How to Uncover Hidden Storage Space in Your Hallway
These 10 creative space-saving solutions will make your life easier
In a small home, you don’t always have the luxury of leaving your entry or hallways free of furniture and storage. Sometimes you need to use every square inch to have a place for everything. Luckily, with a little creativity and a few tips from yours truly, you can create several storage areas in these cramped spaces – without feeling boxed in.
2. Shoe shelves
Shoe racks that sit on the floor don’t always make the best use of space. Thinking back to our floating cabinet, it’s helpful in a small space to keep the floor free and clear. Instead of a floor unit, try using wall-mounted racks or slim shelves to keep shoes up and out of the way, and hidden from normal view (which may be just as well for your well-worn sneakers).
Shoe racks that sit on the floor don’t always make the best use of space. Thinking back to our floating cabinet, it’s helpful in a small space to keep the floor free and clear. Instead of a floor unit, try using wall-mounted racks or slim shelves to keep shoes up and out of the way, and hidden from normal view (which may be just as well for your well-worn sneakers).
3. Slim cabinets
Speaking of shoe racks, slim wall-mounted shoe cabinets with tip-out compartments have a much slimmer profile than a typical storage unit. These compartments can work well for many other storage needs, such as holding documents, mittens, plastic bags and other small and flat items. The shelf on top is usually just deep enough to hold some decorative items and act as a catchall for keys or coins. Switch out the knobs for a stylish upgrade and you’ve got an easy solution that can look high-end.
Speaking of shoe racks, slim wall-mounted shoe cabinets with tip-out compartments have a much slimmer profile than a typical storage unit. These compartments can work well for many other storage needs, such as holding documents, mittens, plastic bags and other small and flat items. The shelf on top is usually just deep enough to hold some decorative items and act as a catchall for keys or coins. Switch out the knobs for a stylish upgrade and you’ve got an easy solution that can look high-end.
4. Open compartments
Custom built-ins like those shown here are a bit more of an investment than a free-standing furniture piece or shelves. But they make keeping an organised entryway a snap. That’s because you can design the units to accommodate everything you plan to toss there.
Open storage hooks and shelves make tossing down boots, hats, sporting equipment and the like quick and easy enough that even the laziest resident can make the effort. Defined, separate compartments keep the whole wall from feeling unkempt, and actually feature the casually tossed items like a display case. Between open and closed storage, it’s the best of both worlds.
15 Cleverly Hidden Kitchen Storage Units
Custom built-ins like those shown here are a bit more of an investment than a free-standing furniture piece or shelves. But they make keeping an organised entryway a snap. That’s because you can design the units to accommodate everything you plan to toss there.
Open storage hooks and shelves make tossing down boots, hats, sporting equipment and the like quick and easy enough that even the laziest resident can make the effort. Defined, separate compartments keep the whole wall from feeling unkempt, and actually feature the casually tossed items like a display case. Between open and closed storage, it’s the best of both worlds.
15 Cleverly Hidden Kitchen Storage Units
5. Ladder shelves
Whether you pick up a ladder-inspired shelving unit like this one or creatively repurpose an actual ladder, this sort of storage solution has practical benefits and style. Because the “ladder” leans away from you as it moves upward, it effectively takes up less space where you need elbow room. In fact, this design can make it seem even slimmer than it really is.
This makes a space feel less closed in than a shelving unit that stays the same height all the way up, but still gives you somewhere to store baskets or other items of various sizes.
Whether you pick up a ladder-inspired shelving unit like this one or creatively repurpose an actual ladder, this sort of storage solution has practical benefits and style. Because the “ladder” leans away from you as it moves upward, it effectively takes up less space where you need elbow room. In fact, this design can make it seem even slimmer than it really is.
This makes a space feel less closed in than a shelving unit that stays the same height all the way up, but still gives you somewhere to store baskets or other items of various sizes.
