I Transformed My Entryway with This Colorful, Vintage-Inspired Storage Solution

I moved to my most recent apartment for a few reasons — I wanted outdoor space, to be a bit more in the suburbs, and (most importantly) to pay significantly less than I had been. My current abode checks all those boxes, but it did leave me without a couple conveniences I had gotten used to, including a coat closet. I was struggling with where to store all my jackets, coats, hats, and shopping bags without a designated front door-adjacent closet. 

My initial intention was to use a vintage locker, and I had been scouring the internet for options that fit my needs for both fashion and function. It wasn’t long before I came upon the brand Mustard Made, which sells vintage-inspired lockers in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Eventually, I decided on  The Twinny design in Berry because it was large enough to hold all my outerwear and bags but not a hulking piece of metal crowding my living room. Although the loss of my coat closet at first seemed like a negative, the locker has actually become one of my favorite pieces in my home — a true lemons to lemonade story. 

The Twinny measures 72 inches tall, 33 inches wide, and 20 inches deep and is currently available in 12 different color options that range from neutral to vibrant to pastel, so it’s not difficult to find one that will blend seamlessly with your space. If this is a bit too large for your space, you can go for an option that essentially cuts it in half horizontally (The Midi) or vertically (The Skinny). Though it is modeled after old-fashioned lockers as far as exterior, the interior offers a modern and more practical take with an adjustable design complete with hooks, shelves, and bars, which mean you can personalize it to hold just about anything you need it to.

Since I am using mine as a makeshift closet, I kept the top simple, leaving room to hang coats all the way across and then adding a couple shelves on the bottom to store my bags and other accessories. As I’ve gotten used to it in my home, I have been playing around with different methods of organization, finding the arrangement that is most useful for me. 

When this locker first arrived, I was a bit concerned as it was packed neatly into two large boxes and separated into many pieces. With a bit (a lot) of help from my (very handy) partner, I managed to get the locker together pretty quickly and without any confusion. I think it may have been difficult to put together on my own due to the size and need to stabilize each piece as you put it together. 

The instructions were very clear and easy to follow. Another bonus is that the pieces basically clicked together without the need for tiny pieces of hardware. Though there were a couple smaller pieces, it was nothing like building an IKEA dresser that has three drawers and seven different types of screws. 

Though I did have assistance for the assembly, when it came time for rearranging, it was a solo job. I won’t lie — it’s a little on the heavy side, but when empty it is easy enough to push into place, even on carpeted floors. The benefit of being hefty is that it is surprisingly sturdy, and barely moves when my overfed and overzealous cats launch themselves to the top for a nap with a view. 

Buy: Mustard Made The Twinny, $599