7 Ways to keep your hallway clutter free

Prevent the build-up of shoes, coats and school bags by kitting out your hallway with plenty of storage that is both easily accessible and well-suited to your space.

Tall, narrow shoe units are ideal for long corridors as they won’t eat into the floorspace and they often come with a pivoting compartment that means you can store more pairs than if they were stashed on a regular shoe rack.

Another option, if you’re short on space, is to fix a shoe hanger to the back of a cupboard door—some designs can hold up to 12 pairs and they can be shut away and out of sight. If you have a larger entrance hall, a bench with built-in storage is a great solution as it doubles up as additional seating for the morning rush.

Remember to allow some storage to be at a useable level for kids, if you want to encourage them to hang up their coats and tuck away their shoes. Cubby holes under benches are a good height for little ones to find their gloves and hats, rather than struggling to reach things higher up.

Everyone needs a spot to throw keys and post when they walk through the front door, so a console table is a hallway must-have. 

Choose one that fits neatly into your space, particularly if you have a traditional narrow Victorian entrance, and look out for designs that have drawers or open shelving beneath as additional storage for keeping clutter off the surface.

Chilson hallway bench, £165; Holkham umbrella stand, £40, both Garden Trading

While coat hooks are an essential part of any hallway design, avoid having too many immediately as you walk through the door, as this can quickly become piled with jackets and scarves, making the whole space look untidy and feel cramped. 

Three or four by the main front door is ideal for an average-sized family, then tuck a few more out of sight—for example, in a cupboard under the stairs or hidden in a utility room—to provide more hanging space but not overwhelm the hallway. 

Don’t forget to adjust to seasonal changes, too; come spring, move bulky winter coats and scarves into wardrobes upstairs as they won’t be needed again for several months.

Clermont hallway table, £275, Cox & Cox

As well as coats and jackets, our hallway needs to be able to cope with accessories such as hats, gloves and scarves, particularly in the winter months. Baskets or cubby-hole boxes are a good way to store these essentials and stop them being lost in coat pockets. 

If you’re short on space, invest in a basket with a loop or sturdy handle that can be hung on a coat hook to keep these additional items tucked away all together, or designate a single drawer in the console table for this use.

Dripping umbrellas cause chaos in the hallway so, if you don’t have the luxury of a porch, set aside a spot for them to dry out by the front door. 

Umbrella stands comes in a range of sizes and materials, so choose something that suits your décor, whether that be traditional wicker or more modern chrome, and is the right dimensions to comfortably fit your brollies without them being crammed in and dripping over the sides.

Don’t let the area beneath your staircase go to waste. This often-forgotten part of the hallway offers numerous possibilities to increase storage, as well as opportunities to get creative and make it feel like part of the house. Built-in drawers and cupboards are ideal for creating a seamless finish that sits flush beneath the stairs, or this nook could even be transformed into a cosy reading spot for the kids. 

If bespoke joinery isn’t within your budget, stepped bookcases and wall storage units are available that have been cleverly designed to roughly follow the gradient of an average staircase to make the most of this awkward space.

Allocate a space in the hallway to collect post, both in-coming and out-going, rather than letting it pile up on the doormat. A simple letter rack positioned on the console table will keep papers in order, or opt for a wall-mounted magazine rack to slot letters into if you’re lacking surface space. 

Racks with several compartments are a more practical choice, as it’s easy to separate the mail as well as extras like stamps and address books.

Read more: 10 Ways to make your hallway more welcoming