In any modern home, the hallway plays an important role. This room is the first to welcome guests, which means it must meet the standards of home interior design. In this case, it is customary to equip the room with various objects and decorative elements. But in today’s article we will talk about such an item as a cabinet in the hallway. We will discuss the role of its purpose, variety and other features.
A set of cabinets and a wardrobe in the hallway.
No hallway is complete without basic furniture. Well, if we are talking about cabinets, then this is simply an integral part of any home corridor. Even if your hallway is not particularly famous for its large area, in any case you can choose the best option for a cabinet that will very effectively complement the current interior. In addition to its aesthetic appearance, the cabinet expands the functionality of the room itself as a whole. Allows you to properly store things, shoes and other items without leaving them in sight.
Purpose
The hallway is always the face of the apartment. The first impression of guests of the house depends on how correctly it is equipped. An important role is played by the convenience of a given room, which is directly determined by the capabilities of the furniture. Sometimes there is a bench cabinet, which is convenient to sit on to take off your shoes. However, this is not the only option for a hallway bedside table; the product must perform the following functions:
- have sufficient space to store shoes;
- have comfortable soft seats for putting on and taking off shoes;
- fit the size of the room;
- be stylistically thoughtful and complete the existing interior of the hallway;
- be made of durable materials;
- have internal drawers and shelves for storing things that do not fit in the closet.
For a small hallway, appropriate products are selected that will not occupy the bulk of the space. A narrow cabinet will fit perfectly into an interior with a passage of a similar configuration, and a wide soft pouf will help speed up the procedure of removing shoes.
The purpose of bedside table models directly depends on the needs of the buyer. When choosing a product, pay attention to the number of people living in the apartment, as well as the presence of additional shelves and other auxiliary elements.
Hanging bedside table in the hallway interior
In fact, a wall-mounted cabinet for a hallway is a universal storage system. It allows you to hide things that are usually in the hallway from guests. At the same time, the room becomes more comfortable and tidy.
In most cases, the cabinet is divided into two parts. The top one is for storing clothes, and the bottom one is used to hide shoes. You can choose a model equipped with hooks and hangers for outerwear.
Since the hall is usually small and is used quite intensively, the following requirements should be taken into account when selecting.
- It should have enough space for all your shoes.
- Furniture must fit into the dimensions of the room.
- The cabinet matches the rest of the corridor design.
- All structural elements must be sufficiently strong and reliable.
- The storage systems included in the model should suit your needs.
Particular attention should be paid to the dimensions. If you take a product that is too small, it will not be suitable as a full-fledged storage unit. If the cabinet is too massive, it will simply clutter the corridor.
You should also definitely pay attention to additional functionality. The more different drawers, shelves and hangers, the better.
Varieties
Among the wide variety of products, modern manufacturers offer two types of models: floor-mounted and wall-mounted. The cabinet in the hallway is narrow, placed on the floor and steals space a little, but it has a higher range of possibilities. A wall cabinet is characterized by the fact that it is located on the wall, and the space under the product can be used at your discretion.
In addition, models are divided into open and closed options. Each type has its own advantages: a closed cabinet, a photo of which can be found in this article, collects less dust. An open product is advantageous in that the shoes will be in quick access.
Bedside tables can be classified according to their design, among which are:
- products with a seat;
- corner cabinets for the hallway;
- narrow models;
- modular bedside tables.
We suggest considering each option separately.
Corner
With seat
Modular
Narrow
With seat
The options are designed for people who love convenience. Entering the hallway, guests or hosts will not have to additionally look for a stool or chair in order to take off their shoes. This criterion, together with the shoe storage area, is included in the configuration of the cabinet with ottoman in the hallway. It is worth highlighting the main advantages of such models:
- comfort of use;
- the ability to choose the color of the upholstery material;
- choice of cabinet design: open or closed;
- the lining can cover the entire surface of the seat or part of it.
A very convenient bench for families with small children who need to be taught how to tie their own shoelaces. This option is also beneficial for older people. If space allows, this model can be additionally equipped with soft pillows. The depth of the product is selected based on the dimensions of the hallway. Internal capacity will depend on the preferences of the owners; it is usually equipped with horizontal shelves.
Corner
This type of product is perfect for a small hallway. When there is not enough space and corners remain unused, the most suitable solution is to place a piece of furniture there.
Modern models can be either radius or straight. In the first case, the product saves even more space; the second option is considered standard and the most common. Placing corner bedside tables in the hallway will be a good choice for any type of interior; today products are produced in the following designs:
- classic style - the cabinet is made of laminated chipboard, the facades are made of MDF. The product is suitable for the design of a room of any style, as it fits perfectly into the interior, thanks to its strict forms and lack of pretentiousness;
- with open side shelves - a model of a corner cabinet in the hallway, which is equipped with shelves for quick access, allowing you to place shoe shine supplies and additional accessories on them;
- an option for luxurious interiors - such products fit into baroque, art deco, and empire style hallways. The model is made of solid wood, which already suggests its high cost and elegant appearance. Such cabinets look very impressive in a dark design.
The listed options are not the entire list of models that manufacturers offer today. If you have chosen a corner cabinet, pay attention to its functionality - it should not be too small.
