Apartments

Entry Storage Design for Apartments

Plan storage around frequency of use and the route between use and return. Measure the actual items, including handles and cases.

Explore the ideas
Living area with a glass partition beside a television wall
Entry inspiration: glazed separation that preserves borrowed light.

Plan in this order

  1. Sort items into daily, occasional and surplus stock, then measure each group's largest pieces.
  2. Place daily items at the point of use and reserve a separate area for overflow or refills.
  3. Choose shelf spans, pull-outs and closures only after checking how items are loaded and removed.
Worked example

Several household members leave daily footwear and bags beside a shared apartment entry.

Assign each person a labeled open cubby for daily items and reserve closed storage for occasional footwear. Check the largest pair and bag fit without protruding into the entry path.

How to test it

Put the largest item into a mock-up and remove it with the adjacent doors or work surfaces in use.

Apply it to this space
Layout
Create a shallow drop zone beside the door without interrupting the main route.
Detail
Combine a closed shoe cabinet, hooks and a small washable landing surface.
Trade-off
A visual screen improves privacy but can make the entry feel tighter.
  • Confirm door swing and corridor width
  • Check ventilation for stored footwear
Living room seating group with a clear approach from the front of the room
Arrival inspiration: keep the first route into the room open.

The Elixir portfolio

Details worth a closer look

Photographs for design inspiration
Entry corridor leading toward a dining area beside a glass-front cabinet
Entry inspiration: a clear approach and shallow landing storage.
Wood display partition between an entry-side passage and living room
Entry inspiration: a permeable divider that softens direct sightlines.

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