Why remove an entryway closet? Here are all the ins and outs and why we chose life with no entryway closet.
Is a front entry closet necessary?
No, to put it plainly, a front entry closet isn't necessary. We have now lived through all four seasons of Canadian weather and haven't missed our coat closet.
There are so many storage solutions out there it's not the end of the world to not have a closet. We chose to build our own peg rail to allow for ample storage, even more then we had with a closet.
What can I use if I don't have a coat closet?
The biggest questions we got when we started this renovation was how will you store coats without a closet?
The funny thing about the layout of your house is that the bedrooms are right off the front entryway. All off season gear is stored in our bedroom closets. We allow ourselves to hang one coat per person, and leave the rest for guests.
When we did have a front hall closet it stored all our off season gear, and a lot of sand and salt from dirty boots. Like most closets it became a place for miscellaneous objects. Having everything out in the open causes us to be intentional with what we keep, and to tidy up after ourselves.
Why would you remove an entryway closet?
- To make a small entryway feel larger
- Correct an awkward layout
- Allow room for seating
- Provide space for company to enter
- Better use of space
If the position of your closet isn't working for your family, remove it. In our case we gained a brighter and larger entryway, sufficient storage, seating and an open area to allow guests to enter and not feel cramped.
Common Questions People Ask
Are closet walls load bearing?
You should never assume that any wall is not load bearing. Having said that in most cases a closet wall is not load bearing. If you closet does not go all the way to the ceiling, it's not load bearing.
If you are not comfortable determining a load bearing wall make sure to call a professional to come take a look.
How much does it cost to remove a closet?
It doesn't cost anything to remove a closet, given that you are able to pick up a sledge hammer and pry bar.
The cost comes into play when repairing the floor, walls and ceiling once the closet has been removed. Depending on when the closet was built their may be flooring to match up and a ceiling to patch.
How do you remove a closet?
To remove a closet you will need good ol'fashion physical labour. Tools needed to remove a closet include; sledge hammer, pry bar, hammer, sawzall, shovel for clean up.
Why it's better without a Front Entryway Closet
Our first attempt to improve our front entryway was to paint. This did wonders for the dark and dungy hallway. But after a year we new that paint was not going to cut it.
After removing the closet we were left with an unfinished ceiling. This is where things escalated and landed up to where we are today. Check out phase one of our this renovation here.
Other Great Entryways Without Closets
A small, cute entryway by Josie Davis complete with bench and peg rail and the cutest heat register I've ever seen.
You've got to check out this post by The Little By Little Home as they also removed their front entryway closet.
Another entryway done by The Little By Little Home complete with shelving storage, bench and console table, all great options when a closet isn't.
And if your home doesn't come with a closet you can try small storage options as Hand Gathered Home did.
If you are on the fence about whether or not to remove an entryway closet I hope this was inspiring to you. Let the demo begin!
More Before and Afters
Entryway Update Phase 1: Brightening the Entryway
Basement Entryway Transformation
Living Room Update on a Budget
Walkthrough Dining Room Update with Inspiration
PIN IT FOR LATER
What a difference! Looks wonderful.
Thank you!