https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:27:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893857 Wed, 07 Aug 2019 15:31:30 +0000 SweetiePie 2893857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: I agree with your bench comment. We didn’t have this but we had a bench in our entryway for years and in theory it was to sit on while we put our shoes on. But it ended up collecting crap all the time (things I had to remember to take with me, purses, back packs, jackets, umbrellas, recycling, etc etc etc) and most of the time we couldn’t use it. And I’m a pretty neat person! But that bench was so tempting to put things on to deal with later. </p> <p>Moved recently and got rid of the bench. I don’t miss it. And because we don’t have it I’m forced to put things away more frequently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893810 Wed, 07 Aug 2019 10:15:41 +0000 MrsSRS 2893810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the bench is what turns into a disaster. So we have a little cube shelf with bins. Each kid has a bin for shoes and one for gloves/hats/sunglasses. Then next to it I have a kid coat stand from Ikea and some kid height and adult height command hooks. I toss my purse and mail and stuff on top of the shelf. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893743 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 18:16:05 +0000 ALV91711 2893743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love this idea but know it would always be a mess! And we already have limited closet space so I don’t know if I could get rid of one. I’d love a bench for getting shoes on though. </p> <p>I put a couple command hooks by the front door at kid height for DS and in the winter I keep a basket by his coats with gloves, toques etc. This works pretty good and isn’t too messy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893737 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 16:59:06 +0000 caitcat 2893737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@muffinsmuffins: This is so helpful - thanks! I’m glad to hear it’s working well so far, and for your five year old. My oldest is four and a half, and I love the idea of a setup she can access more easily. </p> <p>And gosh, those mirrored doors are something! We had them on almost every bedroom closet in our house when we moved in... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893734 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 16:08:34 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2893734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another keeping it real pic attached! This is after we just got home from camping sooooo :silly: DW just did this a couple weeks ago and so far I totally love it and find it actually easier to tidy up than the closet space we had before. The space is open and clear where things go instead of a jumble behind the doors that got messy and cluttered because it was hidden away. Granted we also had 80’s mirrored hall doors and a shoe tray outside it so this really modernized our entry as a bonus. </p> <p>Ours is definitely more utility than Pinterest decor type, which is what I personally wanted. Each wall has command hooks for the backpacks on one and the other has 4 dollar store baskets for hats, mitts, etc., one for each of us. The 5 yo likes seeing his stuff and can access it better so when we tell him to grab something he can and the novelty of the shoe rack is still new for him (sometimes). Mostly the problem is the 11 month old who loves to take shoes all over the house and make that messy. I think he loves that they are accessible now ha! But basically I just put the shoes back at night and it’s all there. Forces us to not have as much up here all year round too. Winter and summer stuff gets split up now and rotates. So far, I’m a big fan! </p> [attach=5976/19/pvu2qb.450x600.15BBD75D-3C19-46B6-A602-87AF931C1319.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893723 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 12:08:50 +0000 Littlebit7 2893723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’d consider something like elfa. I’d do one side double hanging (so kids can reach lower hanging stuff. On the right of do floor to ceiling either bin sized shelves (so you can put any of those 12x13 bins in) or actual drawers (but $$$). And then some open shelving above. I’ll screen shot and attach our entry closet layout (it’s not built out yet. We have the far right occupied by a media server). We also have a little “mud nook”’with a bench, bins under, and hooks above, but we are still under construction </p> [attach=6581/19/pvtrmq.319x600.3BE22C76-3DBC-4B1F-804D-71FBE395007C.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893718 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:52:55 +0000 caitcat 2893718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: This is really helpful - thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893717 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:51:26 +0000 caitcat 2893717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: That looks great! What a perfect corner for something like that. </p> <p>@nwm: I love the idea of doing something with drawers. We have one large bin for shoes now, and the kids dump the whole thing all the time. </p> <p>@graceandjoy: I hear you on needing the real closet space! We're getting ready to redo our laundry room with better storage and that's the only way I'm willing to maaaybe give up some of this entry closet space. There's definitely some stuff I need behind real doors. