Teeny tiny hallway - can you share ideas with me?

[Hennifer]

Hello,

we have a reasonably big flat which is lovely, but the hallway is teensy as it's been converted from one house into two flats. We at least have our own front door, but I am struggling with where to store coats, shoes, that sort of thing - we have done away with the pushchair thankfully as he won't go in it any more, so that solves one problem!

I'd be really glad if anyone has any nice images they could post or link to, or ideas for what can be done. The people before us had some Ikea shoe cupboard things, but my children never put their shoes away and I don't think my rigger boots would fit in them anyway!

This is the hall, complete with shoes etc, as it is this morning...I haven't tidied up yet!! Oh and we are yet to decorate...

Thank you

[Artandco]

I think the idea shoe racks are needed and every has to put shoes away

However I would also put all shoes in bedrooms and same with coats. Then only have one pair of shoes each in hallway. If anyone want to wear diffenent shoes they need to swap them back with a pair in bedroom.

One coat maximum in hall each also. Everything else in bedroom

Our hallway is a postage stamp. We keep all cots and shoes in bedroom apart from what's literally being used. For example after home yesterday everything back in bedroom. Then before bed kids school shoes and Whatever Dh and I will wear today in put by the door. Same with coats.

[Hennifer]

Thank you - that is a really good idea. I have to admit a lot of the shoes are mine, but still - we need to reduce the number of items in the space.

Part of the problem is that the hall is the only part of our flat on the ground floor, and as such I tend to demand that their shoes stay down there and everyone takes them off when they come in, if that makes sense.

We do store 'wrong season' ones upstairs though and same with coats.

There is a radiator on the wall you can't see, behind the coats, and the coat wall is about 40" long but I can't put anything much there as it will limit the clearance for getting up the stairs.

There must be a nice shoe rack somewhere I've found the Ikea ones on their website but we'd need to pay £35 just for delivery, and I did an Ikea order a few months ago so don't need anything else.

[Ooof35]

3 levels of coat hooks- highest for the adults, next set down for bags / scarves/ accessories and the lowest level for children's coat and bag. Get the sturdiest ones you can!

As for shoes; the hanging material ones that you can find in homeware shops are good and could also be hung from up high.

With the floor space that's left, presumably your boots could go on without a problem.

You could also consider a high narrow shelf to store them on?

[Artistic]

Can't you wear your shoes and coats all the way up the stairs and remove/ store them at the first level where you enter the flat and perhaps have more space? Same thing about leaving the house. Treat the ground lev as though it doesn't exist.

[Hennifer]

Thank you, I like the idea of graduated hook levels! That would mean the kids could hang up their own coats.

Regarding boots I can't put mine on a shelf, as they are often covered in mud, but as you say if other things are out of the way, there will be more floor space.

I actually have a set of very narrow antique shelves, but am not sure what I could usefully store on them.

[Artandco]

This or similar up high. Can use baskets for hats/ scarfs/ gloves etc. Hooks for the coats

www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk/home-storage/wall-unit-with-hooks-Hampshire

Then a bunch of these on the wall to fit shoes in. Kids can just throw there's in if small. Probably fit one adults normal
Shoes in but a couple of small kids ones per box. Wellingtons/ boots keep upstairs unless in use and then just stand neatly on floor. Could also got book bags etc in these if school/ nursery age.

www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk/home-storage/magazine-letter-rack-retro-wall-mount

[Hennifer]

We could in theory take them off at the top of the stairs, but the fact is there's not much more space there - there's a long corridor going to the kitchen and bathroom, so that's useless for shoes or anything else much, and then if you turn back, there's just a tiny landing and another corridor.

I despair of this place sometimes - the rooms are enormous, but the access is pitifu! Which is why I had to take the arms off my sofa to get it in...still not sewn them on again...!

[Hennifer]

Oh wow, those letter rack things are very cool. I could definitely make use of some of those!

The high shelf is also a great idea. I could bung things like summer/winter hats up there.

Thanks for this, it's really helpful to brainstorm.

[Artandco]

Or something like this

www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk/home-storage/cubby-storage-unit-with-hooks

[origamiwarrior]

This? I expect a decent chippy could make them for you.

cdn.goodshomedesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Storage-shoes-Under-Stairs.jpg

[Hennifer]

Ooh I've seen something like that before! i think they're amazing - sadly with our ancient stairs, it took me five attempts to stop one of them from squeaking, so I doubt anyone could build drawers in them

It's a lovely idea though. So much wasted space under there.

