Wee storage for narrow entry

February 2, 2022 12:28 PM

Hello. What with masks, canvas shopping bags, sunglasses, and gloves, I need a landing place in the entry of my apartment. There's a decorative hook for keys and one bag, but more than that is an unsightly clutter. I've got a nice framed print on the wall (the other part of the entry is a closet with sliding doors), and would like a little cabinet/dresser to fit underneath. Please help me find one that will fit.

To not overly crowd the space, the (cabinet? dresser?) can be no more than 30' tall, 20' wide, and 7' deep. I need one drawer for miscellaneous crap like gloves and masks. The lower part of the ... thing ... can have doors, and I'll just stuff in purses, etc., or the piece can be all drawers. Dark wood or wood that can be painted ... no wicker or plastic or twee curly metal. (Most of my stuff is MCM.)

What do I even search for? Everything I'm finding is way too deep, and it would be SUPER helpful to have a nice little narrow/shallow storage thing by the door to hold junk out of sight. Budget ... eh ... US$250? Vintage/used is fine. Thanks!

posted by cyndigo to Home & Garden (13 answers total)

Response by poster: Sorry, one other thing: I think entries are important (the first thing you see as you come in the door is a nice sculpture at the back of the entry leading to a hallway) so looking for something that's ... decorative ... for lack of a better word.
posted by cyndigo at 12:37 PM on February 2, 2022

Wayfair lets you search by the term "very narrow entryway cabinet"
posted by mmf at 12:40 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]

Maybe something from Levenger's No Room for a Table collection?
posted by jabes at 12:42 PM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]

I don't know if this is a generic term, but I've seen other people use various shoe storage cabinets from Ikea for this exact purpose.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:44 PM on February 2, 2022 [8 favorites]

Also, Etsy has lots of folks who will make you exactly the color, size etc., you want. E.g: "AshleyDesignsOrlando" -- but they are one of tons of options.
posted by mmf at 12:46 PM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]

Seconding the shoe storage cabinets from IKEA. We have the 4-door Hemnes one, where the doors tip out to put shoes, but the 2-door one has a small drawer on top of the tipping drawers for small items. Ours hold shoes and slippers for visitors, but they'd certainly hold bags and other items.
posted by telophase at 1:06 PM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]

Just above your budget, the smallest Room & Board slim half-round console table might fit your aesthetic, but does not have closed storage.
posted by mcgsa at 1:22 PM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]

The category you're looking for is probably console or nightstand. Many nightstands fit your specs except not being shallow enough (a drawer in a piece of furniture that shallow might not even be practical?). Consoles will be that shallow but you'll need to look for a very narrow one.
posted by praemunire at 1:44 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]

You might try searching for jewelry armoire or jewelry dressers. They tend to be narrow with drawers. Masks could be hung on the necklace racks to air out.
posted by jennstra at 1:52 PM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: My favorite Japanese home goods brand has a narrow console table that might work with your dimensions. No drawer but a few hooks.

Wider than your desired dimensions (33") and slightly deeper at 8" if a drawer is a must have. CB2 has wall-mounted drawer shelves for storage in wood and white.
posted by profsnaggle at 2:42 PM on February 2, 2022 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Thank you, profsnaggle and everyone who answered. A lot of great suggestions, but the 7" depth made almost everything a no-go.

The Yamazaki console wasn't exactly what I wanted, but then I spotted the Rolling Storage Cart, which will be perfect when faced in. Sprung for the Magnetic Key Holder in (hopefully) the same wood finish, to coordinate. And if I hate it ... back it goes. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

MeFites to the rescue once again!
posted by cyndigo at 3:25 PM on February 2, 2022 [4 favorites]

Okay - this is completely off the wall, but if you really need a cabinet and you have to stay close to 6 inches (or under 7.5 if you have any wiggle room), there are bathroom cabinets that are meant to hold toilet paper / go over the toilet that are especially designed for tiny spaces. Here's one that meets almost all of your asks - because it's self-assembled, you can just use the top cabinet half without the legs and it's almost exactly your size ask - but the drawer is on the bottom instead of the top.

This one is tiny enough that you could put two side by side, skip the panel with the slot to keep it a cubby and add a basket to make your drawer.

Anyways, it's nuts but it's another place to start.

ETA - in too late, but I'm glad you found a solution!
posted by Mchelly at 3:33 PM on February 2, 2022 [3 favorites]

pompanoosuc will make things to specification
posted by brujita at 9:47 AM on February 3, 2022