Extra space in most London homes is almost unheard of, but if you’re lucky enough to live in a house with a cloakroom, why not make the most of it?
With just a few savvy additions, you can transform the space from a storage dumping ground to a place to properly store your coats, wellies and heavy bags, keeping mud, dirt and rain from tracking into the rest of the house.
With the right paint, wallpaper and decor details, a cloakroom can become a beautiful space. If you’ve always wanted to flex your maximalist arm, doing up a small room like this can give you the confidence to start. Usually, with such small dimensions, it’s hard to go wrong.
While it very much depends on the floorspace you've got to work with, adding a coat unit can keep bulk in one space while hooks and over-the-door organisers will be a better option for tighter spaces. A shoe rack is an excellent idea for keeping the floor clear of trip hazards while also organising footwear according to the time of year. And as for seasonal accessories like gloves, hats, bags and scarves, good-looking storage is worth its weight in gold. Look for versions in easy-to-clean textures to keep everything looking welcoming.
And don't forget about lighting! It's crucial in such a small space, especially if your cloakroom happens to be windowless. Cordless lamps work well in spaces without mains power sockets, while a statement design can inject a little playfulness and character without overwhelming the space.
Whether you’re hoping to enhance your cloakroom with clever storage or go in on a full transformation by adding a loo and sink and turning it into a downstairs WC, we’ve rounded up the best homewares, decorating and clutter-busting ideas to give it the lift it needs.
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COAT The Old Corset Factory - Soft Sheen
COAT bills itself as a ‘climate-positive’ paint brand, and offers 56 colours to make the most of your space.
Paint is mixed to order in an effort to cut waste and delivery is fast so you can get on with your renovations as soon as possible. The emulsion is water-based, uses no solvent and comes in recyclable tins and packaging. We’re smitten with this smoky red which adds depth without the harshness of black.
In fact, the entire business is carbon neutral and it also supports the charity Crisis UK to help end homelessness.
Buy now £29.00, COAT
Elffloor Peel and Stick Floor Tiles
With such an intricate, pretty design, there's no way visitors will be able to guess that your new floor comes courtesy of vinyl peel-and-stick tiles. This black, yellow and white mosaic look is available in two sizes - 20 x 20cm or 30 x 30cm squares with 10 tiles in each bag, which can cover 0.4sqm. The waterproof tiles are made from a six-layer construction that the company says has been through rigorous friction tests to ensure it's up to scratch.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Durovin Bathrooms Small Cloakroom Basin
A compact sink like this is perfect for tiny spaces, as long as you’ve got plumbing in place, of course. The rectangular sink comes with a left or right-hand tap option sitting on a minimalist ceramic basin. Add a shelf just above to keep hand wash and lotion.
Buy now £41.14, Amazon
Oak Furnitureland St. Ives Natural Solid Oak & Grey Paint Hallway Unit
Depending on how big a space you’re working with, this elegant grey hallway unit from Oak Furnitureland will really smarten up your cloakroom’s act. There’s plenty of storage above and below the four coat hooks as well as a cushioned seat to use when you’re putting on your shoes. Made from solid oak, it’s an excellent storage solution that promises to keep things neat and tidy.
Buy now £599.99, Oak Furnitureland
Dunelm Lynton Storage Unit, Green
A smart cupboard that gives you a cushioned perch to wrench on or off wellies. A closed door hides the worst of the clutter while two open cubbies allow you to display your best shoes.
Buy now £229.00, Dunelm
Fernleaf Sheringham 6 Pair Flip Down Shoe Storage
Keep the floor clear of trainers, sandals and heels with a smart shoe solution. This rack hides away up to six pairs of shoes across three shelves while the top surface, although slim, can house an in-tray for keys or a small plant.
Buy now £88.99, Wayfair
Habitat Turner Single Clothes Rail - Black
Save wardrobe space for your finest threads and retire heavy coats and scarves to the cloakroom where they’ll be safe on this compact clothes rail. From homewares brand Habitat the rail comes with two shelves to keep shoes and bags that you don’t want to leave languishing on the floor.
Buy now £50.00, Argos
Abigail Ahern Maeve LED Lamp - Medium
Designer Abigail Ahern's style is hard to pin down: a bit boho, a little industrial and a sprinkling of Scandi. While the site is heaving with furniture and home accessories we want to fill our homes with, there are plenty of jewels to pick up in the lighting section too.
This curious shell-shaped lamp is amongst them, available in medium and large (£35). A single LED lights up the amber-coloured glass, emitting a warm glow. Nice as a bedside lamp or to brighten up a bookshelf.
Buy now £28.50, Abigail Ahern
Pooky larger stucco table lamp in emerald
For lighting with a twist, look no further than Pooky. The specialist has dozens of fun, statement options for bringing a quirky glow to your spaces. If you're a fan of Firmdale Hotels' interiors, Pooky can help recreate the effect at home. The brand also sells bases and lampshades separately so you can mix and match with pieces you already own.
Prices starting from £241.
Buy now £241.00, Pooky
M&S Madrid Medium Curved Wall Mirror
A pretty mirror stops a cloakroom from feeling too functional. Whether you’re preparing to face the world or coming home at the end of a long day, reflecting at this portal can become an excellent act of mindfulness to help ground and centre.