6. Open cabinets
When you’re really tight for space in an entryway or a hall, sometimes even having cabinets with doors can be a dealbreaker. Try removing the doors from a simple cabinet or using an open bookshelf instead, with colour-matched baskets (such as white baskets on white shelves) for a slimmer profile but still a tidy look, and with no swinging doors to get in the way.
When you’re really tight for space in an entryway or a hall, sometimes even having cabinets with doors can be a dealbreaker. Try removing the doors from a simple cabinet or using an open bookshelf instead, with colour-matched baskets (such as white baskets on white shelves) for a slimmer profile but still a tidy look, and with no swinging doors to get in the way.
7. Stair shelves
Building shelving or compartments into your staircase can be a smart, architectural approach to saving space. But if you don’t already have them, they aren’t very easy to tack on.
Shelving that sits on a staircase is another story. If your home has a relatively wide staircase eating up a chunk of your square footage, steal some of that space back by building compartmentalised shelves on top of them. You can have cubbies in different sizes for bags, shoes, books, baskets, the works. Now you won’t need to cut into a cramped foyer, as all the storage you need will be mere steps away.
Building shelving or compartments into your staircase can be a smart, architectural approach to saving space. But if you don’t already have them, they aren’t very easy to tack on.
Shelving that sits on a staircase is another story. If your home has a relatively wide staircase eating up a chunk of your square footage, steal some of that space back by building compartmentalised shelves on top of them. You can have cubbies in different sizes for bags, shoes, books, baskets, the works. Now you won’t need to cut into a cramped foyer, as all the storage you need will be mere steps away.
8. Multipurpose shelving
In a truly small space, sometimes every area has to serve double duty. A laundry room-style rack shelf can function as a sleek shelf most of the time, and then be used as a drying rack when needed for hand-washed items. The cross bars also let you toss on hangers too, so this area can suddenly become a coat rack during a party or during winter in a region with a cold climate.
In a truly small space, sometimes every area has to serve double duty. A laundry room-style rack shelf can function as a sleek shelf most of the time, and then be used as a drying rack when needed for hand-washed items. The cross bars also let you toss on hangers too, so this area can suddenly become a coat rack during a party or during winter in a region with a cold climate.
9. Art rails
Only need enough storage to stash your keys when you walk in? Lucky you! For a place to toss small items, try an art rail instead of a full shelf. Art rails usually have a depth of just a few inches, so they won’t get in the way much at all, and when not keeping your keys for you, they can also beautifully display frames, books or small knickknacks.
Only need enough storage to stash your keys when you walk in? Lucky you! For a place to toss small items, try an art rail instead of a full shelf. Art rails usually have a depth of just a few inches, so they won’t get in the way much at all, and when not keeping your keys for you, they can also beautifully display frames, books or small knickknacks.
10. Creative repurposing
Remember, it’s your home, and your rules. Try using a creative piece like a vintage file cabinet to store documents or other less-used items – you can even create a niche for a bookshelf like here.
Read more:
6 Ways to Add Oomph to Your Hallway
Fundamentals of Hallway Design
Tell us:
Share your tips with us for making the most of hallways. Write in Comments below.
Remember, it’s your home, and your rules. Try using a creative piece like a vintage file cabinet to store documents or other less-used items – you can even create a niche for a bookshelf like here.
Read more:
6 Ways to Add Oomph to Your Hallway
Fundamentals of Hallway Design
Tell us:
Share your tips with us for making the most of hallways. Write in Comments below.
Sponsored
We usually see floating cabinets used as bathroom vanities or perhaps cool modern bedside tables, but they are excellent choices for cramped entryways and hallways. The fact that they float off the ground means you’ll avoid stubbing toes when multiple people are trying to squeeze through the space at the same time. Floating cabinets also make it a bit easier to manoeuvre wheeled items through, such as strollers or luggage.
Choose a cabinet with hard lacquered doors in a fun colour to add a pop of interest and to help it stand up to a few accidental dings.
Find an interior designer to help with storage solutions