Coat/shoe storage and no hallway (photo attached)

[WhoopsieFairy]

Hi there,

About to move into a new house that doesn't have a hallway, just goes straight into living area. I'm looking for ideas and inspiration about how to arrange a coat/shoe area.

I'd be grateful for any help!

White(depends on wall colour) cabinet by the door (beside the beam).

Looking at the colour, I'd go for a white cabinet for them, maybe a low level one.

We do have a hallway and a shoe rack and it looks like a dumping ground. I bloody hate it, so am going to suggest a cabinet to store them.

I would actually get a wardrobe / armoire type thing or build a floor to ceiling big cupboard - hooks or a rail for coats and a rack at the bottom for shoes. Little hooks on the back of the cupboard doors for hats etc. I’d build it next to the door or even at a right angle to the door to create a small separation from living area and door.

I assume the item that looks like a grey bed is going to be moved? If so I would put a coat/shoe cupboard on that wall so you can close it and it will remain tidy. You can keep hats/scarfs/bags in it too.

Is there a back door? I'd be tempted to keep that lovely entrance free of all that stuff and put it all by the back door out of sight.

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/227903158/rustic-vintage-style-wooden-shoe-rack?gbraid=0AAAAADutTMcSrmRTLUj4sW3GjPj8oaH7s&gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_c-home_and_living-storage_and_organization-shoe_storage&utm_custom1=k_EAIaIQobChMI6ZC9ldvi9AIVyLHtCh0VbAObEAQYASABEgJZ6PD_BwE_k&utm_content=go_6479345244_75869459977_380846487112_pla-303775491974_m__227903158engb_113538241&utm_custom2=6479345244&gbraid=0AAAAADutTMcSrmRTLUj4sW3GjPj8oaH7s&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6ZC9ldvi9AIVyLHtCh0VbAObEAQYASABEgJZ6PD_BwE

I'd be tempted to go for something with doors like this: https://hallandlarder.com/products/600mm-hall-utility-room-cloak-room-coat-shoe-storage-cupboard otherwise you'll be looking at coats and shoes all the time

Plus something to sit down on when taking on and off shoes: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S1JF8JW/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcZPT575Z6JR238QZTEV3T

Where's your back door? Would it make sense to use that as the main door and have coats etc. there?

I might have a longish bench where the hall wall would be (near the bed frame) with cubby holes for shoes, and then coats against/on the wall. Lovely big space there. If I were you I wouldn't spend much yet until you know if you want it kept very open or sectioned off?

Also, we have baskets like this in our front porch for hats, scarves, gloves etc.

We've got a Ikea Hemnes shoe cabinet. It holds a surprising amount of shoes and has a drawer at the top for keys, mail etc.

Google how to create a hallway. There’s lots of good ideas, and some have been mentioned already.

@SalsaLove

Google how to create a hallway. There’s lots of good ideas, and some have been mentioned already.

This reads like 'fuck off and don't ask your silly questions here' but in the way teachers say it to kids at school

@SalsaLove

Google how to create a hallway. There’s lots of good ideas, and some have been mentioned already.

This is a forum! People ask questions or discuss topics. We all know Google exists.

@Bigoldmachine

I would actually get a wardrobe / armoire type thing or build a floor to ceiling big cupboard - hooks or a rail for coats and a rack at the bottom for shoes. Little hooks on the back of the cupboard doors for hats etc. I’d build it next to the door or even at a right angle to the door to create a small separation from living area and door.

I really like the right angle idea, thanks!

@reallyworriedjobhunter

Is there a back door? I'd be tempted to keep that lovely entrance free of all that stuff and put it all by the back door out of sight.

That's such a good point. Yes there is a backdoor. Actually off the garage leading into the kitchen so that might really be the more natural area to keep all the mess that is coats and shoes. Thanks for that suggestion!

@CheddarGorgeous

I'd be tempted to go for something with doors like this: [[https://hallandlarder.com/products/600mm-hall-utility-room-cloak-room-coat-shoe-storage-cupboard]] otherwise you'll be looking at coats and shoes all the time

Plus something to sit down on when taking on and off shoes: [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S1JF8JW/ref=cm]]swwrcppapiglttfabcZPT575Z6JR238QZTEV3T

Where's your back door? Would it make sense to use that as the main door and have coats etc. there?

