USM Haller Hallway Storage: Plan & Build Your Entryway Unit
The hallway is the first room you walk into – and usually the one where clutter piles up fastest: shoes, keys, mail, hats, bags. A hallway unit in the modular style of USM Haller brings order without looking bulky. With compatible parts you can build exactly the entryway storage that fits your space, from a slim cabinet next to the door to a wide shoe cabinet with a top for your keys.
What a modular hallway unit can do – and what it can't
The system consists of chrome-plated tubes, balls and powder-coated steel panels. That makes it ideal for an entryway: the surfaces are tough, easy to wipe clean and don't mind wet shoes or a dripping umbrella next to them. Since everything is screwed together, you can extend or rebuild the unit later, for example when you move.
There is one honest limitation, though: clothes hangers don't fit crosswise. The grid depth is 35 cm (about 39 cm outside), but a standard hanger is around 42 to 45 cm wide. So a classic wardrobe with a hanging rail isn't possible at this depth – and we don't sell a clothes rail either. The proven solution: the modular unit takes care of shoes, accessories and small items, while jackets and coats hang above or beside it on ordinary wall hooks or a coat rack.
The right size for your hallway
All dimensions follow the grid: one compartment is 75 cm (or 50 cm) wide, 35 cm deep and 35 cm high, measured from ball centre to ball centre. Add about 3.6 cm for the outside dimensions; including the levelling feet, you get these heights:
- 1 level: approx. 39 cm – low shoe bench
- 2 levels: approx. 74 cm – comfortable height for keys and mail
- 3 levels: approx. 109 cm – a chest for narrow hallways
- 4 levels: approx. 144 cm – lots of storage, only with wall fixing
In width, one 75 cm compartment measures about 79 cm outside, two compartments about 154 cm. For niches, the 50 cm grid is handy: two 50 cm compartments are only about 104 cm wide. Also allow 2 to 3 cm from the wall, as the balls stick out slightly, and make sure the front door can still open fully.
Three proven layouts for the hallway
Slim: 1 × 3 next to the door
One compartment wide, three high: this even fits narrow period hallways. A drop-down door at the bottom for shoes, an open compartment in the middle for a basket with hats and gloves, and a second door at the top for things not everyone needs to see. The top surface at about 109 cm is perfect for a key bowl.
Classic: 2 × 2 shoe cabinet with a top
Two compartments wide, two high, about 74 cm in total. The lower level stays open for everyday shoes; behind the two drop-down doors above, scarves, the dog lead, shopping bags and spare keys disappear. On the wall above: a mirror and a row of hooks. This is the most popular layout because it holds a lot and still looks light.
Maximum storage: 2 × 4
For families with lots of shoes: an open level at the bottom for daily use, two levels with drop-down doors above and an open compartment at the top for hats, helmets or baskets. At around 144 cm high, this unit must be fixed to the wall.
The right parts for shoes, keys and small items
- Open compartments for shoes: a compartment is a good 33 cm high inside – enough for trainers, low shoes and ankle boots. Even large shoes (EU size 46 is about 30 cm long) fit lengthwise. For tall boots, plan one taller level: with 500 mm tubes as the vertical tubes of that level it becomes 50 cm high; the sides are then 50 × 35 cm outer panels and the back a 75 × 50 cm outer panel.
- Drop-down doors: they open downwards and are held in position by the spring hinge. Ideal for hallways because no door swings sideways into your path.
- Drawer (pull-out shelf): for gloves, sunglasses, dog bags and everything that otherwise gets lost in jacket pockets.
- Door handle with key: makes a compartment lockable – handy for spare keys, documents or medicines when there are children in the house.
- Glass panel as top: resistant to scratches from keys.
- Levelling feet: compensate for uneven tiles or old floorboards.
Parts list: what you need
Here's how to work out the basic parts: balls = (columns + 1) × (levels + 1) × 2, and every tube end gets one connector. For the two most popular layouts with 75 cm compartments:
| Part | 1 × 3 (2 doors) | 2 × 2 (2 doors) |
|---|---|---|
| Balls | 16 | 18 |
| Connectors | 56 | 66 |
| Tubes 750 mm | 8 | 12 |
| Tubes 350 mm | 20 | 21 |
| Outer panels 75 × 35 cm (bottoms, tops, backs) | 7 | 10 |
| Outer panels 35 × 35 cm (sides) | 6 | 4 |
| Drop-down doors 75 × 35 cm | 2 | 2 |
| Spring hinge sets | 4 | 4 |
| Levelling feet | 4 | 6 |
With our parts, the 1 × 3 layout in pure white comes to around €900 and the 2 × 2 shoe cabinet to around €1,020 (parts prices as of October 2026, without handles and shipping). A comparable new piece of furniture costs several times as much. You get the exact price for your colour and layout, a parts list and a 3D view in the free 3D configurator.
Safety: fix it to the wall from three levels
Hallway furniture often takes weight in passing: someone leans on it while putting on shoes, children climb up, an open door is used as a shelf. We therefore recommend fixing any unit with three or more levels (approx. 109 cm) to the wall with an anti-tip device – with four levels it is absolutely necessary. Heavy items go at the bottom, light ones at the top.
Colour and care
Light colours such as pure white or light grey work well in hallways because they make small rooms look bigger. If you want something more forgiving, choose anthracite grey or graphite black – marks from street shoes hardly show. An accent colour like golden yellow or olive green turns the entrance into an eye-catcher. For cleaning, a damp cloth with a little mild washing-up liquid is all you need; wipe out grit salt and sand from winter shoes regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build a wardrobe with a depth of 35 cm?
Not with hangers hanging crosswise – the depth is too shallow. For jackets and coats, combine the unit with wall hooks or a coat rack above or beside it.
Do boots fit into a compartment?
Ankle boots yes, tall boots not in a 35 cm level. Plan a 50 cm high level for them, with 500 mm tubes as vertical tubes and 50 × 35 cm outer panels as sides.
How high is the top surface?
About 74 cm with two levels and about 109 cm with three – both comfortable heights for dropping keys or mail.
Can I extend the unit later?
Yes. Because all parts are screwed together, you can add compartments or doors at any time, or completely reconfigure the unit when you move.