are looking for bright and airy ( all clutter to be hidden🤣)
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Devy, thank you so much for the additional feedback on the space for shoe and coat storage … I really do like some boot utility images you have shared . I think this is a good basis for me to start exploring what types of wardrobe / cupboard I can have to replace the pew . I was a little worried a wardrobe cupboard would be a little imposing but I do think if I move this coats and shoes to this area I absolutely need a door on the unit to hide all the items inside . It’s just the seat aspect I need to think about ….maybe I could just get a folding one that could be used and put in the cupboard when needed ( for elderly guests like grandparents ) as the reality is that my kids will just sit on the floor to put shoes on and off or sit on the stairs .
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Could be something like this but with a mirror maybe ?
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Totally agree I need to remove the carpet , I don’t have a huge budget but because this is the entrance to our home want to invest in something that gives the house a good central point . As we do hope to move house in the next 3 years .
PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago
last modified: 3 months ago

you can do pullout wardrobe under the stairs too if you need the bench space

or wall mounted folding bench
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Hi Devy , the cellar staircase runs under the stairs so this isn’t an option for us
PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago
last modified: 3 months ago

Then how about it looks like a normal wardrobe on the outside but the lower drawer section could be pullout completely and be used as seat, nobody gonna know there's a seat there, cheaper if you build one
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
That’s sound like an amazing idea . Do you think it would be cheaper for me to get one built rather than getting one already made ? Do you think I need a mirror on it ? I am worried it might be too imposing seeing a cupboard here ? ( see pic below )
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Green is where I would add a wardrobe and possible shoe store/ fold chair space . What colour wardrobe would you suggest I was thinking khaki but the. Actually I have a blue stain glass window so maybe great . What colour wood LVT would you suggest ?
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
@isla cherry could you tell me if what I propose in the above photo would better fend shui ? It would be a cupboard/wardrobe with /without a mirror to add some light reflection in the room . Thanks
PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago
I use wardrobe with stick-on reflective sticker on the door for my small bedroom, using real mirror Will more prone to break sooner or later no matter how cautious we are, its cheaper and safe for children. But I think your house Will blend in more with vintage theme
PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago

I'm a designer myself I can custom build any furniture accoding to Various needs, but even if i ask a contractor to build my design one could cost 960 - 1.567 pounds maybe 400 if you lucky, rather I ask my father help me build one, we spent about 151-310 pounds
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Thanks good to know , I think I need to figure out the floor and then move back onto the storage . Thank you so much for helping me get to this stage . I am hopefully to get the hallway in better shape the beginning of this year . I might even explore French antique wardrobe or a wardrobe /cupboard on legs so a stool could fit underneath .
PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago
The color of the wardrobe Will depends on the color of the wall paint, the door and the stairs railing, I hope they can be unified somehow, as too many colors Will give off vibes the house has been patched up incosistently, usually people paint them white, mint green, light moccha, light grey or using lighter Wood c
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Like these
Isla Cherry
3 months ago
Please don't spend a fortune getting a custom built piece. You can buy lovely freestanding storage in all shapes and sizes now. I love the green bottom one, very simple although period could also work. I would keep your tiles as they are probably original and stunning. They match the door in my opinion. Flooring is down to you but I would investigate some tiling. I am not a fan of LVT for my own reasons. Tiling would be practical and easy to clean and could stop in the entrance way. This way you can delay the decision about all the rest of the flooring for now but do consider how it would tie together.
PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago
last modified: 3 months ago
Have you considered using LED strips on the ceiling itll gives more light, cheap and less energy consuming

Usually when i have client with original house I tried to preserve as much as possible of the vintage as a respect for the history, only paint and add the cladding on the upper partpart
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Thanks Isla for responding . I don’t have a fortune so I won’t be getting anything custom built 😀 I will keep exploring i agree, I am sure there is something out there I can probably use . The flooring .. love the idea of tiles in the porch but I really need to move away from carpet in the hallway as the flow of taking coats and shoes off for my little ones is a little congested at the entrance . I think I considered LVT because I eventually want to extend the flooring from the hallway into the dining room through to the kitchen. I would image tiles can be cold and slippery. What would be your choice if tiles aren’t the option ? What’s your experience with LVT ? I did consider kardean but this seems pricy and not sure how it outweighs LVT such as amtico. Look forward to hearing your thoughts .
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Devy , thanks for your thoughts I am unsure led lights is in keeping with the period features but take on board your point with trying to address the lighting.
PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago
Actually by fengshui rule the mirror shouldn't faced the door directly, place it on the side wall instead, the most efficient place to place mirror is opposite of the current window which is the stairs wall,
It Will help the lights disperse to the room evenly, this also stick-on reflective
PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago
I like the bottom one color, as much as I love victorian style in the middle but the legs of the wardrobe will make it easiest to be wear down, the first one are ideal if you have less things and want to place stool underside
Vanessa Barriball
3 months ago
If you are thinking about Amtico - it is well worth the money. When we moved into our house nearly 35 years ago we already had Amtico in the hallway. It still looks as good as the day we moved in. We use genuine Amtico products to strip and re-polish from time to time but usually a vacuum and mop over does the job.
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Thank you Vanessa , this sounds promising and sounds like you have looked after the floor . My question is will it withstand toddler terrors 🤣. I going to explore the options … how is it in cold weather? … we have floor tiles in our bathroom and they can get pretty cold in our house . Really appreciate your feedback .
PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago
Here is the benefit of SPC flooring, https://decko.com.au/products/copy-of-copy-of-copy-of-decko-spc-hybrid-flooring-legno-1-box
lspendl 828
3 months ago
We recently had Karndean installed in our porch when it was remodelled. Before that, it had tiles which were colder and harder to keep clean.

The Karndean now runs throughout the ground floor, except for the living room. It’s great and so easy to live with.

We also bought a shoe storage cupboard which hides away about 15 pairs of shoes. It’s much neater than the open storage we had before.
Simone Gonzales
Original Author
3 months ago
Thank for sharing your feedback on the flooring you show store looks lovely 🥰
Vanessa Barriball
3 months ago
Simone - we don’t have children so can’t comment on how the floor handles toddlers. However it has handled various animals over the years with no problems. It also handed building work with no trouble at all as it’s very “moppable”. I all honesty we haven’t really looked after it very well, but when we do make the effort it comes up like new.

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