Love that cupboard! Nice and slim as well.

@rrhuth

I might have a longish bench where the hall wall would be (near the bed frame) with cubby holes for shoes, and then coats against/on the wall. Lovely big space there. If I were you I wouldn't spend much yet until you know if you want it kept very open or sectioned off?

Yes you're right, it's probably best to wait and see for a bit. Haven't moved in yet, so who knows how we are going to feel. Perhaps it really is best to keep our stuff by the back entrance for now or forever or until we've decided what's what. Thanks!

@SalsaLove

Google how to create a hallway. There’s lots of good ideas, and some have been mentioned already.

I have googled but so many choices and usually too Instagrammy that I would never be able to recreate it!!

If that room's as bug as it look, I'd have a huge wardrobe to keep everything out of sight.

Backdoor is a good idea if you can use it for yiurnhabitual comings and goings. If not, no one will walk through the house to put away coats and shoes

How about a bench with storage under the window: https://www.dunelm.com/product/lucy-cane-grey-storage-bench-1000086963?defaultSkuId=30267548&branchCode=0112&dsc=Living+RoommStorage+Benches%5BGOO-LIA-FURNLIVI-STORAGEBENCHES%5D&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnuGNBhCPARIsACbnLzqM2nfrrs4NexSfADsCNlB7LSbcnu7eQyumiclz33jx4GKqsAOWREaAmvcEALwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Honestly, I think in the long run people will use the front door as opposed to the back door so you should just futureproof your life and save yourself the hassle!
I would create a zone by the front door to the right for the storage.
Apologies for the rough sketch!
In orange an area rug to define the area.
To the right of the door in blue I would put a close door wardrobe (the IKEA 50cm wide or 100cm wide takes a lot of stuff, and you can have them in hangers or in hooks, adults at the top and kids’ at the bottom. If need put a mirror on the back of the door to check your sartorial choice of the day).
In green I would use an IKEA cube unit (KALLAX) on its side, which would double up as a bench for sitting and putting shoes on, or you could just style it with cushions. The cubes have space for IKEA boxes or baskets which are perfect for shoes, scarves and hats.
To the left of the door you could put a plant pot (fake or not) to just help define the “entrance”.

I forgot to say: my hallway is a weird shape and we opted for open storage for coats and absolutely regret it ever since. No matter how tidy the hallway is it always looks messy… because of the shape we can’t find an off the shelf solution and the price quoted for bespoke cupboard was ridiculous (we live in the SE…). Still, I hate seeing the coats everyday….

Totally off-topic OP, but is your house in the UK? It's giving me a Portuguese vibe for some reason. In Portugal, for some reason, front hallways (in older houses) tend not to have built-in storage/cupboards as such, many people have large wardrobes in their halls for coats and so on.

@BookishKitten

Honestly, I think in the long run people will use the front door as opposed to the back door so you should just futureproof your life and save yourself the hassle! I would create a zone by the front door to the right for the storage. Apologies for the rough sketch! In orange an area rug to define the area. To the right of the door in blue I would put a close door wardrobe (the IKEA 50cm wide or 100cm wide takes a lot of stuff, and you can have them in hangers or in hooks, adults at the top and kids’ at the bottom. If need put a mirror on the back of the door to check your sartorial choice of the day). In green I would use an IKEA cube unit (KALLAX) on its side, which would double up as a bench for sitting and putting shoes on, or you could just style it with cushions. The cubes have space for IKEA boxes or baskets which are perfect for shoes, scarves and hats. To the left of the door you could put a plant pot (fake or not) to just help define the “entrance”.

Thanks so much for taking the time, really good idea. I like the bench idea with storage.

@GlomOfNit

Totally off-topic OP, but is your house in the UK? It's giving me a Portuguese vibe for some reason. In Portugal, for some reason, front hallways (in older houses) tend not to have built-in storage/cupboards as such, many people have large wardrobes in their halls for coats and so on.

Haha! It's in Cyprus. We are moving there on Monday!!!