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Original poster

Coat cupboard

14 replies

Thingsthatgo · 05/12/2023 21:28

I'd like a massive coat cupboard with doors, so I can hide all the coats away. Maybe with some shoe storage too. I've had a look, but can't find anything I love.
It'll be going in the dining room, as our hallway is too narrow (and our dining room has plenty of space).
Any recommendations? I was thinking about using a lovely old wardrobe and refitting it with hooks and shelves, but will it just look like I've got a wardrobe in my dining room?

OP posts:
tupperwaretowers · 05/12/2023 21:32

We are just about to put in a ‘boot room’ on one side of our kitchen/diner. Never thought to do this but really like the broken up look as opposed to a full run of cupboards which would feel imposing.

Seaside3 · 05/12/2023 21:54

It will look like you've got a wardrobe in your dining room. Maybe you could get a 2nd as a karder/crockery storage so it doesn't look out of place?

Personally we just gave 1/2 coats each downstairs, shoes the same, the rest are kept in bedrooms to avoid over crowding downstairs.

MG1412 · 06/12/2023 09:26

I'd like to do the same as you. I have a lovely old (1960s) wardrobe upstairs full of coats and shoes but it would be more convenient to have it downstairs. I did consider a clothes rail but with a wardrobe, it's all out of sight. My hallway is too narrow so it would have to go in the dining area. Would your wardrobe fit in with your dining room furniture? I'm still at the 'thinking about doing it' stage as dismantling and re-assembling the wardrobe is a bit of an undertaking.

santaexpress23 · 06/12/2023 09:28

Would some sort of kitchen unit work? I’m picturing a tall shaker style unit. Check out DIY kitchens maybe.

TizerorFizz · 06/12/2023 09:52

For storage of coats on a rail, it will look like a wardrobe because it is. Any full length coat storage is a wardrobe if free standing - old or new. I would store coats in bedrooms. Have just a few under the stairs maybe?

Or, if you have space, install a built in full length wall storage unit to include books, objects, coats, drawers for hats and gloves etc. Mix it up and it will look better. Do you have a utility room? What about in there?

piscofrisco · 06/12/2023 10:21

Can you get someone to build you one in?That way it looks like part of the room rather than a free standing wardrobe? We did this and it was the best thing we did in our whole renovation!

CellophaneFlower · 06/12/2023 10:35

If you have the space, I'd build a stud wall along one end of the room, with a normal interior or pocket door. It wouldn't need to be very deep.

In my playroom I'm using Pax wardrobes and having them fitted as if they're built in. Then using panelled doors, to hopefully give the effect of a panelled wall.

ErrolTheDragon · 06/12/2023 15:13

I'm not sure why it matters if a coat and shoe cupboard looks like a wardrobe, so long as the style is congruent with the rest of the dining room furniture.

In fact, with so many houses being built without an actual cloakroom I think it's a jolly good idea.

TizerorFizz · 06/12/2023 16:26

@ErrolTheDragon It sort of does matter if it’s in a dining room. If you have 600-700mm depth all the way along a wall, built in is way nicer and modern. You can store other things in it, so it’s a huge bonus for storage overall and not just for coats. We have a wardrobe in our hall but we are not short of space so it would. It wouldn’t be great in the dining area.

KitchenAngst · 06/12/2023 16:31

We had one built into the back hall a few months ago -- a combination of single and double hanging rails for coats, shelves for shoes/hats/scarves and high shelves above the coat hanging spaces for out of season stuff. Painted the same colour as the wall, though with expensive brass handles. It's been great. There's approximately 100% less random crap in the hall.

ErrolTheDragon · 06/12/2023 16:40

built in is way nicer and modern

Well...that depends on the style of the room and other furniture! Built in may be preferable in some locations.

One detail is I'd want it to have a bit of ventilation (possibly some louvres?) in case people put damp coats and footwear in.

Original poster
Thingsthatgo · 06/12/2023 18:08

Thanks for all of your thoughts. We haven't done the dining room yet (we are slowly doing the whole house), so could make the room fit around the storage to some extent. It's a large Edwardian semi detached house, so I quite like the idea of big Edwardian mahogany wardrobe. The dining room is quite large, and we don't really need anything else in there other than table and chairs.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 06/12/2023 19:23

Plus a wardrobe!

Patters86 · 09/02/2024 18:26

KitchenAngst · 06/12/2023 16:31

We had one built into the back hall a few months ago -- a combination of single and double hanging rails for coats, shelves for shoes/hats/scarves and high shelves above the coat hanging spaces for out of season stuff. Painted the same colour as the wall, though with expensive brass handles. It's been great. There's approximately 100% less random crap in the hall.

@KitchenAngst Hi, do you happen to have a picture of the storage you had built? We are looking for something similar and I’m just scrolling ideas for style and functionality. Thank you

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