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893716 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:35:01 +0000 HappyBaker 2893716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a similar setup to the photo but not in a closet and it’s generally a mess! I love the idea people had of baskets for shoes because ours are just in an open shelf and it’s always jumbled. At least a basket would hide them! The cushion is nice in theory but ours is always full of coats so no one can actually sit there (DH’s coats especially are long!) what has been more beneficial for us is on the opposite wall of our bench/hooks I hung a double hook for each kid at their height. They can now hang their backpack and coat up themselves which has helped immensely! My ideal would be a coat closet with doors but keep their height hooks outside of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893702 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:24:15 +0000 josina 2893702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skinnycow: Yes, baskets are great - at least its easy to pick up / hide the shoes! They'd look great top and bottom for your shelves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893699 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:20:28 +0000 skinnycow 2893699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: Yours looks great! You’ve inspired me to get baskets for the bottom - it looks much nicer that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893696 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 10:17:42 +0000 graceandjoy 2893696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll try to take a pic later when I get home; our front hall closet will never be converted b/c I NEED that space to store all of our jackets for the winter, that's also where my vacuum/steam mop lives, and pet supplies, etc! </p> <p>So my bench/drop zone is actually downstairs next to the door to garage since that's where we actually enter/exit our house. Have a bench with buddies underneath, that's where the girls shoes go. Hooks for jackets, etc. No other cubbies/shelves on top. Have some hooks for keys on the side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893688 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:54:15 +0000 josina 2893688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is our set up, we recently diy'd the shelf and bench next to the closet. The closet uses hooks instead of hangers which helps, and has two shelves on the bottom for shoes... but with all of our shoes and coats its usually a mess.<br /> I LOVE the new shelf/bench but it is also usually a mess. The basket on top is for hats/gloves/socks, and the bottom baskets are for LO's shoes - but they will usually dump out the whole box to get that one pair. </p> [attach=4677/19/pvtlef.407x600.55624168_809165140176_5469485343575113728_n.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893674 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:00:47 +0000 nwm 2893674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we have a bit of a different setup but one suggestion if you go this route is to use a bench with drawers (or at least bins like on the top in your picture) underneath. that way, each kid can have a drawer, and you don't really have to keep things neat/organized beyond throwing them in the drawer, and it still looks nice. we have a bench with drawers in our front hall (not in a closet though) (like this one, we found on clearance: <a href="https://www.potterybarn.com/products/wade-wood-drawers-bench/?pkey=call-entryway-benches&#038;isx=0.0.1000)" rel="nofollow">https://www.potterybarn.com/products/wade-wood-drawers-bench/?pkey=call-entryway-benches&#038;isx=0.0.1000)</a> and it has been really helpful for corralling the shoe and bag clutter that was otherwise just collecting in the front hallway. i find i prefer it as storage for shoes to shelves because it is so easy for shoe shelves to look cluttered if you're not constantly reorganizing them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893673 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 08:57:33 +0000 caitcat 2893673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mommy Finger: This is exactly what I’m worried about. I like the idea in theory (like when it’s empty!) but I’m worried about what it’d look like with real stuff in it. A bench space would be helpful for us, but I might try something out with doors still on for a while to see if I could swing it without the doors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893671 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 08:48:36 +0000 Mommy Finger 2893671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the idea in theory but I can't see how that wouldn't look cluttered once you put stuff in it. If you're hanging coats, it would take up a lot of the space and if the shoes aren't perfectly straight under the bench, it might look sloppy. Maybe I just know my family too well but we would destroy that area. I need doors! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893669 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 08:40:32 +0000 caitcat 2893669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all! These are great things to think about. Even if we don't go ahead with a full plan like this, I'm at least sold on the benefits of some lower hooks for kid coats somewhere! </p> <p>@skinnycow: I appreciate this picture to keep it real!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893667 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 08:22:19 +0000 skinnycow 2893667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So we didn’t convert a closet but we do have something like this by our garage. It’s not super pretty all the time but it’s practical and I like it! I want to organize and decorate eventually but this is what ours looks like currently 😂 </p> [attach=7705/19/pvth57.450x600.C5FB7046-D3A5-4FD5-96B5-1102AD365AEE.