5 simple steps to de-cluttering your hallway

Hallways inevitably become a hotbed for mess, with the abundance of shoes, coats and bags that tend to get dumped there the second people step through the front door. Here we take you through five simple steps to decluttering your hallway, stripping back any unnecessary items, integrating effective storage and ultimately maximising every inch of your available space.

1. Work with what you’ve got
2. Rehome, recycle or keep?
3. Tailor your storage to fit
4. Tackle the space under the stairs
5. Top tips for storing your hallway essentials

Why start with the hallway?

A clutter free hallway will make a surprisingly big difference to your home and how you live in it for several reasons:

• The hallway is usually a thoroughfare to the rest of the house, if it is messy then you will constantly be clambering over clutter on your way through.
• Coats, shoes, bags and accessories will all be to hand and easy to find, making it easier to get out of the house, especially with small children.
• Visitors usually enter the home through the hallway, therefore a tidy hallway will give a much better welcome.
• Considered storage will allow children to tidy their own things away.

The following five steps will help you de-clutter your hallway, and more importantly, ensure that it stays that way:

1. Work with what you have got

The size of your hallway will clearly dictate the type and amount of storage that you can work into the space. Whilst larger hallways will obviously make it much easier to incorporate effective storage systems, there is also the temptation to over fill the space.

Before you begin de-cluttering, assess how the hallway is currently used. Ask yourself the following four questions:

The overall décor of the hallway can add to the feeling of clutter:

• Identify any larger unnecessary items that may fill or dominate the space. For example, chairs may look nice in the hallway but a handy cabinet, trunk or coat stand would be a much better use of space.
• Look at curtains, carpets and rugs. Dark and heavy prints are often used in hallways for practical reasons but can often overwhelm the space and make it feel more claustrophobic.

2. Out with the old, in with the new

The best way to approach a de-clutter is to give yourself a bit of an action plan, otherwise you will end up overwhelmed with jumble and more likely than not, stuff it all back where it came from. Grab some big boxes or bin bags, and label them under three categories:

3. One size doesn’t fit all

Often we inherit storage solutions from the previous occupiers of the property and live with them, whether they work for us or not. A few simple tweaks can make sure that you get the most out of your storage space:

• If shelves or hooks are too high then lower them.
• Adjust the height of hanging rails if necessary to allow taller boots to be stored beneath them.
• Swap hanging rails for shelves (or vice versa) in built in cupboards to suit your storage needs.

4. That scary old space under the stairs

In many households, the space under the stairs is a complete haven for junk. Clearing out this space can free up valuable storage space for all manner of uses. Aside from the obvious coats and boots etc., specific storage can easily be created for items such as wine or books, or general household appliances.

5. Top tips for storing your hallway essentials

Coats

• If you are short of space, wall hooks are best for hanging coats. Don’t position them too close to the door or you will find that they constantly get knocked off.
• Freestanding coat stands can look particularly stylish whilst holding a surprising amount of coats.
• Only keep seasonal coats in the hallway. This reduces the clutter and makes it easier to find exactly what you are looking for.
• Don’t over fill the coat rack. Not only will coats fall off, they will look messy, and in the winter months it will make it harder for them to dry out.
• Make hooks the right height for the people in your family. Kids are only going to be able to hang up their own coats if they can reach them!

Accessories

• Only keep seasonal items out. Rotating summer hats with winter woollies will save an enormous amount of space. The same goes with shoes and boots.
• Invest in some labelled boxes and baskets. If possible have separate boxes for gloves, hats, sunglasses etc. to make everything easily accessible.
• Store umbrellas in stands to keep them neat and stop water from spreading across the floor.
• Shoe racks are essential for families. There are lots of different styles available, from traditional racks to ingenious narrow cupboards.
• Deep shelves with cube type drawers are great for storing bulkier essentials, especially school bags, packed lunch boxes and sports kits.
• Wall hooks can also be used for hanging up everyday bags.

Bits and bobs

• Keep keys handy and all in one place, but make sure that they aren’t easily visible to potential intruders. Pick an easy to access, yet harder to spot place to keep them, such on a hook inside a cupboard.
• Keep a small money box by the front door and put loose change directly in there when you empty your pockets.
• Designate a handy drawer for essentials such as wallets, bus passes, sunglasses and mobile phones for easy access when you leave the house.
• Letter racks are great for storing essential mail but don’t let it build up.
• Get into the habit of immediately recycling all junk mail that comes through the door and filing anything important.

Happy new hallway!

Once your hallway is streamlined and clutter free, you will undoubtedly find it easier to find everything when you are running in and out of the house. A few finishing touches, such as a new doormat and a quick refresh of paintwork on your walls and balustrade will also help brighten up your hallway and make the most of your new found space.

If you feel like going a step further and replacing your ballustrade, take a look at our brochures for inspiration.