For most UK hallways, a shelving unit between around 20 and 30 centimetres deep is the right choice, as it leaves enough room to walk past comfortably. Width depends on the length of the free wall, but leaving clearance around doors, radiators and the foot of the stairs matters more than filling the space. Height can be generous, since tall, slim units use wall space without narrowing the walkway.
The hallway is often the narrowest room in the house, yet it has to handle shoes, coats, bags, keys and post. A well sized shelving unit can bring order without making the space feel cramped. Our range of modern hallway storage furniture UK includes slim shelving and storage designs created with these constraints in mind.
Before thinking about style, take a few key measurements. You will need a tape measure, a pencil and, ideally, some masking tape.
Our wider hallway furniture UK sale collection lists dimensions for every piece, so you can compare these figures directly.
Depth is the most important measurement in a hallway, because every centimetre the unit projects takes away from the walkway. In many terraced and semi detached homes, the hallway is barely wider than a metre, and a deep unit can make it feel like a corridor.
As a broad guide, aim to keep at least 80 to 90 centimetres of clear walking width once the unit is in place. If two people often pass each other, or you regularly move pushchairs, bikes or shopping through the hall, more space is better.
These suit very narrow hallways. They hold keys, post, sunglasses, small baskets and a few decorative pieces. Some are designed to hold shoes at an angle, which saves depth.
These work in average hallways and can hold most adult shoes flat, as well as baskets for hats and gloves. This is the most common choice.
Reserve these for wide hallways, entrance halls or porches. They offer more storage but take up valuable floor space.
Width depends on your free wall and on how much you need to store. A narrow unit around 40 to 60 centimetres wide fits between a door frame and a radiator, while a longer run of 80 to 120 centimetres suits an uninterrupted wall.
Avoid stretching a unit right to the edge of a door frame. Leave a gap so the door can open fully and so the unit does not look squeezed into place. Near the foot of the stairs, keep the bottom step clear and allow space to turn.
If your free wall is short, a taller unit can make up the storage you need without becoming wider.
Height is the dimension you can be most generous with. A tall unit draws the eye upward and makes good use of wall space without affecting the walkway. Units between 150 and 190 centimetres can work well in many homes.
That said, a hallway also benefits from a surface at around hip height, somewhere to drop keys and post as you come in. A lower unit, around 80 to 100 centimetres tall, provides this and leaves the wall above free for a mirror or hooks. Some households combine the two: a low unit by the door and a tall shelving unit further along.
Tall, shallow units should always be fixed to the wall, particularly in a busy space where bags and coats may knock against them.
Think about the items that actually collect in your hallway, and choose a unit that suits them.
If shoes are your main challenge, a dedicated cabinet with tilting compartments may be more space efficient than open shelving. Our modern shoe storage cabinets UK are designed to hold several pairs in a slim footprint. For coats, a freestanding option such as our modern coat stands UK sale can sit beside shelving without crowding the wall.
Open shelving makes a hallway feel lighter and lets you reach things quickly. It works well when the items stored are attractive or kept in matching baskets. However, open shelves can look untidy if they hold a mix of shoes, bags and paperwork.
Closed storage hides clutter and keeps dust off, but doors need room to open, which adds to the space a unit effectively takes up. Sliding doors, tilting drawers and lift up lids are good alternatives in a narrow hall.
A combination often works best: closed storage at the bottom for shoes and less attractive items, with an open shelf or top surface for keys, a plant and a lamp.
A hallway is a route in and out of the home, and in an emergency it needs to be clear. Keep furniture from narrowing the walkway too much, avoid blocking the front door or the foot of the stairs, and make sure nothing projects at head height where it could be walked into in the dark.
Our article on hallway furniture depth and corridor clearance in UK homes looks at clearance in more detail, and our guide to average UK hallway sizes by property type is useful if you want to compare your space with typical layouts.
Hallways vary a great deal across British housing, and a few typical layouts call for slightly different approaches.
These hallways are often long and narrow, with the stairs rising along one side. The free wall is usually opposite the stairs, so a shallow unit of 15 to 25 centimetres is often the most comfortable choice. A tall, slim unit near the front door makes the most of generous ceiling heights.
Hallways in these homes are frequently a little wider and may include a space under the stairs. A standard depth unit of around 30 centimetres often fits, and the area beneath the stairs can take a low shelving unit or bench.
Newer homes often have compact entrances that open directly into a corridor or living space. A low, narrow unit by the door paired with wall hooks can be more practical than a tall piece.
Flat entrances are often small and lead straight into living areas. A slim unit that holds keys, post and a few pairs of shoes is usually enough, with seasonal items stored elsewhere.
The right shelving can make a hallway feel more spacious, not less. Light coloured finishes, open designs with slim frames and units raised on legs all help the space feel airy. A mirror above a low unit reflects light and visually widens the hall.
Keep the top surface tidy. A single tray for keys, a small plant and perhaps a lamp is enough. Too many objects on a hallway surface quickly become clutter.
The right shelving unit for a hallway is shallow enough to leave a comfortable walkway, wide enough to fit the free wall without crowding doors, and tall enough to make use of vertical space. Measure carefully, think about what you need to store, and choose closed storage where clutter tends to build up. At Furniture in Fashion, we offer slim hallway shelving and storage with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Between around 20 and 30 centimetres suits most UK hallways. In very narrow spaces, choose 15 to 20 centimetres, and keep at least 80 to 90 centimetres of clear walkway.
Yes, as long as it is shallow and fixed securely to the wall. Tall units use wall space efficiently without narrowing the walkway.
A surface between around 80 and 100 centimetres is comfortable for dropping keys and post as you come through the door.
It can be, especially with matching baskets to hide smaller items. In busy family homes, a mix of closed and open storage usually stays tidier.
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