Buy now £99.00, M&S
Bellwood Umbrella Stand, Black and Walnut
Save your floors from the drip of wet brollies with a stand that will gather them all in one spot. Made from walnut wood painted in black, this smart stand is available on Amazon and can house full-size umbrellas inside its open-cage design, allowing you to see them clearly as well as letting them dry properly.
Buy now £49.07, Amazon
Oliver Bonas Floral Gold Metal Wall Storage Hooks
While a strong storage rack or rail rods are the wisest choice for heavy coats, adding a decorative hook rack can enhance the design of your cloakroom. Oliver Bonas has this brass four-hook floral design finished with enamel work that’s ideal for hanging scarves and light bags. Individual hooks are available too if you prefer to arrange them in your own way.
Buy now £22.50, Oliver Bonas
pickpiff Over Door Hanger Universal
Enjoy the convenience of hooks without the faff of nailing them in with an over-door design. While you will have to screw these hooks into place, once done it's simply a case of slipping them over the door. Made from metal and with smooth edges to prevent snagging, they'll handle the heaviest of overcoats.
Buy now £13.99, Amazon
Dunelm Fulton Wall Shelf with Hooks Pine
Dimensions: 31 x 100 x 30cm
A unit that not only has space to hang coats, umbrellas and bags, but a shelf too for additional storage. How’s that for a smart design? The hanging bar means you can fold towels over it too, making it an option not only for your hallway but your bathroom too.
Buy now £40.00, Dunelm
Vintage Style Cast Iron Boot Brush & Shoe Scraper
An item that’ll come into its own when it’s wet and ghastly outside, this boot brush and shoe scraper will get the worst of the mud off wellies and shoes to make cleaning them easier. Made from robust cast iron, the practical scraper should be placed on a non-slip mat for safety. When it comes to cleaning the thing itself, a simple hose-down will do the trick.
Buy now £21.99, B&Q
Seagrass Storage Box with Lids
These woven baskets aren't just chic; they're much easier to clean than fabric versions and won't attract nearly the same level of dust either. This set comprises a small (27.5 x 23.5 x 6.5cm) and large option (32 x 28 x 7cm) and is perfect for storing out-season outerwear, thermals and accessories. Also available in a lighter straw colour.
Buy now £22.99, Amazon
BTFY Set of 2 Boho Printed Trunks
Storage needn't just be practical; find one with bright patterns or colours and it'll be a feature all of its own. These spacious storage trunks manage to do both and will draw the eye up when placed on a high shelf.
Buy now £59.99, VonHaus
John Lewis Slouchy Seagrass Square Storage Basket, Natural/Terracotta
Natural seagrass basket boxes with handles and a fun stripe to liven things up, this is where to dump boot socks, gloves, heavy scarves and other accessories before or after coming indoors.
Buy now £35.00, John Lewis
H&M Rattan Basket
Short on space? Who isn’t living in London? A small but no less chic storage option, H&M’s rattan basket comes with two handles for easy carrying and is lined with contrast black or beige details.
Measures D35 x H28cm.
Buy now £34.99, H&M
Juliet Reeves Designs Handmade Ceramic Door Sign
In Britain, cloakrooms can also be a name for the downstairs guest loo. Help visitors find the lavatory easily by marking it out with its own door sign. Juliet Reeves Designs handmakes stoneware clay signs for both indoor and outdoor use with holes embedded to help you nail them securely to the surface.
Buy now £15.00, NOTHS
IKEA Lack wall shelf unit
Dimensions: 30 x 190cm
Give your home what it ‘Lacks’ with everyone’s favourite flatpack furniture specialist, IKEA. The store is known for clever storage solutions - not to mention great value prices - and this unit is a textbook example. The narrow wall-mounted shelving unit can slip into the smallest of spaces and tightest of nooks for any room that could use a bit of calm and orderliness.
Buy now £65.00, IKEA
Oro Geometric Indoor Outdoor Rug
If you like to walk around your patio barefooted this velvet-touch outdoor rug might have your name on it. Whilst some outdoor rugs can be coarse, this rug’s raised pile offers a soft tactile feel that cosy for everyone to relax and unwind.
Ideal for a conservatory, decking or a garden patio, the rug is available in a vibrant blue geometric design that makes it a style statement for all the right reasons.
The polypropylene weave was easy to clean and suitable for high traffic areas around the house and garden. The rug did feel stiff when opened and took a while to flatten but once settled, it felt like a good quality product for the price.
If using inside it’s worth adding an anti-slip mat underneath for extra peace of mind, and if outdoors avoid leaving the rug in prolonged sunlight to prevent colour fading.
Buy now £39.00, Dunelm
Hand Braided Beige Indoor / Outdoor Rug
Bohemian and hand-braided, this neutral-toned, circular jute and cotton rug from About Home is made from 100 per cent natural materials. Whether used in the bathroom during the winter to brighten up your space, or transferred to the patio for your summer-time garden BBQs, this verstaile rug suits any location, all year round.
Buy now £28.99, Wayfair
