Shelving unit and desk with cabinet for the hallway, by Petra

A hallway with storage space and a workspace

Your hallway can be much more than just a passageway. This entirely handmade project by Petra beautifully demonstrates that. Using custom-cut wood from OPMAATZAGEN.nl, Petra created a long wall cabinet with open compartments and a compact desk with a cupboard next to the stairs. This provides the hallway with plenty of storage space, a spot for personal items, and a convenient workspace.

A white compartment cabinet with a playful layout

Along the wall, you see a long, low cabinet with flat, handleless fronts in a light grey-white shade. A continuous white top connects the components into a single unit. A dark, recessed strip runs beneath the cabinet, visually separating the cabinet slightly from the light tiled floor.

A tall, white shelving unit sits on part of the tabletop, reaching just below the ceiling. The vertical dividers and staggered shelves form rectangular compartments of varying heights and widths. It is precisely this variation that makes the design special: it creates a calm interplay of lines without becoming a rigid grid. In a few compartments, fine vertical lines are visible in the background.

Space for things you like to see

The open compartments accommodate photo frames, small decorations, a decorative plate, and a bottle. Many compartments are intentionally left largely empty to create an airy appearance. At the bottom, you can keep items out of sight behind the closed doors. To the left of the tall shelving unit, the top surface remains free for a vase with branches and a small tray. The round mirror above breaks up the straight lines of the furniture.

Desk with cupboard next to the stairs

On the opposite side, you can see how to utilize a compact space next to and under an open staircase. A tall, narrow cabinet combines two closed sections with an open top compartment and a niche at approximately working height. Next to this cabinet, a light wood-colored desk top runs under the stairs. You can see a laptop and printer on it, with an upholstered chair in front of them.

Thanks to the light fronts, the desk with cabinet blends in beautifully with the shelving unit on the other side of the hallway. The wood-colored top adds warmth and matches the wooden stair treads. The black stair construction and dark chair legs provide contrast. This way, the workspace feels like part of the interior design, rather than a standalone desk that was simply added on.

Make it yourself with custom-made wood

Petra made this project entirely herself; OPMAATZAGEN.nl took care of cutting the wood to size. By having the parts cut to size in advance, you can focus on assembly, alignment, and finishing during construction. For a design with many different compartments, a clear parts list is especially helpful.

The advantage of DIY lies primarily in the freedom. You determine the cabinet height, the depth of the desk, and the division between open and closed space yourself. You also tailor your choice of materials and finish to your taste and budget. By assembling it yourself, you save on assembly costs, while still factoring in expenses for hardware, fasteners, and paint.

Good preparation for your own hallway furniture

Do you want to create something similar? Measure the space in multiple places and check that the walls and floor are level. Include baseboards, electrical outlets, and door swings in your drawing. Leave sufficient seating space at the desk and ensure the walkway through the hallway remains clear. Anchor tall cabinets to the wall using mounting hardware suitable for the surface.

Modern and quiet

The finished interior has a modern, calm appearance. You see a lot of white, soft grey tones, and simple fronts without visible handles. The warm wood of the desk and the stairs prevents the hallway from feeling cold. With personal photos, a vase, and a few carefully chosen accessories, you transform a practical passageway into a pleasant entrance.

The wood materials used

Hardboard

Hardboard is a thin sheet of compressed wood fibers, not a solid wood species. The material is useful for a cabinet back panel, for example, and takes up little space. The smooth side provides a suitable base for a neat finish. It is not possible to determine from the photos exactly which parts are made of Hardboard.

Timberboard Pine light

Timberboard Pine light is a panel based on glued pine. You benefit from a light wood color and a natural appearance, with the characteristic grain of pine. The material is easy to work with and can be finished as desired with a suitable finishing system. This allows you to choose whether to keep the wood appearance visible or match it with the light colors of your hallway. As with this material, the precise application cannot be determined from the photos.