For a winter hallway, the best single buy is a hall tree: a coat rack, open shoe rack and bench in one, so wet coats hang up high and muddy boots dry on an open shelf below. Add a shoe cabinet with a drawer for everyday shoes, gloves and keys, and the pile by the front door is gone.
From October to March, the hallway works hardest. Coats come in soaked, boots come in muddy, and everyone needs somewhere to sit and pull them off. A single coat hook disappears under three parkas.
Short on width? Our guide to slim shoe storage for a narrow hallway covers cabinets from 23cm deep.
Set up your hallway in three zones
- Hang: coats, bags and scarves. Hooks at different heights, or a rail, so wet coats don't press against each other.
- Sit: somewhere to take boots off. A bench stops the one-legged hop by the door.
- Stow: shoes out of the way. Open shelves for wet boots, closed drawers for dry everyday shoes.
A hall tree does all three in one frame. In a narrower hall, pair a coat stand with a shoe bench.
Winter hallway storage compared
| Storage | Width × depth × height | Winter features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hall Tree with Coat Rack, Shoe Bench and Fabric Drawers | 80 × 30 × 180cm | 10 removable hooks, 76cm coat rail, open shoe rack, 2 fabric drawers | £49.95 |
| Industrial Hall Tree with Hooks, Bench and Shoe Rack | 100 × 38.5 × 185.5cm | 12 hooks plus a rail; 3-tier shoe rack; bench takes 100kg | £75.95 |
| 2-in-1 Hallway Coat Rack and Shoe Bench | 60 × 40 × 167.5cm | 55.5cm coat rail; 2 shelves for 3 pairs each, up to UK size 10 | £49.95 |
| 3-in-1 Hallway Furniture Set with Mirror and Coat Hooks | 80 × 40 × 170cm | Bench, 4 shoe cubes, 4 hooks, 24 × 94.5cm mirror | £96.95 |
| 3-Drawer Shoe Storage Bench with Washable Cushion, Green | 108 × 35 × 43cm | Slatted drawer fronts let air in; seat takes 130kg | £80.95 |
| High Gloss Shoe Cabinet with 3 Flip Drawers and Top Slide-Out Drawer | 62 × 24 × 135cm | Up to 18 pairs; top drawer for keys and gloves | £97.95 |
| Freestanding Coat Stand with 6 Hooks, Walnut | 36cm round base × 180cm | 6 hooks from 85cm to 172cm high; holds 15kg | £34.95 |
2-in-1 Hallway Coat Rack and Shoe Bench with Hanging Rail and Two Shelves 60 x 40 x 167.5cm Grey
3-Drawer Shoe Storage Bench with Removable Washable Cushion 108 x 35 x 43cm Green
High Gloss Shoe Cabinet with 3 Flip Drawers and Top Slide-Out Drawer 62 x 24 x 135cm White
How to choose
The whole family, one frame: a hall tree. Our industrial hall tree has 12 hooks plus a hanging rail, and a three-tier shoe rack that doubles as a bench. Wet boots sit on open shelves where air can reach them. The 80cm hall tree is the budget choice at £49.95. Its ten hooks are removable, so you can move them to where the coats are, and two fabric drawers take hats and gloves.
A narrower hall: the 2-in-1 coat rack and shoe bench. At 60cm wide it fits beside a door. The coat rail sits above two shoe shelves that take up to UK size 10, which covers most winter boots.
Somewhere to sit and check yourself: the 3-in-1 set. A bench, four shoe cubes, four coat hooks and a longline mirror for a last look before the school run.
Somewhere to sit, with shoes hidden: a shoe bench. The green three-drawer bench has pull-out drawers with slatted fronts, which let air circulate and help keep shoes fresh. The cushion cover comes off to wash, which helps in muddy months. For a lighter budget, the grey shoe storage bench with cushioned seat (£59.95) holds up to 10 pairs in seven compartments, with a small drawer for keys.
Shoe Storage Bench with Cushioned Seat and Adjustable Shelves 101 x 29 x 47.5cm Grey
Just the coats: a coat stand. The walnut stand's six hooks are at six heights, from 85cm for small children up to 172cm for long coats, and the stand holds up to 15kg.
A shoe cabinet with a drawer
A lot of people search for a shoe cabinet with a drawer. In winter the drawer earns its place, because gloves, hats, keys and dog leads all need a home by the door. Our high-gloss cabinet has a slide-out top drawer above three flip drawers that hold six pairs each. The same layout comes in a marble-effect finish (£93.95). Keep flip drawers for dry shoes, and put wet boots on an open rack until they've dried.
Winter hallway checklist
- Put the wet stuff on open storage. Boots on open shelves, coats on hooks with space between them. Closed drawers are for dry shoes.
- Protect the floor. Put a boot tray or a washable mat under the shoe rack to catch the drips.
- Fix tall units to the wall. Our hall trees, the 2-in-1 rack and the shoe cabinets all come with anti-tip fittings. Loaded with winter coats, they're top-heavy.
- Check the hooks' weight limits. Wet wool coats are heavy. The hooks on our 80cm hall tree are rated at 5kg each.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hall tree? A freestanding hallway unit that combines coat hooks or a rail, shoe storage and a bench seat in one frame. Ours are 180–185.5cm tall.
How do you store wet boots in a hallway? On an open shoe rack or shelf, with a tray or mat underneath, until they're dry. Don't shut wet boots inside a closed cabinet.
What's the best coat stand for a hallway? A freestanding coat stand with hooks at several heights. Our walnut stand's hooks run from 85cm to 172cm, so children can reach their own. If you need shoe storage too, a hall tree is a better choice.
Can a coat and shoe rack hold winter boots? Check the maximum shoe size and the shelf height. Our 2-in-1 coat rack and shoe bench takes up to UK size 10. The industrial hall tree has 18cm between its shoe shelves, so measure your tallest boots first.