[Hennifer]

You know it's really hard to decide on wall colours, too. I like it all white, but I think it will be gloomy...the flooring is new and a dark wood effect vinyl, which I love, as the previous owners had painted the floor boards white which was filthy and flaking off.

But the dado rail goes all the way up the stairs and along the landing, I'm not sure what colours will go with the whole area iyswim.

[bojorojo]

Could you make a cupboard under the stairs for coats? Not sure of the configuation of the rest of the flat? This hall is just a passageway. It is pretty useless for storing anything. Lots of houses are just like this! Enormous rooms are a bonus though and maybe lend themselves to built in storage - put your shoes into built in storage. Can you fit in another wardrobe for coats? Or have fitted wardrobes for a sleek look?

Paint. A warmer white or taupe would look good. Elephants Breath by F and B is a favourite of mine with white woodwork in Wimborne White. You cannot go wrong.

[Hennifer]

Thank you, that's a lovely idea - sadly we don't have access to the bit under the stairs. That belongs to the other flat.

You are right, it's not suitable for storage really. We might get away with a few coats but that's about it.

I wish we could buy downstairs and convert it back!

Will check out F&B colours you mention.

[CadburysTastesVileNow]

Shoe organiser hanger

www.amazon.co.uk/Ardisle-Storage-Pockets-Hanging-Organiser/dp/B018VRU210/ref=sr_1_14?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1456338249&sr=1-14&keywords=shoe%20organiser%20hanger&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Any good?

[Qwebec]

I was going to suggest the storage under the steps too. I would still ask a carpenter for a quote you veser know it might be easier than you think to make it work.

[Haudyerwheesht]

Just marking my place to come back to tomorrow

[Cressandra]

We have a really tiny hall and not enough discipline to keep shoes elsewhere. My solution was to get some undersize shoe cubbies made. They are traditional pigeon hole type things at the right height for using as a bench. We have quite small feet and all the shoe storage I could find, apart from racks which are a bit open IMO, were too deep for our space. The unit has long enough legs that we can get a line of slippers etc underneath, and a welly cubby.

We also have a really chunky set of double hooks with a heavy duty shelf over, and some lower level kids' hooks, all made by the same chap. Hats etc live in a box on the bench, or on the high shelf, or on the kids' pegs. Get the sort that have a hat peg.

We have also had those flat shoe storage cabinets from ikea. A lot of people ge on well with them, but we found kids tended to leave shoes out and then the cabinets broke.

[Hennifer]

Thank you and it is nice to get a review of the Ikea cabinets and to know that others struggle with this too.

Our stairs are a bit of a mess and we've just had a new carpet fitted on them, so there is no way we can do the storage thing, but I am sure it would work well for other people.

I've got a nice old board with hooks on, at the moment, which I got from the flea market in Berlin many years ago and I'd like to keep that, but will get some more hooks to put up lower down for the children's coats.

Also considering the high up shelf.

It will look lovely one day!!

[Cressandra]

Difficult to tell without seeing it, but what about the area you were standing in to take the photo? Could you get any storage in there? One of these shoe storage wheels or an ottoman?

Narrow shoe cabinets like the ikea ones are sold in argos, and other places. Oak/pine furniture places often do them.

[dinkystinky]

We have a narrow hallway too - mirror on wall to catch the light from he door is what we've done. Coats and shoes (and scooters) live under the stairs in a hollowed out recess but see that's not an option. Otherwise I'd suggest doing two rows of receding hooks (one at child height, one at adult height) to use for coats so they go back up into the wall when not used and a narrow shoe cabinet for the most frequently used shoes (others are kept in boxes in bedrooms for when needed).

[dinkystinky]

Store (a place for everything.co.uk) is a brilliant place for getting storage ideas - they have the receding coat hooks.

[SavoyCabbage]

Have you seen the 'home improvements' thread in media requests? Or whatever it is called.

[220hawthorn]

Not read all the posts but we are in a similar situation. Don't have a hallway just a porch and then it's into the lounge. We are a family of 6. All shoes except those for that day 1 pair each are away in rooms. Ppl dont pu them away so I am buying a big g wicker log basket which they can be thrown into. Also taking coats off the wall and having a free stabdibf coat stand. U can get slimline ones on amazon. Again only one coat each others in wardrobes. Hopefully with spring and summer there wont be many hanging on it soon. Painting it a very pale yellow to keep it light. Heres a pic of it now. Will update later when it's finished

[trickyex]

You don't have to spend £35 on deliver from IKEA, I think it is £8 for small items which a shoe rack ought to count as.
How about two IKEA Tjusig shoe racks side by side and two rows of matching hooks or coat racks above, in white? Some images here
www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30152638/