Hall closet makeover to bust clutter

Hall closet storage is an often under-utilised feature of older homes. Rehome the rarely worn coats and shoes or move the broom and mop to a specialised wall rack in the laundry, and convert this hideaway into a D.I.Y. drop zone. With this hall closet makeover you can easily create a useful place to store everyday items – with labels for each member of the family, even four-legged ones!

D.I.Y. drop zone

You’ll nix the door dump and blitz the five-minute tidy up with this D.I.Y. drop zone – a central place to stash the family’s bits and bobs. An old-school broom cupboard or linen cupboard is just the right size for a speedy declutter and hall closet makeover.

To maximise the vertical space, wire baskets mounted on the back wall creates practical hall closet storage. Make custom basket liners to minimise visual clutter and prevent smaller items slipping out. Cut and stitch a canvas drop sheet in minutes, or use white cloth tape for a no-sew option for the basket liners.

To hold the baskets, mount painted hook racks (we used a sample pot of Dulux Justice) on the back wall, they also work well for hanging individual items. Just be sure to use the correct fixings for your wall type that are rated to take the weight of the filled baskets.

To complete your new D.I.Y. drop zone, add a metal plant stand to hold pet supplies – you can spray-paint it to suit your scheme (we used White Knight ‘Rust Guard’ spray paint in white gloss). Use it to keep pet treats, toys and waste bags easily accessible. Hook racks in two sizes on the inside of the door boost your hall closet storage and make a handy spot for hanging keys and dog leads.

How to make custom basket liners

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.