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893666 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 08:20:43 +0000 Madison43 2893666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our front closet is very shallow, so we did something very similar to that picture because it was the most space efficient way to actually hang coats! We don’t have a cushion....because while it might be inviting to sit on a bench in an empty closet - it’s not when there are a bunch of coats and bags hanging there. Instead, we have several shelves for shoes and boots. I also left the closet door on, but while it looks so cute when it’s neat, it does not when it’s messy or in the winter, when the shoe shelves get a bit dirty from snow/mud. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893664 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 08:13:55 +0000 PinkElephant 2893664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms. RV: if I had your situation I’d do it with doors/cabinets behind the bench to hide the “stuff” :) </p> <p>I’d do this, except our coat closet isn’t near our garage entrance. I would not do it like the picture and expect kids to use bins, however. They need to be low for kids to access them. Adding a low cost bar and shoe rack to our closet has helped a lot with letting kids take responsibility </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893662 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 07:58:31 +0000 brownepiano 2893662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a cutout like that between two closets right when you walk into our house. We put a bench where the seat flips up there and hooks for the kid's stuff. Having hooks at their height is great but keeping shoes in the bench was obnoxious. Now we also have a cube shelf opposite which has one cube for each person's shoes and one cube with a fabric box for accessories (scarves, sunglasses, 3 year old's go bag with change of clothes). It works pretty well. But I'm more likely to keep things neat if they are open and not hidden in a closet.</p> <p>ETA: now our bench stores less used outside stuff: snow pants, bug spray, etc </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893661 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 07:47:05 +0000 Ms. RV 2893661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our "front" closet is right as you come in the garage and would be perfect for this except it is double deep and we use the back half for miscellaneous storage. Otherwise, I would have totally done it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893660 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 07:37:22 +0000 Foodnerd81 2893660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven’t done this, and I’m not very neat so I know full well that mine would be a mess. But I wanted to suggest a short term solution- I used two of the big command hooks underneath the regular coat racks for my kids coats, that way they can get them themselves and hang them up by themselves. It’s not the most elegant look but it works and doesn’t leave a lasting mark or anything. Just that and a little bench with bins for their shoes has helped a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/front-hall-closet-makeover#post-2893659 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 06:58:30 +0000 caitcat 2893659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone converted a front hall closet into something open like this? We're debating doing something similar with ours, but I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons. I like the look of it from the Pinterest photos, but I know my day-to-day reality won't be an empty bench with fluffed pillows, so I'm curious how this plays out in the real world with real kids. :) </p> <p>More info: </p> <p>My biggest goal in thinking about making the switch is getting a drop-zone area for my purse and kids school bags, and having an accessible spot for kids to put away or put on shoes/hats/mittens/coats etc. so that they can be more responsible for that sort of thing eventually. It would also be a nice staging spot for their stuff as I think ahead to getting them both out the door for school down the road. </p> <p>In our front hall closet currently, we keep a bunch of extra coats and other random stuff that just kind of ended up there. (We already have day-to-day coats on another coat rack by our stairs, but the kids can't reach it so it doesn't help with them getting coats independently.) We could move the lesser-worn coats from the front hall closet to an extra closet upstairs, and get them as-needed. As I think through the other "stuff" that's in the closet (vacuum, light bulbs, outdoor flags, basket for shoes, winter boots, etc.), I think it's all stuff that could be accommodated either elsewhere in the house or in some sort of shelf or prettier basket in an open closet setup. So I'm not that worried about losing storage space for the stuff that's there if we were to switch things up. </p> <p>What I am worried about is that it will end up looking like a big mess of kid stuff in our entry way. There's some comfort in being able to pull the closet doors closed as-is. However, we're pretty tidy in general, and I (optimistically) think if I configure it to provide decent basket/shelf storage still, it could stay neat and the benefits of the bench and hooks that kids can reach would be worth it. This might be overly optimistic though? </p> <p>Anyway, if you've done something similar - or considered it, and decided against it, I'd love to hear how your take on it! </p> [attach=8875/19/pvtd9i.400x600.Closet-Photo.jpg]