Vertical Shoe Storage: Why Tall Shoe Benches Suit UK Terraces

Tall shoe benches suit UK terraces because terraced hallways are long and narrow, with generous wall height but very little floor width to spare. Building storage upwards rather than outwards keeps the walkway clear, holds more pairs within the same footprint and still gives you somewhere to sit by the front door. We look at the shape of a typical terraced hallway, from high ceilinged Victorian homes to interwar and postwar terraces, and explain why vertical storage makes sense there. We cover what a good tall shoe bench should include, such as a comfortable seat height, several tiers of storage, a slim depth and secure wall fixings suited to older walls. We also explore where to place a bench in relation to the stairs, the front door and the radiator, how much storage you need by the door, and how to pair a tall bench with hooks, umbrella stands and other slim hallway storage in period and modern terraces....