Looking to makeover a hallway to add extra storage? Here’s a hallway makeover some simple tips and ideas to create storage in underused spaces.
disclosure: this post is sponsored by Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart.
This is an overview of the top of the stairs.
See that door right there on the left?
It is the entrance to one of the most awkward rooms on the planet.
It’s kind of a hallway and kind of a passthrough and kind of a space where you have to take a few extra steps before you walk into the bedroom.
I never really knew what to do with it.
Until.
Until I decided in the giant reorganization project going on in our house right now, that I’d make it into a storage area. I’d put all the extra cleaning supplies and create an ironing station and find a way to organize our laundry a little better.
And now?
The room isn’t so awkward anymore.
Here’s the before and after hallway makeover and a few storage ideas you might want to incorporate into your own home.
Here’s the room before.
Plain.
Ordinary.
A little awkward.
I wanted to challenge myself.
I wanted to think outside the box.
I wanted to try something a little different in this space than in the rest of the spaces in our home with this hallway makeover.
So now?
We pulled up the peel and stick flooring a while ago and found wood underneath.
But the walls needed something a little different.
So we striped them.
These are six inch stripes painted with SW Extra White and SW Repose Gray.
I found this clock from the Better Homes & Gardens collection at Walmart.
The numbers pick up the gray on the wall and it’s the perfect size for the new striped wall.
Plus, I think it’s important to have clocks with hands.
Digital is fine.
But learning how to tell time with clock hands is an important life skill.
If you take a 360 degree turn of the space, there’s a cabinet directly behind the door.
We painted this SW Naval and I added these baskets on top for extra storage.
But inside?
That is where all the organization happens.
If you open the door, you’ll see this.
I know, right?
Who knew all that organization was going on behind closed doors?
Here are just a few of the ways I organized this space with this hallway makeover:
- I added a smaller ironing board and stored it on the top with the iron. Now we have an ironing board on each floor. No more dragging it up and down the stairs.
- I repurposed a shower caddy into organization storage for the tall cabinet. This is where I’m going to store extra cleaners for the second floor.
- I added small clear storage jars for cotton balls and q-tips.
- There’s also a towel ring on the inside of the door to give easy access for a dish towel.
Here’s a close-up of the ironing board.
I am so all about it.
It’s the PERFECT extra ironing board for a guest room or a space where you don’t have your larger ironing board or a dorm room or smaller apartment.
It was only $9.00 and it folds up for easy storage.
There’s a metal rack on the end to keep your iron when you are ironing.
Here’s a close-up of the towel ring.
I came up with the idea of adding the towel ring to the inside of the door because I was tired of always searching for a cleaning towel to use.
Now, I just open up the door and it’s within easy reach.
Here’s a close-up of the small storage jars.
These are super affordable at $6.00 each and they are plastic. I had some similar jars that were glass and I was always worried they’d slip off the counter and break.
On the opposite wall from the large cabinet, there’s a laundry area.
It’s always been a challenge for me.
MY ENTIRE LIFE.
You’d drop the clothes down through the hinged door into the space and then later you’d open the door and try to gather up all the clothes when it was laundry time.
Not any more.
Thanks to this hallway makeover.
Now?
I have the PERFECT solution.
This wire basket fits perfectly in the space.
It comes with a wood bottom and a liner that you can untie and take downstairs when it’s laundry time.
No more bending over and leaning down to collect all those clothes.
Laundry problem solved.
And in the closet above?
I have tons of towel storage.
I LOVE these white towels from the Better Homes & Gardens collection at Walmart.
They are large and really absorbent. I think the texture on the towel adds to the absorbency and they’ve held up really well after several washes and didn’t shrink and look brand new.
And I couldn’t let this hallway makeover organization post go without sharing with you my new favorite thing on the PLANET!
These velvet coat hangers.
Have you ever used velvet coat hangers before?
They are a GAME CHANGER.
The clothes stay on and they are narrower than white plastic hangers so there’s more room in your closet and you can get 50 of them for only $14.99.
Don’t you love a post where an awkward space goes from this?
To this.
I love a good before and after and a hallway makeover.
I love a space that is LIVING LARGE.
I love a space where you maximize storage.
And my favorite?
I love that my life is just a little more organized.
Just like my hallway.
I am so happy and honored to be part of the BHG Live Better Influencer Network at Walmart.
All opinions are my own.
Please see my disclosure page for more information.
Affiliate links are also used on this post.
Looks amazing friend, and I love all of the storage ideas. Thank you so much for sharing!
I find it absolutely hilarious you have selected Naval as your dark blue. Wasn’t your husband in the Navy? Her’s why I think it funny, I selected Naval as well as other deep blue colors for the do. Blue in our home, We had narrowed it down quite a bit, but ultimately the color my husband who spent 30 years in the Marine Corps settled on was, wait for it,,, Dress Blues. I kid you not. Great job on the organization. I “just love it when a plan comes together.”
Makes me wish I had a cool hallway to revamp!
Another amazing change! And here i am so happy that Mr. P finally hung 6 family photos and 2 wooden shelves yesterday. But I have to admit he has been “a bit” busy redoing the entire outside of our new to us house. Anyway, great job on the whole area. It is so clean and tidy looking as well as functional.
Your new (old) space looks amazing. Terrific idea. Great job.
I love that you painted the inside of the cabinet white! A fresh surprise! Also, I am going to get that clock. I had a similar one for the barn, but it broke, that one would be perfect! Have a great day!
