Hallways are more than just a way to get from point A to point B. Often they’re the first room we walk into when we enter our homes. The entryway that sets the tone for the rest of the house. So, why are they so full of crap?
Our hallways are just covered in nondescript stuff. Primarily things that don’t need to be there and are just a great big waste of space. From capacious bag collections to overbearing puffer coats strewn on what remains of a coat rack. Random sports equipment stack up on top of awkward bulky furniture. The hallway and entryways of our homes are a hot bed for clutter, a dumping ground for whatever is in our hands when we walk through the door that we just don’t want to deal with. The effect: your home feels dark, cramped and disorganised.
I’ve been chatting to professional organisers to find out how we can regain this space by figuring out what needs to go. Their job is to advise their clients on how to make the most of their space, and now I’m sharing those top tips with you. Here are the items professional organisers say are wasting space in your hallway.
Shoes
Jo Jacob, founder of home organisation company Benella, had one item on the top of her list for what to clear from the hallway and that’s: ‘Shoes that aren’t in current rotation’. In her work, she sees how clothing items such as shoes can become an afterthought, dumped and forgotten. We may think this is the most organised, logical spot for them but, in reality, they’re just creating visual clutter.
‘If shoes, bags and coats come in but never go back out or upstairs, the pile grows day by day until the hallway feels permanently chaotic making people feel stressed when they inevitably aren’t able to find things.’ The key is to edit as you go to ensure it doesn’t get overwhelming. And store away those out-of-season items until you actually need them.
Too many storage ‘solutions’
A theme that often comes up when I chat to professional organisers is that the items we count on to help make the most of our spaces are often the things wasting the most of it.
‘There’s often an urge to overbuy storage solutions, but that can actually be part of the problem.’ says Helen Dyson from Clear Out Clutter. ‘Adding more baskets, boxes and benches doesn’t solve clutter if there’s simply too much coming into the space. In fact, more storage can sometimes just make it easier to keep more than you need.’ If we give ourselves spaces to fill, the likelihood is we will naturally fill them – and then some.
‘The simpler the system, the easier it is to maintain. A few well-placed hooks, a slim shoe rack and a small tray for post is often more effective than elaborate furniture,’ says Helen.
Storage benches
‘Deep storage benches can be problematic in narrow hallways,’ says Emma Kenwrick-Meehan from Home Nip & Tuck, who often finds these so-called storage solutions actually just encourage clutter. ‘They seem practical, but if they take up too much floor space or are rarely used for sitting, they quickly become somewhere to drop bags and laundry.’ Before you know it, you have a mountain of miscellaneous items and nowhere to sit.
Children’s items
If there’s a sure-fire way to ensure your hallways are full of clutter and just general stuff, it’s to live with children. ‘Shoes kicked off wherever they land, school bags dropped by the door and coats thrown over the nearest chair are the biggest patterns I see,’ says Emma. This isn’t to say us big kids are innocent, the little ones just have more things. Wellie boots, toys, scooters, helmets, PE kits – the list goes on. But the root cause of this waste of space is a shared one.
‘In most homes, the issue is speed. People come in, put things down and move on. Without a clear place for each item, those daily habits build up quickly.’ Having designated areas or containers for common items such as shoes, coats, bags etc is great way to build positive habits and, if you can teach everyone in the household to stick to them, including if not especially the kids, then you have a much better chance of keeping things organised, not to mention the school-run less chaotic.
Bulky furniture
We all know that hallways and entryways can become drop zones for miscellaneous items. But one item that’s a great source of wasted space and seems to get away with it by literally blending into the background, is furniture. ‘Deep console tables and chunky storage benches.’ Jo says are key culprits. ‘They look lovely in magazines but, in a typical UK hallway, they steal precious walking space and turn a flow area into an obstacle course.’
Coats
‘Coats are another big one,’ advises Helen. ‘I often see every coat the family has ever owned hanging up, including children’s coats that no longer fit. If it’s not being worn this season, it doesn’t need to live in the hallway,’ says Helen, and she’s spot on. Nothing says waste of space like a bulky puffer jacket in July. Be strict with yourself and put out-of-season items in storage, I promise you’ll feel the benefit immediately. Remember this is often the first place guests see when entering your home, so let’s brighten it up a little, shall we?
Luckily for us, Helen has some tips on how to achieve just that. ‘When a hallway is tight, it’s far better to utilise vertical wall space.’ she says. ‘Wall-mounted hooks, peg rails and slimline shoe storage keep the floor clear and allow the space to breathe. The goal is function without bulk.’
The ‘in-between’ items
Helen coined this phrase, for all those items that aren’t necessarily in the wrong place by being in the hallway, and yet they aren’t serving any real purpose and are definitely wasting space. ‘Parcels waiting to be returned, mail that’s piled up unopened, and things borrowed from friends that are sitting there as a reminder to give back,’ are all examples of this, says Helen. ‘ These small, temporary items quickly create a sense of chaos when they don’t have a clear, short-term home.’ To stop them piling up, deal with them as soon as you can, easier said than done, I appreciate, but it really is the only way. Work a daily (or every other day) sweep into your routine, when you can sort it all out and try to deal with and relocate items as they come into the home.
The pro’s top tips
Daily essentials only
‘Treat it like an area with purpose, not a storage room,’ says Jo, taking the strict approach when it comes to what deserves to take up space in our hallways. ‘Only daily essentials should live there, and everything else needs a proper home beyond the front door.’
Be intentional
Similarly, Emma reiterates: ‘Be intentional about what earns a place in the hallway. The space by the front door cannot store everything – keep only what is used daily and in season,’ she says. Bulky coats and wellie boots do not need a prime position all year round. ‘And make sure each person has a clear, realistic place to put their shoes, coat and bag. If the storage is full, something needs to be removed rather than added.’
Keep it minimal
The trick to an efficient hallway that not only looks good but also serves a purpose is all about keeping it simple, says Helen, stressing the important role this space plays in our daily lives. ‘Keeping your hallway minimal will significantly reduce stress when leaving the house. You won’t be racing around looking for keys, matching shoes or school bags buried under coats. A clear, organised hallway sets the tone for the day – calm in the morning and welcoming when you return home.’
Hallway storage solutions
