A cloakroom is a small, dedicated downstairs room for storing coats, shoes, bags and outdoor clothing — typically located near the entrance to separate everyday wear from living spaces. Unlike a hallway, a cloakroom is a self-contained room with its own storage, seating or hooks, and often a wash station. The distinction matters when planning a home’s flow and comfort.
Why do homes need a cloakroom?
A cloakroom solves a practical problem: the moment you enter a home, outdoor layers need somewhere to land. Without one, coats migrate to sofas, shoes cluster by the door, and damp fabrics meet your living room. The cloakroom contains this friction at the threshold, protecting the interior from weather, mud, and the visual clutter of transition.
In residential projects like the London Embankment Apartment and Witham Project, the cloakroom emerged during Discovery as a critical buffer between entry and lived space. It is not a luxury; it is a functional layer that lets the rest of your home stay calm and uncluttered. A well-proportioned cloakroom also signals intention to visitors — it suggests a home where daily rhythms are considered rather than improvised.
Where should a cloakroom be positioned in a house?
Position matters more than size. A cloakroom must be immediately accessible from the main entrance — close enough that removing outdoor wear feels natural, not an afterthought. Typically, it sits between the front door and the living areas: in a hallway alcove, under stairs, or as a dedicated room off the entrance. If it is hidden down a corridor or upstairs, it will not be used consistently.
During Concept & Design Specification, location is decided alongside traffic flow and adjacency. A cloakroom near a downstairs toilet or utility area reduces the cost of plumbing and ventilation, and it keeps wet or muddy storage away from carpeted rooms. In urban apartments, a compact cloakroom tucked beside the entrance performs far better than attempting a sprawling coat storage further back in the plan. The studio assesses each home’s entry geometry to identify the most functional position.
What are the essential elements of a functional cloakroom?
A functional cloakroom requires three things: hanging space, footwear storage, and a hard-wearing surface. Hanging rails or hooks for coats must be at accessible heights — not so high that daily use feels effortful. Shoe storage can be a low bench, open shelving, a woven basket, or a dedicated rack; the material should withstand moisture and foot traffic. The floor and walls need finishes that tolerate damp, dirt, and the occasional spill without damage or staining.
A wash station — a hand basin or a small sink — is optional but transforms a cloakroom from storage into a hygiene threshold. It allows muddy hands to be cleaned before entering the home proper. Lighting should be bright and functional, not atmospheric; a cloakroom is a working space. Mirror, a small shelf for keys or bags, and a bin for recycling or litter complete a practical scheme. None of these elements require expensive materials — restrained specification and durability matter more than finish luxury.
How does size affect cloakroom design?
Cloakroom size ranges from 0.7 square metres to 3 square metres; even the smallest footprint can work if the specification is precise. A tiny cloakroom — say, 1.2 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep — needs wall-hung rails, vertical storage, and clear sightlines to feel usable rather than claustrophobic. A larger cloakroom can accommodate a bench, layered storage, and a wash basin without compromise. Size is not an excuse for poor design; constraint often forces clearer thinking.
The studio’s approach during Concept & Design Specification is to map the exact dimensions, identify the load-bearing capacity of walls, and specify storage and finishes to fit the geometry precisely. A bespoke rail system or a made-to-measure bench consumes no wasted volume. Commercial projects like Beaulieu Dental Practice and Keystones Estate Agent both required functional entry cloakrooms in modest spaces; the restraint of the specification — simple materials, exact fit, no ornament — made them feel efficient rather than cramped.
What finishes work best in a cloakroom?
Cloakroom finishes must tolerate moisture, mud, and frequent handling. Wall materials range from painted plaster (with a wipeable satin or eggshell finish) to tile, panelling, or plaster board sealed with a durable topcoat. Waterproof paint prevents damp from settling into porous surfaces. Flooring should be slip-resistant, stain-resistant, and easy to clean: concrete, sealed timber, tile, or vinyl all perform well. Avoid carpet or any absorbent finish — they trap moisture and odour.
Hardware — rails, hooks, shelves, handles — must be stainless steel, anodised aluminium, or powder-coated steel to resist corrosion from damp and salt-laden coats. Natural materials like untreated wood or soft metals degrade quickly. The palette should be neutral and restrained: whites, greys, soft blacks, or natural timber tones. The visual order of a cloakroom comes from clarity of function, not from applied decoration. Projects like Tone at Canary Wharf demonstrate this principle: a restrained material palette and precise detailing create a sense of permanence and care, even in utilitarian spaces.
How does a cloakroom differ from a hallway, utility room, or closet?
A hallway is a circulation route; it is not primarily for storage. A cloakroom is a dedicated, self-contained room where entry clothes are stored and removed. A utility room is larger and serves laundry, cleaning supplies, and general storage; a cloakroom is single-purpose. A closet is a built-in cupboard within a room; a cloakroom is a room itself, accessed by a door, and often double as a coat store and wash station. The distinction affects both planning and cost: a cloakroom requires its own door, ventilation, lighting, and possibly plumbing, whereas a hallway closet is simpler to retrofit.
Understanding this distinction during Discovery helps owners and designers align on what the space will actually do. If the home lacks a dedicated cloakroom and a hallway closet is proposed instead, the friction of daily use will become clear within weeks. A proper cloakroom is an investment in domestic comfort and the preservation of your living spaces; it is worth the space and specification cost.