If you are in the throes of house hunting, do yourself a favor and head to your local Container Store before you move into your future digs. According to a Realtor.com report, homes on the market are shrinking. Not only did the share of petite, more affordable houses grow in June, the median size of a new build has decreased by 116 square feet compared to 2023. What does that mean for home design? Some designers predict hallways will get the boot, a separate survey conducted by John Burns Research and Consulting found. “Circulation spaces like hallways use square footage, while typically not providing any function, so they become one of the features that are easy to cut back on,” Jenni Nichols, who helped conduct the research, told Realtor.com.
We’ve already started to see renovators catch on. Architect Joe Diasparra initially drew up a two-story layout for his Encinitas house, but when he realized so much of the proposed plan’s square footage would be tied up in hallways and staircases, he pivoted to a one-story plan that prioritized spacious bedrooms and an open-concept kitchen.
Don’t get us wrong: we love a long, dreamy hallway. Not only do they often hold valuable closet space for coats and linens, but when doused in an unexpected shade of paint or wallpaper, they make moving from one room to the next a memorable experience. If the hallways are serving you well in your home, great. But if your next place happens to be sorely lacking in transitional spaces, here are a few ways to make up for their absence.
Fake an Entryway
An awkward corner can work just as hard as a true foyer. In designer Arden Wray’s 900 square foot Catskills cottage, an antique table serves as a drop spot for keys, while a basket on the wall holds mail.
Treat a Storage Bed Like a Linen Closet
Contributing editor Julia Stevens’s studio apartment is basically one big square. With few walls to work with, she craved a spot to stash all her linens and clothes. Upgrading to IKEA’s Malm Bed—the one with lift-up storage—let her tuck away towels, bedding, books, winter coats, and tote bags without taking up any extra square footage.
Stash Shoes Under the Stairs
In her 430-square-foot micro-loft in London, interior designer Louise Glynn snuck a shallow drawer underneath the entry stairs so her family’s shoes can be stashed out of sight. Mudroom, who?
