The hallway in any apartment is a very specific room: this is the place where we get straight from the street, and it should have everything provided for placing clothes and shoes. Another feature is the modest square meters. How to choose furniture to make the hallway functional and cozy?
A cabinet in the hallway is a universal storage that allows you to keep all the necessary items and things in order and away from prying eyes.
Features of the shoe cabinet
As of 2021, there are many types of cabinets and each of them has its own characteristic features.
Let's look at some general features:
- The main feature and function of the cabinet is to store different types of shoes from winter boots to summer sneakers. Therefore, shelves should be made in such a way as to store a large number of shoes of different sizes.
- Cabinets can be multifunctional and store not only shoes, but also other things that are needed in everyday life.
- The cabinets are made from high-quality materials, which will give you a long service life.
- You can choose a cabinet with a seat so that you can put on and take off your shoes comfortably.
- If your hallway is small, then there are compact options for narrow cabinets for shoes in the hallway, which will allow you not to take up much space.
Cabinets can make your hallway more aesthetically pleasing and beautiful with the right design.
Species and types
Among the types there are: floor and wall-mounted cabinets. By type there are: open and closed cabinets. To quickly air your shoes, it is advisable to purchase an open cabinet.
What criteria should be taken into account when choosing cabinets?
The first criterion is the number of shoes. A large number of shoes requires a spacious cabinet. It is necessary to consider design features selected for each case separately. These include open and closed, wide and narrow, corner and cabinets with a seat.
For clarity, you can look at the photographs of the cabinets in the hallway.
Read: Hallway in an apartment - a review of the best ideas for interior design of a modern hallway (55 photos)
Next, we will analyze each type of cabinet in more detail.
Model range of shoe cabinets
When choosing a cabinet model, you should take into account the size of the hallway and its overall design. There are quite a large number of models, so everyone will find something suitable for your hallway.
Let's discuss some models that currently exist:
- The first option is a straight cabinet, which is usually placed against the wall and is suitable for long rooms. The main advantage of this model is its capacity, which will give you space to store shoes and other things.
- Corner cabinets are more suitable for small hallways, as they save a lot of space in the room.
- Also, there are a large number of cabinets with unusual shapes, for example, in the shape of a triangle or semicircle. Such models will make your hallway more original, but when choosing them you need to take into account the size of the room.
- In furniture stores you can find cabinets with closed and open shelves. Here your choice is unlimited. Open cabinets are well ventilated and provide ventilation for shoes. Closed ones look more elegant and prevent dust from accumulating on shoes.
- You can also choose cabinets with different doors that can open in different directions. The traditional option is hinged doors.
- If you have enough money to buy a cabinet, you can purchase a cabinet with an electric exhaust system to create better ventilation for your shoes.
- Also, hanging, wall-mounted cabinets are an attractive option. One of the advantages is that such cabinets do not take up space on the floor and are quite compact, which is very suitable for small rooms.
Criterias of choice
When choosing a ready-made cabinet in a store or planning to make it yourself, you need to decide on your own requirements for its functions. If it will be used as a shoe rack, you need to choose a model that will fit the shoes of not only household members, but also guests. At the same time, it should not be deformed during storage and should be well ventilated.
The shoe cabinet should be ventilated and be spacious enough
It is also worth paying attention to the following factors:
- stylistic and color matching to the interior of the hallway;
- ease of use for all family members;
- ease of care for the cabinet, which quickly gets dirty as a storage place for outdoor items;
- compliance with the dimensions of the hallway and specifically the shape and size of the placement angle;
- availability of additional functions: shelves for a telephone, ottoman, umbrella holder, etc.
Rules for choosing a cabinet in the hallway
Materials for making cabinets
The materials from which the cabinets are made should ensure not only a good appearance of the furniture, but also a long service life. They should be easy to clean and environmentally friendly.
The main materials from which cabinets are made are wood, metal, plastic, and various types of wood boards.
Let's look at the features of each of them:
- Wood is a traditional material for making furniture. It gives a more aristocratic look than other materials. Wood is an environmentally friendly, natural material that will serve you for a long time. Typically, wood materials are used to make expensive models of cabinets.
