Stylish shoe storage options for small flats
Best shoe storage solutions
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A hallway presents a unique set of decorating challenges. It is often both narrow and long, meaning larger furniture items, such as sofas or armchairs, cannot be easily used. At the same time, its life as a highway of the home means people are passing in and out, up and down, constantly, meaning you don’t want it to be left completely empty.
Moreover in a smaller flat, hallway space is likely to be even more minimised, yet it is necessary to maximise the storage so that the area does not become cluttered up with countless pairs of shoes and piles of coats. Something practical but that also looks beautiful is the ideal solution here, whether you need a place to sit to take off your shoes, hang up your jacket or do a final check of your appearance in that handy hallway mirror.
A hallway bench with hidden storage for shoes works as two pieces of furniture in one, an is often a good (and more streamlined) alternative to chairs and separate shoe racks. The beauty of it is that a bench is so transferable. So, if you decide to move it out of your hallway, you can swap out your dining chairs for one of these benches, or use it as an ottoman at the foot of the bed. Alternatively, open storage or a small rack may be better for a quick solution to keep a couple of pairs of shoes on current rotation.
Can a hallway bench double as a shoe storage cabinet?
Many hallway benches from the very best furniture stores have shoe storage racks or storage solutions that are ready to declutter your entry hall. If you’re wanting to look for a bench/organiser hybrid, we recommend looking for the following features, depending on your preferences:
- A padded seat - Cushioned seats will provide somewhere comfortable to sit when putting your shoes on or taking them off.
- A range of cubby holes - Cubby holes will provide a neat way to store multiple pairs of shoes.
- Open shelves - If you’re not excited by the prospect of cubby holes, tiers of shelves are another space saving hack.
- Cupboards or drawers - If you want storage but don't like your shoes or belongings on show, go for a hallway bench with drawers, cupboard doors or lidded trunk storage built into the design.
There's no need to overcomplicate hallway decoration, a hallway mirror set above a bench can be a neat vignette, or a small side table could be just the spot for storing keys or your bag on your way in (or out) of the door. For inspiration, head to our hallway ideas guide.
Multi-function hallway and shoe storage
A piece of furniture that does multiple jobs with ease is a necessity when space is in short supply. We love these tall, narrow pieces that would slot nicely into a small hallway. The OKA unit combines coat hooks with open shelves for a few pair of shoes or other items, while the shoe tower from the Futon Company is a full length mirror, while also having plenty of space for neatly keeping shoes.
Shoe cabinets
When floor space is very limited, go up rather than across with storage, and opt for a narrower cabinet to store shoes. The Skinny cabinet from Mustard Made is ideal in this regard; it's an incredibly versatile piece of furniture with adjustable shelves and hooks inside. Closed cabinets like this are some of our preferred storage solutions, keeping shoes hidden away for a neat and tidy hallway.
Hallway benches with storage
Another multi-function storage option, a hallway bench that also contains shoe storage space is a match made in heaven; somewhere to not only keep your shoes, but also somewhere to perch while you're taking them on or off. Graham & Green's Chindi Rag Rug Bench has an upholstered seat for comfort, while Rowen & Wren's Hanson has discreet yet plentiful storage beneath its seat. For a streamlined, mid-century look, go for one of the wooden benches with shelf storage from Cox & Cox or Barker & Stonehouse.
Trunks and storage boxes
For more expressive, but no less useful storage, we love these two trunks, with lots of room for keeping shoes concealed within. OKA's Harlequin Trunk has a smart wooden top which means it can also function as a low side table, while a seagrass or rattan lidded basket like that offered by Dunelm adds a softer, more rustic touch to a space. Another smart idea would be to reuse a wicker basket from your Christmas hamper this year as storage, just like Louise Jones has in her 16th-century Surrey farmhouse, above.
Shoe racks
We'd recommend an open shoe rack only for a handful of pairs of shoes at most, as many more and your hallway will start to look cluttered. We prefer them for storing the shoes that are being worn at any given time, so they can easily be pulled on before leaving the house. There are some really beautifully designed shoe racks out there, from Ferm Living's ultra industrial aluminium one - ideal for a modern flat, to John Lewis' rattan and bamboo rack - ideal in a mid-century interior. At just £3.50, IKEA's GREJIG takes the prize for most affordable shoe rack - they are stackable, so buy two or three and make a tiered rack to vertically increase the storage space.
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