Create Utility in Small Spaces

• In a formal entryway
You don't want to spoil the look of nice foyer, but if it's your main point of entry and exit, it needs to be practical. If space allows, add two sets of shallow, floor-to-ceiling cabinets or bookcases, and place a bench between them. "Top the bench with a cushion to create a comfortable spot to sit down, slide a bin under the bench for shoes and rainboots, and hang hooks above it for jackets, coats and bags," says Small Space, Big Style's Libby Langdon, a N.Y.-based interior designer. Stock open shelves with baskets for hats, scarves and umbrellas, and paint a bold color on the wall behind these shelves to add visual interest.

• In a hallway
If you only have a small, narrow hallway — in an apartment or leading in from the garage — "you can still turn it into a functional mudroom by hanging a mirror on one wall and mounting a narrow ledge beneath the mirror for your keys, mail and cell phone," says Langdon. Below the shelf, add stylish wall hooks to hold purses, bags and jackets.

• In a closet
If you don't have a separate laundry room or a spacious basement or garage, turn a small closet into a compact washing area by adding a stacking washer and dryer. Don't overlook the back of the door, either: "It's an incredibly handy, underutilized space," Langdon says, and the perfect place to mount a fold-down ironing board. Other organizing ideas for inside the closet include wire racks for the iron, spray starch and other supplies, and hooks or a hanging rod for freshly pressed or drip-dry clothes.

• In a pantry
If your laundry room is in the kitchen, and your pantry is big enough to store cleaning supplies, add a fold-down ironing board to the pantry, just as you would in a closet.

• In an armoire or freestanding cabinet
No spare closet? Consider outfitting a freestanding armoire or a tall storage cupboard to serve the same function. You can even add slide-out bins to hold (and hide) dirty laundry until washing day.