- Plastic cabinets do not look as good as wood and their service life is shorter, but this material does not absorb any foreign odors and does not accumulate dust. This option is also attractive due to its low price.
- The cabinets made of metal are quite heavy, but very wear-resistant. Traditionally, metal material is combined with other materials.
At the moment there is a demand for combining materials. It looks quite beautiful and gives your hallway an original look. For example, in the photo of the cabinet in the hallway you can see that it is made of wood with metal inserts.
There are different types of combinations with glass, wood, various metals, leather. All this is a good design solution to give the cabinet a more aesthetic appearance.
How to choose a mirror for a hallway with a cabinet
Most often, large-sized mirrors are selected for hallways - it’s good when a person can see himself in full height. This is the correct installation also because a sparse hallway will be hampered by the visual expansion of the space. But think about whether you really need the standard rectangular option - today’s choice is more interesting than simple solutions.
Types of mirrors in the hallway:
- Cloud;
- Rhombus;
- Eight;
- Silhouette of a man;
- Rectangular mirror with beveled edges;
- Asymmetrical oval.
It is in fashion to make custom-made mirrors. And sometimes a mirrored interior is created in the hallway, where the mirror at the cabinet is just the main violin of the orchestra, but there are also a lot of mirror inserts throughout the room, in furniture elements, etc. It is clear that such an interior will require more maintenance, but the aesthetic aspect is delightful.
Style and design of shoe cabinet
The design of the hallway usually matches the overall design of the apartment. To make the cabinet look harmonious, you need to choose a cabinet designed in the style of your hallway.
Often the hallway is decorated in a traditional, classic style. Cabinets made of wood materials with discreet colors that either preserve or imitate natural wood are suitable here.
- If your hallway is more modern, you can choose a cabinet of a non-standard shape and color. Here you are unlimited in the choice of material, since modern style uses a wide range of finishing materials.
- In furniture stores you have the opportunity to find cabinets that are made in high-tech or minimalist style. Such cabinets are suitable for rooms that are made in one, dim color and are not very noticeable. Typically, such cabinets are made of metal or plastic without combining materials.
Vintage-style models decorated with unusual patterns are quite popular in furniture markets. They are made in antique colors, from natural materials with a combination of glass, wood and metal. These models are premium and have a high price.
Second life of old things: decor of an old cabinet
There are many modern concepts according to which hoarding and consumption are vices of society, and it is worth moving away from this. This means not throwing away the old, but transforming, decorating, resuscitating. And if you approach this matter wisely, then the thing can turn out better than any newly acquired one.
How to transform an old cabinet:
- At worst, cover it with decorative paper, cheap and cheerful, but if everything is done carefully, it will turn out very nice;
- Remove the varnish, degrease and repaint - pastel colors completely transform Soviet furniture, especially plain white;
- Combine painting with decorating with wallpaper - wallpaper will cover the fronts of the bedside table, and the joints will be painted over;
- The cabinet can be artificially aged - look at the examples that the shabby chic style offers, of course, this is not an option for all living rooms, but if the spirit of antiquity is interesting to you and you support it, perhaps it is not new furniture that will save you, but exaggeratedly aged (special materials can be found in handicraft stores and construction markets).
Finally, decoupage is a method that requires strength and diligence, as well as some artistic skills. But where else can you buy such an exquisite item that will be in a single copy? A few days of work, and an old dull bedside table will turn into an element of the interior that will delight you for a long time and impress your guests.
The best manufacturers
The market offers a wide range of furniture manufacturers, both domestic and foreign.
- The leaders in the production of cabinet furniture from Russia are the furniture factories Lazurit, Ronikon and Amelie.
- These manufacturers are known for their high level of quality, wide line of furniture, which is made in various styles and from different materials.
- The main advantage of these factories is their low price compared to foreign manufacturers.
Foreign manufacturers are represented by Italy, China, Germany, Spain and a number of other countries. Furniture from Ikea is very popular in Russia.
Ikea cabinets have modest styles but are very multifunctional. Typically, such cabinets are suitable for modern hallways, as they are made in modern light colors and from modern materials.
