5 Ways Designers Have Cleverly Planned Storage in a Hallway
Need some storage in your home’s entrance? Take a look at these ideas for inspiration
Whether you’re looking to stow away coats and shoes or something else entirely, a little smart space planning can be key for creating a calm, welcoming hallway. We’ve put together a roundup of some of the cleverest hallway storage ideas, all devised by professionals on Houzz. Read on to discover creative ways to add functionality to your entrance.
2. Turn an understairs space into a bar area
The hallway of this house leads directly into a large, open space, with the living room to the right and the kitchen at the back. The understairs area was therefore visible from most of the ground floor and looked empty and awkward.
Rather than turning the space into coat storage, Natasha Burton of NB Interiors UK thought more creatively. “The owners had talked about having a drinks cabinet, so I suggested we incorporate that into a storage space and bar under the stairs that doesn’t look too much like a bar,” she says.
It’s the perfect spot between the seating area and the kitchen and contains a wine rack, shelves and closed cabinets, as well as a surface for pouring drinks.
Take a look around the rest of this rural home.
The hallway of this house leads directly into a large, open space, with the living room to the right and the kitchen at the back. The understairs area was therefore visible from most of the ground floor and looked empty and awkward.
Rather than turning the space into coat storage, Natasha Burton of NB Interiors UK thought more creatively. “The owners had talked about having a drinks cabinet, so I suggested we incorporate that into a storage space and bar under the stairs that doesn’t look too much like a bar,” she says.
It’s the perfect spot between the seating area and the kitchen and contains a wine rack, shelves and closed cabinets, as well as a surface for pouring drinks.
Take a look around the rest of this rural home.
3. Fashion a minimal yet functional corner
While a front porch can be useful for adding extra space, it can also block light in, and views from, the hallway. That’s precisely what was happening in this Hertfordshire home.
Interior designer Maria Chandler, of Become Interiors, decided to combine the porch and main area to create one, bigger hallway, then built in some practical storage.
The bespoke joinery is designed to house plenty of coats, shoes and equipment for the family of five while looking sleek and minimal on the outside.
“If budget allows, bespoke joinery can help you make use of every spare millimetre of space,” Maria says. “Try to strike a balance between open and hidden storage to ensure the area feels welcoming and ‘light’.”
Got a project in mind? Find the best person for the job in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
While a front porch can be useful for adding extra space, it can also block light in, and views from, the hallway. That’s precisely what was happening in this Hertfordshire home.
Interior designer Maria Chandler, of Become Interiors, decided to combine the porch and main area to create one, bigger hallway, then built in some practical storage.
The bespoke joinery is designed to house plenty of coats, shoes and equipment for the family of five while looking sleek and minimal on the outside.
“If budget allows, bespoke joinery can help you make use of every spare millimetre of space,” Maria says. “Try to strike a balance between open and hidden storage to ensure the area feels welcoming and ‘light’.”
Got a project in mind? Find the best person for the job in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
4. Create a separate area in an open-plan room
The front door of this flat led straight into an open-plan kitchen and living space, and the owners had nowhere to store their coats and shoes without them cluttering up the rest of the flat.
Designer Simone Gordon of Owl Design devised a way to carve out an entrance area by building a small vestibule made from vertical oak battens. These help to divide the area from the main room while retaining a light and welcoming feel.
As well as a useful bench seat, there’s plenty of storage in the vestibule for the couple and their small child, including pigeonholes for shoes, hooks for coats and bags, shelves for rattan baskets holding scarves and gloves, and a small ledge for dropping keys. There’s even a dedicated space for the daughter’s bicycle.
Discover more about this new-build flat with clever joinery.
The front door of this flat led straight into an open-plan kitchen and living space, and the owners had nowhere to store their coats and shoes without them cluttering up the rest of the flat.
Designer Simone Gordon of Owl Design devised a way to carve out an entrance area by building a small vestibule made from vertical oak battens. These help to divide the area from the main room while retaining a light and welcoming feel.
As well as a useful bench seat, there’s plenty of storage in the vestibule for the couple and their small child, including pigeonholes for shoes, hooks for coats and bags, shelves for rattan baskets holding scarves and gloves, and a small ledge for dropping keys. There’s even a dedicated space for the daughter’s bicycle.
Discover more about this new-build flat with clever joinery.
5. Spread out beyond the main area
There wasn’t much room for storage in the narrow hallway of this Victorian house, so designers Ellen Cumber and Alice Bettington of Golden Design looked slightly beyond the main area to add functionality.
At the end of the hallway, the stairs lead down to the lower ground floor, and this was the ideal spot for shoe and coat storage. A small window to the left wasn’t really needed, so the team blocked it up and fitted a coat cupboard in front of it, then added a bench seat below the larger window with more storage underneath.
“There were so many limitations sizewise that we had to have hooks instead of hangers and a bifold door, otherwise it would have bashed the stairs when it was opened,” Ellen says. “It’s a beautiful little vignette now rather than an afterthought.”
Visit more of this Victorian house with a boutique hotel vibe.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas would work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
There wasn’t much room for storage in the narrow hallway of this Victorian house, so designers Ellen Cumber and Alice Bettington of Golden Design looked slightly beyond the main area to add functionality.
At the end of the hallway, the stairs lead down to the lower ground floor, and this was the ideal spot for shoe and coat storage. A small window to the left wasn’t really needed, so the team blocked it up and fitted a coat cupboard in front of it, then added a bench seat below the larger window with more storage underneath.
“There were so many limitations sizewise that we had to have hooks instead of hangers and a bifold door, otherwise it would have bashed the stairs when it was opened,” Ellen says. “It’s a beautiful little vignette now rather than an afterthought.”
Visit more of this Victorian house with a boutique hotel vibe.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas would work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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The owner of this house wanted it to feel tranquil for her and her teenage son, and for that she needed it to be tidy and organised. “To achieve the clutter-free, calm, mindful space the owner wanted required great storage,” Lorraine Sakharet of Decorbuddi says, and that’s just what she designed for the hallway.
This useful bench seat has integrated storage, while Japandi-style wooden slats add to the calm feel and conceal a practical hanging rail with a shelf above.
See more of this light and calm oasis.