I think it could be both, but if you had to choose (and I've had to in the last place and this one, ) I would make sure I had a place to store a vacuum cleaner and broom and such, as well as outdoor boots, shoes and umbrellas. We accommodated pretty easily to keeping our coats upstairs, but it's a pain to have to store the vacuum, brooms and such far away from where you use them, or outdoor boots and such far from the front door, and the only alternative is to leave them out in plain view.

My coat closet is in a small unheated small vestibule on my house exterior, could you build one around either your front or back door. Another less costly option is a pax wardrobe in the living room near the door for storage and coat hanging. My shape house is similar to yours here is my front vestibule. One side is empty in the winter I have a boot bench and the rest of the year a small mail desk and the other is a reach in closet. there is a second door from here into my house.

I agree. it does look like a bedroom set up Beverly. This is what is in there now, not my furniture. I am trying to plan what to bring or how to set up when we move in next month. I was hoping to go light in this house but I do have a dark wood carved mirror that I like. Maybe I can find a credenza to work with that.

Any ideas for how to store costs in a small nyc apartment without it looking messy and cluttered?