Hallway Furniture

Measuring your hallway for furniture

Start with a tape measure. Measure the width of your hallway, then work out how much of it a piece can take while still leaving room to walk past with a coat on and shopping in hand. Depth is the key measurement here, so check it on the product page first. Marking the footprint on the floor with masking tape is a quick way to test it.

Note where the front door swings and where the radiator, switches and sockets sit, as these decide where furniture can stand. A tall unit can cover a light switch, and anything in the door's swing will stop it opening fully. Then measure the way in, including any tight turns, especially for a sideboard or chest of drawers.

Console tables and sideboards for the hallway

A console table is the go-to hall table: a slim surface for keys, post and a lamp. Choose one on legs and more of the floor stays in view, which helps a small hallway feel bigger. A drawer keeps sunglasses and loose change tidy, while a lower shelf takes a basket. In a really tight space, a half-moon console table, with its flat back to the wall and curved front, is kinder to hips and bags as you squeeze past.

A sideboard takes more floor but gives far more storage, behind doors or in drawers, so it suits a wider hall. If you mainly need somewhere to put things down, choose a console table; if you need somewhere to put things away, choose a sideboard.

Hallway storage: drawers, doors or shelves

Think about what you want hidden and what you're happy to show. Drawers suit small things that wander, such as keys, gloves and dog leads, and we stock chests of drawers for halls with room to spare. Cupboard doors hide bulkier things like bags, and we stock cabinets to keep them out of sight. In a narrow hallway, check the handles too: knobs stick out, while recessed or inset handles sit flush and are less likely to catch a sleeve.

A few display cabinets put favourite pieces on show. We stock a few wall shelves too, handy when floor space is short. Coats need a home as well, and we stock a few clothes racks for them. There are a few wardrobes too, if you have the room.

Seating and side tables in the hallway

A seat by the door makes getting out of the house easier, whether you're lacing up trainers or wrestling a toddler into wellies. We stock a few benches for exactly that. If you want to tidy shoes away as well, check whether a bench has storage. An upholstered seat is softer, while a wooden one is easier to wipe down after wet days. Where room is tight, a footstool is worth a look, and we stock a few.

Side tables earn their place too, giving you a handy spot by the front door for your phone, the post or a plant.

Hallway furniture materials and finishes

Wood runs through most of our hallway furniture, and oak features on many pieces. Some pieces add rattan for texture. You'll also find glass, marble and metal. Glass keeps a small or dark hallway feeling open, while marble gives a heavier, richer look that a wider hall can carry.

Our finishes run from natural wood, white and grey to brown and black, with green and gold for a bolder look. Pale wood and white suit a narrow or north-facing hallway, where light is precious. Black and darker wood give a wide, bright hall something to anchor it, and they're more forgiving of the odd scuff from bags, buggies and bikes.

Styling hallway furniture

Your hallway sets the tone for the rooms beyond, so choose a style that carries through. We stock Scandinavian-style, modern, rustic, classic, mid-century modern and industrial designs. Classic and rustic pieces suit original tiles and panelled doors, while Scandinavian and modern designs keep a smaller hall calm. Many pieces are just as at home in a bedroom or dining room.

Light matters as much as furniture here. A table lamp on a console table or sideboard gives a warm welcome after dark. Hang a mirror above it to bounce that glow back into the space and make a narrow hall feel wider.

Caring for hallway furniture

Hallways take the brunt of wet coats and muddy boots, so a little care goes a long way. Check the product page for care notes; as a general rule, wipe wood with a soft cloth, dry or barely damp. Clean glass with a glass cleaner, dust metal with a dry cloth and spot clean fabric. On marble, wipe up spills straight away and stand vases and plants on a coaster.

Keep wood back from radiators where you can, as direct heat can dry it out, and put felt pads under ornaments to help protect the top.