7 of the Best Storage Ideas for Small Hallways
Hallway storage is essential, but what to do if your room has petite proportions? Just pick one of these clever ideas
Victoria Harrison
5 March 2018
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
Good storage is the first line of defence against clutter, but if you’re lacking in hallway space, it can be difficult to keep on top of everyday items such as coats, bags and shoes. Fear not – these smart storage solutions should give you plenty of ideas for how to transform your own space.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Get three in one
With a hallway this compact, you can’t just add in a row of coat hooks and hope for the best. Instead, boost your storage options by investing in a trio of helpers.
First, find the largest storage bench you can comfortably fit into the space and ensure it either has a lift-up lid or doors to tuck shoes and bags out of sight. Next, add in as many coat hooks as you can squeeze along the wall above, then finally make the most of the space higher up by investing in a wall-mounted shelving unit.
With a hallway this compact, you can’t just add in a row of coat hooks and hope for the best. Instead, boost your storage options by investing in a trio of helpers.
First, find the largest storage bench you can comfortably fit into the space and ensure it either has a lift-up lid or doors to tuck shoes and bags out of sight. Next, add in as many coat hooks as you can squeeze along the wall above, then finally make the most of the space higher up by investing in a wall-mounted shelving unit.
Flip your hangers
Sometimes, it can pay to reverse the way you traditionally think about storage to get a fresh take on your options in a compact space.
This slim hallway doesn’t allow for a large coat cupboard with hangers stacked in a row, but by turning them flat to the wall like this, it allows for two or three coats to be hung tidily without taking up nearly as much room as if the hangers had been turned the other way.
Browse thousands of hallway photos
Sometimes, it can pay to reverse the way you traditionally think about storage to get a fresh take on your options in a compact space.
This slim hallway doesn’t allow for a large coat cupboard with hangers stacked in a row, but by turning them flat to the wall like this, it allows for two or three coats to be hung tidily without taking up nearly as much room as if the hangers had been turned the other way.
Browse thousands of hallway photos
Make it adjustable
The owners of this small hallway needed to use all the design tools at their disposal to squeeze in enough storage for family life.
They’ve employed a couple of smart tricks to do this. First, they’ve had bespoke storage boxes built, one on the floor and one wall-mounted above, to ensure every inch of the limited space is used to best advantage.
Then they’ve slotted in a sheet of pegboard right across the central space to allow for flexible coat storage, which can be increased as required just by adding more wooden pegs. A splash of yellow paint brightens up the little space and offers a cheery welcome to guests.
The owners of this small hallway needed to use all the design tools at their disposal to squeeze in enough storage for family life.
They’ve employed a couple of smart tricks to do this. First, they’ve had bespoke storage boxes built, one on the floor and one wall-mounted above, to ensure every inch of the limited space is used to best advantage.
Then they’ve slotted in a sheet of pegboard right across the central space to allow for flexible coat storage, which can be increased as required just by adding more wooden pegs. A splash of yellow paint brightens up the little space and offers a cheery welcome to guests.
Choose sliding doors
If you have a long, narrow hallway and don’t want to visually clutter the space with coat hooks and shoe racks, a slim wall cupboard like this one is a neat way of sneaking in some storage while keeping the space feeling calm.
Whether you carve a little bit of space from the hallway itself or borrow from the room next door to create your cupboard, what you’ll lose in floorspace you’ll more than make up for with vertical storage. Ask a builder or carpenter if this might be a possibility in your home.
Need some bespoke storage? Find carpenters and joiners in your area
If you have a long, narrow hallway and don’t want to visually clutter the space with coat hooks and shoe racks, a slim wall cupboard like this one is a neat way of sneaking in some storage while keeping the space feeling calm.
Whether you carve a little bit of space from the hallway itself or borrow from the room next door to create your cupboard, what you’ll lose in floorspace you’ll more than make up for with vertical storage. Ask a builder or carpenter if this might be a possibility in your home.
Need some bespoke storage? Find carpenters and joiners in your area
Utilise the back of the door
If you don’t have any free wall space at all in your hallway, don’t overlook the back of the door. A slim coat rack like this one will allow for a handful of coats and bags to be neatly stored, and you could even add in a second, lower, row underneath for organising children’s coats and school bags.
Shop for storage solutions on Houzz
If you don’t have any free wall space at all in your hallway, don’t overlook the back of the door. A slim coat rack like this one will allow for a handful of coats and bags to be neatly stored, and you could even add in a second, lower, row underneath for organising children’s coats and school bags.
Shop for storage solutions on Houzz
Build right up to the ceiling
It pays to take storage right up to the ceiling in a small hallway, so look for a piece of furniture that does a similar job to this one, or ask a carpenter to make a bespoke unit for you.
Every inch of space has been maxed out in this compact hallway thanks to the combination of shoe racks, cubbyholes, wall hooks and high cupboards.
It pays to take storage right up to the ceiling in a small hallway, so look for a piece of furniture that does a similar job to this one, or ask a carpenter to make a bespoke unit for you.
Every inch of space has been maxed out in this compact hallway thanks to the combination of shoe racks, cubbyholes, wall hooks and high cupboards.
Try a bespoke bench
Going bespoke can sometimes seem like a pricer option than buying off the shelf, but, for a little extra investment, you can often gain a lot in terms of practical storage.
This small bench tucks snugly into the hallway nook and makes the most of every bit of precious floorspace in such a tight corner. The tall seat height allows for maximum storage space below and the row of coat hooks above keeps jackets and bags off the floor.
Tell us…
How have you made the most of the space in your hallway? Let us know in the Comments section.
Going bespoke can sometimes seem like a pricer option than buying off the shelf, but, for a little extra investment, you can often gain a lot in terms of practical storage.
This small bench tucks snugly into the hallway nook and makes the most of every bit of precious floorspace in such a tight corner. The tall seat height allows for maximum storage space below and the row of coat hooks above keeps jackets and bags off the floor.
Tell us…
How have you made the most of the space in your hallway? Let us know in the Comments section.
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Where do I buy the coat hooks for hanging 3 coats flat please . Thanks
Anyone know please . Thanks
I bought some in Portugal, I think Primark.