Hall closets are imperative. You might not agree, indeed these useful pieces of furniture are often overlooked but their absence is immediately felt. The reason for this mystifying phenomenon is very simple. For although neglected, hall closets are constantly in use.
They house raincoats, boots, umbrellas, coats, the odd bit of old junk that you are too sentimental to get rid of, medicine supplies, defunct electronics. You name it, the closet has it. This is precisely why hall closets are so indispensable to daily life- they provide fast access to ready storage. And as any homeowner will have you know, there can never be too much storage.
Hall closet organization is a completely different ball game. In a way, it defies the principles of hall closets which are, as if by some unspoken law, required to be messy. Quite like The Room of Requirement in Harry Potter. The organization of such a space is indeed a mammoth task, or so it may seem.
But as I have come to realize (courtesy of some research) and as you (the reader) will come to know by the end of this article, preconceived notions are often erroneous. I have put together 17 ideas that shall undoubtedly make the road to organizing a hall closet easier.
17 Hall Closet Organization Ideas
1. Coat Closet
A good old coat closet, reminiscent of an era when coat racks were behind every door. The uses of a coat closet are undermined. They are not only places to stow away your coats into, but they can also serve as mini closets. Granted there is an effective organization at play!
Install hooks, lots of them. They can be used to hang up jackets, bags, and umbrellas. If the closet does not come equipped with shelves, you could do some DIY stacking using wood planks from your local hardware store. A supply of hangers also never goes amiss.
2. Shoe Bins
A cluttered closet floor is always an off-putting image. Luckily for you, I have some tricks up my sleeve that is sure to be of use.
Shoe Bins. Clear containers in which you can put your shoes. It prevents clutter, and the clear surface also enables transparency. You can purchase a similar bin for socks too, in case you’re running short of d=available drawers.
Shoe pegs are also very useful when it comes to the department of shoe organization. You can have a handyman line said pegs along the bottom of the closet. Hang up your shoes from the pegs.
Adding shelves is another way to store shoes, given your closet has the space way for them. It is also the best option for display.
3. Bath Supplies
A bath supply closet is a perfect fit for you if you want a place to store all your fancy toiletries. Quite easy to put together, all you need is a few shelves and perhaps some wallpaper to brighten up space. Add a mirror, too.
Another space-saving technique is to keep your laundry basket on the floor so that every time you open the closet to get shower gel or a similar product, you are reminded to do your laundry!
4. Craft Closet
Not for everyone, but a definite godsend for those who love crafting. A love for crafts ends up almost always in overflowing desks and drawers, too much paper, and too many paints. Use a spare closet to store all your supplies. Use clear bins for visual simplicity and ease of access.
5. Linen Closet
A place to keep your towels, sheets, and blankets in an organized fashion. Different-sized containers, self-dividers, and hangers are a few ways to keep the closet tidy and accessible.
It also might be a good idea to install a few high shelves for stowing away bulky mattresses or quilts.
6. Office Supply Closet
A clever and convenient way of keeping your home office free from clutter is to make sure you have a supply closet installed nearby. This is a place where you can keep your books and papers and documents in a place that is both easily accessible but out of immediate sight.
Invest in some sturdy organizers and storage containers. In the absence of pre-existing shelves, you can always get a few fitted.
7. Broom Closet
Gone are the days when broom closets would be musty caves with shabby cleaning supplies. They can now be well-stocked and easy on the eye. How?
It is simple. Paper the walls or use a fresh coat of paint. Install hanging shelves, some hardware hooks, and perhaps a few plastic containers. Lighting too is a good idea to brighten up any enclosed space without access to natural light.
The hook rack idea is a favorite, as it allows one to hang up dusters, brooms, and pans and keep them within eyeshot.
8. Emergency Supply Closet
Now, this a tricky one to nail and will vary depending on what the situation demands. A few staples to keep in your hall closet for emergencies are- medical supplies, dry foods, flashlights, batteries, backup chargers, and water.
It is also a smart move to clearly label the items or separate them with clear demarcations so anyone can get what they need at the moment.
9. Umbrella Rack
Quite specific, but always useful. A fun way of closet organization, you can always install a few hooks onto the back of the door as a place to hang your umbrellas from. Saves one the trouble of rummaging for one on a rainy day.
If you are looking for something a little fancier, you might want to purchase an umbrella stand, complete with curved hooks and a rotating base.
You could even fashion a DIY umbrella holder using stiff cardboard and acrylic paint.
10. Gift Wrapping Station
If you are a connoisseur of gift wraps and all that comes with it, your hall closet is the perfect space to turn into a station. Use the back of the door to install the paper holders onto. You can store the other supplies such as cutting implements and ribbons in clear containers inside.
Wire racks are another useful addition as they can hold pretty much anything- from paper to washi tape.
11. Magazine racks for storage
Magazine racks are hidden gems and do much more than just hold magazines. They can be used to keep sheaves of paper, stray books, important documents. Clothes too are quite effectively organized in these wire containers, especially smaller items of clothing like gloves and socks.
If you are short on the drawer space and need a handy way of storing woolens or hosiery, magazine racks in hall closets are your best bet!
12. Cubbies
Cubbies can be custom installed or DIY-ed (simply flip the shelf brackets). Either way, they are great for individual storage and ensure a clear division of space.
This concept can be applied to the storage of almost anything, starting from food and kitchen supplies to books and journals. I have implemented said idea to make demarcations of books by year and author( a convenient filing option that has made life a lot easier), but you can do this for just about anything.
13. Laundry Basket for Sports Equipment
As outlandish as this may sound, a laundry basket is a great place to keep sports equipment together, all in one place.
As a member of a family with vastly varying fitness habits, I have often come upon a stray football on the stairs or a limp jump-rope on the sofa. It is also quite the task, locating these items if they are not all in one fixed location.
A laundry basket does exactly that, it is a one-stop destination and saves both time and energy.
14. Labels
Labels are universally known for the creation of boundaries, for the recognition of items. And in a hall closet where the chances of a mess are quite likely, labels do more than they are supposed to. They keep the place clean, and in order- a circumstance that is truly appreciable.
You could buy a label-maker for your labeling needs( it does indeed make the work easy). But DIY labels using Post-its are also an equally good option.
15. Evaluate the lighting
The worth of a good light fixture is beyond rubies. My preconceived notion of hall closets was as them being dark, dusty rooms rarely ventured into. That they could be well-decorated well-lit storage spaces was something I learned only a little while ago. As is the case with any room, lighting can elevate the appeal.
Lights, quite obviously, are also visual aids and will undoubtedly help you keep track of your belongings better. Get rid of that lone bulb in your closet, and get some good lights asap!
16. Stackable Drawers
Drawers are the best possible option for maximizing storage. And given that hall closets tend to be narrow and deep, there is a definite probability of being able to accommodate stacked drawers in the space.
Invest in a sturdy set of said drawers.
17. Get rid of what you do not require
My last point is also the most obvious. Disposing of unnecessary items or performing a regular purge as I call it, is imperative to make sure your house has enough space for storage. Hall closets are no different and require frequent sorting and cleaning sessions.
Hall closets are not all that difficult to organize of tended to on time. In this article, I have enlisted options for storage as well as ways to maximize the space you are working with. Armed with these two factors( and of course, the Internet), you too can get your hall closet in order in no time!
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