Bespoke Cloakroom Storage

Entrance spaces are usually small by nature, whether a dedicated cloakroom, a narrow hallway or the area just inside a side or back door, and this makes wasted inches more noticeable there than almost anywhere else in the house. A run of fitted cabinetry built to the exact width and depth available makes far better use of the space than a freestanding coat stand or a shoe rack bought to a standard size that may or may not fit.

Coats need somewhere to hang that accounts for their actual bulk, particularly heavier winter coats that take up considerably more depth than a lightweight jacket. We look at how many coats the household typically has in use at once, rather than designing to a generic hanging allowance, and set hook or rail spacing accordingly.

Shoes bring their own storage challenge, since they are used daily, come in a wide range of sizes, and are often muddy or wet when they come off. Open shelving, angled shoe racks or a ventilated cupboard base are all options depending on how many pairs need housing and whether you want them visible or concealed, and we talk through this as part of the initial design.

Bags — school bags, shopping bags, sports kit — tend to accumulate near an entrance whether or not there is a proper place for them, and a dedicated shelf, hook or basket for bags specifically, separate from the coat hanging area, keeps the space from becoming cluttered with items dropped on the floor.

Cleaning items are another category that often gets stored near an entrance for convenience, and a tall cupboard with internal shelving gives these somewhere out of sight, ideally with enough height to store a vacuum cleaner or similar upright equipment without it being wedged in at an angle.

Bench seating, where space allows, makes a real practical difference to a cloakroom, giving somewhere to sit while removing shoes rather than balancing awkwardly. A bench built with drawers or a lift-up storage compartment beneath it adds further storage without taking up additional floor area.

Small entrance spaces are often irregular in shape, sometimes narrower at one end or interrupted by a stud wall, doorway or understairs void, so we survey the space thoroughly and design the cabinetry to its actual dimensions rather than a standard hallway width, closing any gaps with scribed panels rather than leaving them exposed.

Part of our bespoke cabinetry collection