I love ALL of it!! One suggestion...have you seen those rolly outy things that trashcans move in and out of cupboards on? That would be a dream and would ensure your basket doesn't scratch anything, Plus maximum pully outiness!! But honestly, just lovely. And I'm jealous of weird things like this...they end up being bonuses!
It's like a different house!! This looks fantastic, friend!
Girl, do you ever sleep? Your energy level is ridiculous . Your home is like a kaleidoscope , always changing and something pretty special to see at every turn. Hope twinkle eyes is getting better every day.
I was intrigued by your "laundry" hamper area. I grew up in a two story older home and we had a space like that where you could drop clothes that went down a shoot to the basement and clothes fell in a large wooden box on legs. The washer and dryer was down in the basement! Would there be any possible way you could open the floor where the basket now sits and have things fall down to the ground level of your home where your washer and dryer are? Just thought I would mention that. Plus another advantage when we were young and amble (and smaller) was that we could embrace our "Spiderman" gene and it made a great hiding place during hide and seek!!! Not that I'm suggesting that at your age!
We have a ranch style home with a laundry chute. Our washer and dryer are in the basement so I find it really handy. Ours isn't big enough to fit into but it was a highlight for my kid's friends when they came over to visit in their younger years as they would drop soft items down it and race downstairs to see where they landed (heck, they'd still do it today if they thought it wouldn't make them "uncool"). On a different note .... KariAnne, you must do WAY more ironing that I do ....
I was intrigued by your "laundry" hamper area. I grew up in a two story older home and we had a space like that where you could drop clothes that went down a shoot to the basement and clothes fell in a large wooden box on legs. The washer and dryer was down in the basement! Would there be any possible way you could open the floor where the basket now sits and have things fall down to the ground level of your home where your washer and dryer are? Just thought I would mention that. Plus another advantage when we were young and amble (and smaller) was that we could embrace our "Spiderman" gene and it made a great hiding place during hide and seek!!! Not that I'm suggesting that at your age!
Can you please post the link for the area rug??
Love it! What a transformation. Where did you get the rug?
E-mailing you! KariAnne
I love the shower caddy idea!!! What an eye opener!
I have a question. I have stair railing like yours and I'm wondering how to clean the railing! It's greasy from decades of hands. Thanks! I love your writing and teaching! I feel like you are a friend, not just an internet distraction. Thanks so much for being there for me. Love you 😘
I just love how you made your unused and unloved small space a place of organization and it looks good too!!! I have to say that I think the striped wall takes the cake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excellent re-do! I can tell this is going to be, er, already is, a big help. Yay for your amazing noggin!!! ❤
WOW!! Great use of that space! Your make-over is amazing. I thought for sure you were going to open the closet and have one of those drop-down large ironing boards behind one of those doors. A little one is great - do you have a table where you unfold it and can use it easily enough? Just wondering. I have a little ironing board and a regular size iron hanging from an inside wall in a guest room and that has always been a concern of mine. BHG is really upping their game these days! I am so glad you have such an awesome sponsor b/c I love every item you featured!!!! You did each item a great justice. Well done, KA.
Remarkable!!! I love, love, love the idea of the shower caddy in the tall space of the cabinet. I always felt I was losing storage there and you knew exactly what to do with that set up. Everything is gorgeous and so thoroughly worked out to utilize the space. You always have such good ideas. I had a friend say "we must work smarter not harder". You certainly do that. Well done Karianne!! You not only have a beautiful "not Hallway" but a beautifully organized cabinet!! Sigh!!
PS: I redid my closet with velvet hangers a few years ago. Oh my word, people need to use these- had NO idea it would be such a big improvement. I LOVE mine, too. Though the ones you got are sooooo much more affordable from BHG!!!! I spent ridiculous amounts from The Container Store.
Very nice! It must be the hall closet revamp time! Just redid our upstairs hall closet. We added a mini-frig to the organized cleaning supplies and extra toilet paper/paper towels. I want to add a stackable washer dryer so I don't have to carry laundry up and down the stairs. There is still room for that to occur. Dreaming....
I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer but the shower pole unit looks like such wasted space. I would be keeping the vacuum or swiffer stuff there. Or perhaps one of those sweater holders for closets with the shelves & put stuff in each of the cubes. But it looks like you used what you had and I’m a huge fan for that! I too hate having glass in the bathroom, was glad to see nice plastic containers. Do you suppose that room leading to a bedroom was originally like a sitting room? Or perhaps had a large armoire in it & it was used as a dressing room? Or perhaps a nursery? Love all your ideas. Going to go find a closet to redo.
Hi Karianne! I feel like it has been forever since I left a comment. But I am listening to you most days! We have a "landing"I call it a loft for resell purposes! Not that we are selling, but I love the storage! Great job friend! xo laura
Love the rug. Where can I find it. Thanks. Jackie
As always, you are redoing and winning!!!
Like three other requests, I would kike to know the source for the rug. Thanks.
E-mailing you! KariAnne
Amazing space, amazing storage!!! xoxo
the space looks incredible! I love it!
Looking for a rug and love yours! Where did you get it?
This looks so good, KariAnne! I love it! I have basically no storage in my home and that’s a really bad thing for someone like me who is always crafting and working on projects. You have me thinking now though....trying to decide if I can fit some storage into my wide hallway! 🤔
love this space. Can you share how you get such straight lines without paint bleed on what appears to be a slightly textured wall.. As many other commenters I would also love to know where you got the rug.