1. BUILD A BANQUETTE WITH DRAWERS
Emily Murray needed shoe storage for her family of four, which includes two boys aged 12 and 9, and didn't want all of their shoes to be on display. 'I was after a clean, uncluttered hallway but I also needed the storage to be super easy to use so the kids would actually put their shoes away when they came home,' says Emily. 'At first I planned the storage to be cupboards, but in the end they were so wide that the doors would have been obstructive when open. So drawers seemed the obvious solution.
2. ANGLE SHELVING IN SHALLOW SPACES
If you don't have the depth of space for drawers, shelves can work well. A perfect solution to add into narrow hallway ideas, as in this project by Caroline Milns, interior designer, at Zulufish.
3. BLEND IN WITH THE WALLS
Disguising your hallway shoe storage ideas so they're discreet is an elegant option, if you'd prefer to not have (even neatly stacked) shoes out on display.
'Spray or hand paint the joinery in the same color as the walls so it blends into the architecture of the building,' says Caroline Milns, interior designer at Zulufish. 'Panelling is another good way to disguise joinery, either matching other panelling in the hallway or creating a feature panelled wall with hidden cupboards behind.' Add this to our folder of hallway paint ideas.
4. OPT FOR FREESTANDING FURNITURE
It isn't always necessary to have expensive bespoke joinery for your shoe storage. As anyone who has thought about how to organize a hallway closet knows, the simplest ideas are often the best. Although it looks smart and discreet, there are some attractive free-standing options too. A vintage style bench with a coat hook above will keep shoes and jackets where you need them and bring character to a neutral space.
5. DISTRACT WITH BOLD COLORS
In this project by Studio Hopwood, the designer was tasked with turning 'a boring white box' into a home with soul. Part of the process was to create a warm welcome in the hallway, by introducing an uplifting golden hue. The sunny wall color and bold floor tiles are accented perfectly with the long slimline bespoke shoe bench. And although this is a sizeable space, the solution is easy to add into your small hallway ideas.
6. INSTALL SLIDE OUT DRAWERS
The architecture of your home will obviously impact what you're able to do - unless you're completely gutting it. If you have it, space under the stairs - or in a section of a stud wall - can be a nifty spot to play with hallway shoe storage ideas. The owners of this cool Copenhagen home have done have found space to hide some drawers.
7. INTEGRATE IT INTO THE ARCHITECTURE
This smart slimline console cupboard is far roomier than it appears, as its depth extends into an alcove in the wall, which also houses the utilities. You can build this into your hallway floor ideas, taking the pattern around the storage.
8. REFASHION A SIDEBOARD
Not all properties have hallways anymore. Some homeowners have chosen to sacrifice the traditional entranceway for an open-plan way of living, like the owners of this stylishly renovated modern home.
9. JAZZ UP A POSTAL CABINET
Vintage post office sorting cabinets, or those that are similar can make a great place for storing shoes, as they tend to be shallow in depth with plenty of pigeon holes. Just make sure the compartments are big enough to be practical all year round. It won't work if all you can store are flip flops or kids' shoes, so check the dimensions of the cubby holes against ankle boots and larger items of winter footwear.