Narrow
This type is suitable for classic small rooms. The cabinet is characterized by its height, along which the shelves are placed. Products can be divided into 2 types according to the design of the shelves:
- with horizontal shelves;
- with slim shelves
If everything is clear with the first case, then you need to figure out what slim shelves are. This configuration is a narrow cabinet in the hallway, in which the shelves are placed at an angle. The fronts are made closed, and when they are opened, the shelf moves 45 degrees. It is made in the form of a kind of box that does not have a retractable mechanism.
Typically, narrow products have a depth of about 30 cm and look original, but do not allow for a lot of shoes, so this option will be optimal for bachelors or a young married couple.
Modular
They are considered a budget option, but thanks to their mobility, it is possible to create a comfortable and functional piece of furniture from several modules. With the help of such blocks, the owner can independently assemble a chest of drawers in the hallway, which will surpass the most spacious model in terms of functionality.
The internal space of products is usually equipped with shelves, and sometimes they are the modules themselves. By placing several of these elements together, you can get a product of an original design. In addition, at any time the owner will be able to remove unnecessary modules and use them for their intended purpose.
When choosing a cabinet configuration for your hallway, think about the remaining space for free movement to the door. Designers advise leaving a small passage for several people.
Some descriptions
A shoe cabinet in the hallway is necessary in any apartment, even one with a small hallway. The design can be different in the form of a simple ledge, section or chest of drawers. This specific furniture plays an important role in the combination of comfort and beauty. Placing the product next to the front door is the most practical solution.
In chest of drawers, the upper zone can be used as a place to store various household items: umbrellas, bags, keys or a wallet. A closed narrow bedside table in the hallway will help to place a lot of different shoes if the cells are planned at a slightly angle.
In the free space inside the cabinet you can store brushes, shoe ointment and other necessary accessories. This model is ideal for a small hallway, the product will not take up much space, you can add a soft pouf for easy removal of shoes, or immediately look for a model of a bedside table in the hallway with a seat.
Manufacturing materials
First of all, cabinets in the hallway should be practical, waterproof and impact-resistant. There is constant movement in the room, and wet shoes placed in the product will contribute to damage. Modern raw materials for the production of furniture for the hallway are represented by the following materials:
- solid wood is considered the most environmentally friendly option for raw materials for furniture. Solid wood products emit a pleasant aroma and look luxurious. A bench made of solid wood framed with forged legs will look especially good - such a product must be installed in a spacious room;
- Laminated chipboard - laminated boards of this material are excellent for the production of bedside tables. They do not absorb moisture and have a long service life. Stylish shoe cabinets made of chipboard can be found in almost every home due to the availability of raw materials;
- MDF - used as a basis for facades. A wide variety of options are represented by milled doors with patterns. The long doors of the bedside tables are complemented by frames of a different color made of MDF. Choosing a product to match the style of the hallway will not be difficult;
- plastic - a bedside table in the hallway made of pure plastic is not considered a high-quality option; such a model is unlikely to withstand an abundance of pairs of shoes. It is more advisable to use this material for beautiful inserts of different colors;
- metal is a reliable raw material for stable cabinets. Forged products look elegant; a metal bench, all-welded with a main place for storing shoes, looks especially advantageous.
Mirrors, glass and other materials are used as finishing. A hanging cabinet with mirrored doors will help to visually enlarge the hallway.
Wood Plastic
Chipboard
MDF
Color and style
The color of the cabinet should be combined with the overall color scheme of the hallway and corridor.
It is also worth considering the dimensions of the room. For small hallways, furniture in light, cream, and honey tones is suitable. A massive dark-colored cabinet will look organic in a spacious hallway.
Depending on the style of the room, choose the style of the cabinet:
- Modern hallways tend towards minimalism. A bedside table for shoes in the hallway should have a simple geometric shape and neat fittings;
- Ethnic cabinets can be any color. They can be decorated with carvings, drawings or decoupage coating;
- The country style nightstand is made from solid wood in a warm, natural tone. You can complement the cabinet with a wicker basket or drawers;
- A cabinet with carved legs, active decor and beautiful handles looks organic in a classic interior.
Location rules
To use the cabinet for its intended purpose, it must be placed correctly in the hallway. Products 40 cm deep are difficult to place near the door, so the best option is to install them in a corner or on the wall opposite the entrance.
Placing a piece of furniture near the door will increase the speed of taking off and putting on shoes and will be appropriate if the cabinet is not too deep. A bench located on the surface of the model suggests the presence of free space for sitting. It is more advisable to place such a product away from the front door.
If there is a narrow passage, use a hanging cabinet that will be placed above foot level and will not cover part of the space. Open models can be installed almost anywhere: due to the lack of doors, they are quickly accessible and do not require additional space for access.
Additional items
Modern cabinets can be equipped with additional open shelves, which are much smaller in size than others. They are designed to store magazines and newspapers that the owner took out of the mailbox on the way to the apartment.
Some products require the presence of a free plane on the cabinet. Family photos or key holders are placed here. For example, an option where a soft bench is connected to the main compartments of the shelves allows you to place various accessories on the surface.
Don’t forget, if the hallway is too small, you should abandon empty, unused surfaces. It is better to give preference to functional products in which each compartment is designed for storage. In this way you can significantly save space and fit as many shoes as possible.