It's all right for those who live in mansions/places where land is cheap enough to build places with halls. We have a Victorian terrace with a passage. As 'tis the coat hooks behind the front door have to be policed to ensure that not too many coats take up permanent residence there lest the door not open far enough to admit us.

Bookshelves? Not unless they're for very thin books, shelved cover, rather than spine, out! Hmmm, might be a good way of displaying picture books or something, except that the sun would fade them. Even such feeble sun as we get in the UK.