hallway storage solutions for shoes, coats, bookbags and all our family crap?!

[runningLou]

Have just booked a plasterer to come and strip wallpaper and re-plaster in our hallway (theory is that we are getting an extension done this summer that will involve new flooring in all downstairs including hallway so I want the plastering done before new floor goes down - please tell me if this idea is unsound!).
There is hideous anaglypta in a pattern reminiscent of giant spider webs all through the hall and stairs which has been painted white and which I cannot wait to get rid of! Would just be going for a light neutral wall colour.
I would like to get new hall furniture as well, as what we have is pretty tired now after moving house with us a couple of times. We need coat, shoe and bag storage for DH and I and 2 x DC who seem to own multiple pairs of shoes, coats, hats, scarves, gloves etc. What would you recommend? If possible I would like stuff to be hidden away e.g. drawers/baskets. Happy with coat hooks and like those ones with shelves over although the shelves never seem to be big enough?
The hall is approx. 2m wide and 2m long up to the stairs.
Understairs cupboard is already full of crap with backpacks, trainers, spare coats and waterproofs etc.

[Lelivre]

I have two 'hang it all' eamesreproduction racks and underneath ikea slim shoe cupboard stacked. I keep my shoes upstairs and leave this for the family. On top and under this I have Lakeland baskets for gloves and hats. Cheap and does the job. Not that classy though but it's tidy. I'm out and about and can't link for you but I hope it helps.

[McBaby]

I would put off doing any plastering till you do the extension it's amazing how many holes in the walls that need to be made to check things like floor heights, water, gas, electrics, steels etc

[Palomb]

Do you have a downstairs toilet? Ours is full to bursting with coat rails all round the walls and shoe racks. I always half expect to see Mr Tumnus when I'm having a poo but it works for us.

[runningLou]

Unfortunately our downstairs layout is a bit odd so downstairs loo is off the kitchen and I don't want everyone walking through to put shoes and coats away ...
McBaby I think we should be ok with the plastering as the building work will be in an extension at the back of the house so well away from the hallway.
Lelivre please could you link to the things you suggested or send a pic of your arrangement? I got a bit confused as to what was stacked in top of what! I really like your ideas and would love to see.

[Artandco]

Keep all coats and shoes etc in bedrooms apart from one pair each. You can't wear more than a pair at once so just change that pair if you need to for different activity.

[DownstairsMixUp]

I have a TINY hallway/porch type thing so I feel your pain. It's also an awkward shape. Is your husband able to make things like basic woodwork? We have a weird gap which not much would fit in but DH measured it and made a wooden shoe rack so shoes go there then he put a shelf on top where we store the bags/umbrellas. He then put a rail of hooks on the side of the wall to hang up the coats. It's a bit better now though eldest ds still dumps his stuff on the sofa rather than the porch.

[vvviola]

If I had space (which I don't ) I would make an ikea 4x1 kallax unit into a bench seat and each person would get a basket in one of the cubbies for shoes/bags etc (with extras to go in bedroom).

Then I'd put a row of coat hooks in the wall above it. Or a shelf with coat hooks below, and baskets on the shelf for hats/gloves etc.

As it is, my new house has a little alcove 90cm wide, so I have no idea how to make my plans fit.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

Have a look at how you're using your understairs cupboard first, I'd say.

We've really made ours work well with 3 of these hooks screwed to the walls in a U shape. One side is for dh and I, the other for the dcs, back wall for waterproofs.

Underneath we have:
On the left - 3 hooks for school bags.
Across the back - a cheap 2 tier shoe rack
On the right - a basket for trainers etc

The only thing I haven't managed to fit in is storage for hats and gloves but I have a tall slim cupboard with loads of small drawers that I've got earmarked for that. So many drawers that we'll be able to keep sunglasses, suncream and other stuff in it too.

[Hallamoo]

We have pretty much what vviola describes. It works fairly well, except;

1. There are 6 of us, so at least 25 pairs of shoes.
2. No one ever puts their shoes away
3. Small DC can't reach the baskets on the shelf above the coat hooks.

We also have a 3x2 Kallax in the understairs cupboard for school bags/extra shoes boots, but it always seems to be overflowing.

I've come to the conclusion that whatever storage solution I have, it will always be me putting the stuff in it.

[vvviola]

Nooooo..... Hallamoo! Don't burst my bubble. I am firmly convinced that if I get the right combination of hooks and baskets and benches that all bags, coats and shoes will be miraculously looked after. Don't tell me that isn't so...

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

No I think if you get it right so it's all easy and accessible and follow it through by constantly nagging reminding then it can work vvviola Maybe partly depends how old your dcs are though?

[Pigeonpost]

IKEA Trones. Super slim but capacious inside. Bloody amazing things. Packed full of shoes, scarves, dog leads, dog towels in this house. Not book bags mind you but they would fit in one.

[Pigeonpost]

Oh and my DC (5 and 7) are virtually robotic about putting their shoes into the Trones. Their bookbags go on hooks (low down ones) and they do that too. We've had the Trones for several years and in our old house there wasn't anywhere else to put shoes (narrow Victorian terrace hallway) so they got used to it pretty quickly.

[FurryTrousers]

We recently got some slim Ikea Pax wardrobes & got hooks, wire drawers & shelves (Komplement I think) for the inside, similar to this...

[runningLou]

Thank you for the Ikea Trones recommendation. Do you know how they compare in size with the freestanding cabinets like Hemnes? Am thinking a combination of slim Ikea shoe cabinets, storage bench, coat rack above, and a Kallax for cubbyholes could do it ...

[runningLou]

I like the slim Pax idea too though - sliding doors would be great for the hallway. Do you have low hooks inside for DC? Mine are 8 and 4.

[FurryTrousers]

We've got 3 wide wire baskets at the bottom with shelf above & half way up the 'hooks-on-a-bar-that slide out' for ballet kits etc. Those are alongside big coat hangers, like in my first pic. Not v well explained (!) but working ok with my three DC who are 7,5 & 2.

[Hallamoo]

Well, my 5 year old and 8 year old have no problems putting their stuff away. It's the 11yr old, the 15 yr old and the 46 yr old that seem to struggle!

[BeckyWithTheMediocreHair]

I would suggest getting a carpenter to come and have a look. Somebody good would be able to recommend something bespoke and it won't necessarily be too expensive.

[Lelivre]

I had trones everywhere in the last house but they are quite plastic and utility looking. Have hemnes here now and it's a bit smarter. The trones work well hung on and behind a door in a under stairs Cupboard, out of sight.

[Pigeonpost]

From memory Hemnes were quite a bit wider than Trones as our hallway was so narrow Trones was the only option. Dimensions will be on the IKEA website though. We have white walls so the white Trones virtually vanish into them. If you do a Pinterest search there are ideas for jazzing them up. We have a piece of slate on top of ours leftover from another job. Reclaimed board would have been my other choice if we didn't have the slate kicking around.

[Thesunrising]

Another recommendation for Trones storage units. We've got two side by side in our hallway. They can be poshed up with a length of oak laid across the top and hold loads. They come in packs of three - we have the third in our downstairs loo for holding spare toilet rolls and other toiletries. Excellent value for money storage solution.