Hallway Storage Ideas: 17 Clever Ways to Store More

The hallway works harder than almost any other space in the home. It's where coats, shoes, school bags, keys, post, dog leads and the vacuum cleaner all end up, usually in a heap by the front door. It's also the first thing you see when you come home, so a cluttered hallway sets the tone for the whole house.

In this guide I'll share 17 hallway storage ideas for every size of entrance, from slim shoe cabinets for narrow hallways to floor-to-ceiling cupboards, under-stairs drawers, boot rooms and the IKEA hallway hacks everyone is talking about, plus how to plan your storage and the mistakes to avoid.

The quick answer: the best hallway storage combines closed cupboards for coats and shoes, a bench with storage underneath, wall hooks or a peg rail for everyday items, and a small spot for keys and post. In a narrow hallway, choose slim wall-mounted shoe cabinets, shallow shelves and mirrors. In a larger hallway, built-in floor-to-ceiling cupboards or a boot room give the most storage. Under-stairs drawers and cupboards make use of space that's often wasted.

How to Plan Hallway Storage

Before you buy anything, it's worth taking a few minutes to work out what actually needs to live in your hallway.

Measure the width of your hallway carefully, and remember to leave a clear route to the front door. Tower Hamlets Council's fire safety at home advice is to plan how you'd get out quickly if there was a fire, and to "choose a second escape route in case the first one is blocked. Always keep them both clear." The council also suggests you "tell everyone where the keys to doors and windows are kept", which is a good reason to give keys a permanent home by the door.

17 Hallway Storage Ideas

Ideas for narrow hallways

1. A slim shoe cabinet. Wall-mounted tilt-out shoe cabinets are only around 17 to 25cm deep, so they fit even the narrowest hallway. Mount one off the floor to make the space feel bigger and to make cleaning easier.

2. Hooks and a peg rail. A row of hooks or a Shaker peg rail takes up almost no floor space and holds coats, bags, hats and dog leads. Hang it at a height that suits everyone in the family, with a lower row for children.

3. A narrow console with drawers. A slim console table with a drawer or two gives you a place for keys, post and sunglasses, with room for baskets underneath. A Scandi console table in pale wood keeps it light and simple.

4. A shelf above the radiator. A radiator cover topped with a shelf turns an awkward radiator into a useful surface for a lamp, a bowl for keys and a vase of flowers.

5. Mirrored cupboard doors. Built-in cupboards with mirrored doors give you storage and double the light at the same time, which is a great trick for dark, narrow hallways. An antiqued mirror finish adds a softer, vintage feel.

6. A small wall cabinet for keys and post. A shallow cabinet with hooks inside keeps keys organised and out of sight, and a letter rack on top stops the post piling up on the stairs.

Ideas for larger hallways

7. Floor-to-ceiling built-in cupboards. If you have the width, a wall of built-in cupboards is the ultimate hallway storage. Paint them the same colour as the walls so they blend in, or in a soft green or blue to make them a feature. The paint ideas for sage green kitchen cabinets work just as well in a hallway.

8. A hallway storage cupboard for everything. A tall cupboard with a rail for coats, shelves for baskets and space at the bottom for shoes and the vacuum cleaner keeps everything behind closed doors. Add a socket inside to charge a cordless vacuum.

9. A bench with storage. A bench with lift-up seats or baskets underneath gives you somewhere to sit while you put your shoes on, with hidden storage below. Add a peg rail above to create a complete drop zone.

10. A boot room corner. Wooden cubbies, a bench, hooks and a hard-wearing floor create a mini boot room for muddy wellies, dog towels and wet coats. It's ideal for country homes and families with dogs.

11. Sliding cupboard doors. Where there isn't room for doors to swing open, sliding or pocket doors on a built-in cupboard save space. Many of the same designs used for modern sliding doors between rooms work beautifully on hallway cupboards.

Ideas for under the stairs

12. Under-stairs drawers. Pull-out drawers fitted under the staircase use every inch of an awkward space. Tall drawers are perfect for coats and the vacuum, while shorter ones hold shoes and bags.

13. An under-stairs cupboard with shelves. If drawers aren't in the budget, a simple cupboard with adjustable shelves, hooks on the door and good lighting is a huge improvement on a dark, cluttered space.

IKEA hallway ideas and hacks

14. The IKEA PAX hallway hack. One of the most popular hallway storage cupboard hacks is to use PAX wardrobe frames to build a wall of hallway cupboards, then finish them with custom doors, trim to the ceiling and a coat of paint so they look built in. Shallow 35cm deep frames suit hallways better than standard wardrobe depth.

15. A shoe cabinet hack. Slim IKEA shoe cabinets such as TRONES and HEMNES can be painted, given new handles or topped with a wooden worktop to look far more expensive. A coat of homemade chalk paint is an easy way to give them a new colour.

16. Kitchen cabinets in the hallway. Wall cabinets from a kitchen range are shallow, sturdy and come in lots of sizes, so they can be fitted along a hallway wall as a long run of low storage with a shelf on top.

17. Baskets and boxes on open shelves. Simple open shelving with matching baskets is an affordable way to add hallway storage. Give each person their own basket for hats, gloves and scarves.

Hallway Storage by Size

How I Approach Hallway Storage

After more than 15 years of designing homes, pubs and restaurants, I've learnt that the entrance makes the first impression, and storage is what keeps it looking good every day.

• Close what you can. Open hooks are useful, but a hallway with everything on display always looks busy. I like a mix of closed cupboards and a few hooks for the coats you wear every day.
• Think about the flow. I put the shoe storage and the bench nearest the door, the keys at hand height and the seasonal storage further in.
• Make it pretty. Storage doesn't have to look practical. A painted cupboard, a pretty runner rug, a mirror and a lamp turn a busy hallway into a welcoming one. In a period home, classic Georgian hallway details such as a dado rail and a fanlight sit happily alongside modern storage.
• Keep it tidy. A few small details that make a space feel more organised, such as matching baskets and a tray for keys, make a surprising difference.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I add storage to a narrow hallway?

Use wall-mounted shoe cabinets, hooks, a peg rail, slim shelves and mirrored cupboards. Keep furniture shallow and off the floor so the hallway still feels open.

What is the best hallway storage for shoes?

Slim tilt-out shoe cabinets suit narrow hallways, while benches with cubbies, baskets or a built-in cupboard with shoe shelves work well in larger ones.

How do you make a hallway storage cupboard?

Fit a tall cupboard with a hanging rail for coats, adjustable shelves for baskets and space at the bottom for shoes and a vacuum cleaner. Many people build one from wardrobe frames and add custom doors.

What is the IKEA PAX hallway hack?

It's a way of using PAX wardrobe frames to create built-in hallway cupboards. The frames are fitted along a wall, finished with trim to the ceiling and painted or fitted with custom doors so they look made to measure.

How can I use the space under my stairs?

Pull-out drawers, a cupboard with shelves and hooks, or a small boot room are all good ways to use the space under the stairs. Add lighting so you can see what's inside.

How do I keep my hallway tidy?

Give everything a home, including keys, post, shoes and bags, and use closed storage for anything that isn't used every day. A quick clear-out each season helps too.

Where should I keep keys in the hallway?

Keep them in a wall cabinet, a drawer or a bowl near the front door, but out of sight and out of reach of the letterbox.

A Hallway That Welcomes You Home

Good hallway storage turns a cluttered entrance into a calm, welcoming space. Work out what really needs to live by the door, choose storage that suits the size of your hallway, close away what you can and add a few pretty touches, and you'll love coming home.

And if you'd like help planning storage for your hallway or the rest of your home, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.