A beautifully well-organised boot room is not just about clearing clutter; it’s also about creating a practical space to make life easier for the whole family. We’ve got storage and layout ideas to inspire, but before you start planning, make sure you’ve invested in hard-wearing paint and robust flooring to cope with high foot traffic on a daily basis – in all weathers! Because while this room is highly practical, it shouldn’t be a space that is neglected when it comes to style.
Boot room ideas
Whether it’s a dedicated space leading off the kitchen or beside an entrance to your home, a boot room with a washable floor, a bench to perch upon, plenty of coat hooks, shoe storage and, ideally, heating makes life more comfortable. Make use of vertical space with high shelves for rarely used items and deep drawers or box storage under seating.
Be inspired and get organised with these stylish boot room ideas for sorting your home.
1. Incorporate seating
Boot rooms provide an easy and comfortable transition from indoors to outdoors, and vice versa. For ease when removing muddy boots it’s a great idea to incorporate an element of seating. The dream is built-in bench seating, preferably topped with comfy cushions in washable, durable fabrics. Not only will you enjoy a handy spot to remove your own shoes, and help children with their laces, but the space underneath can also be used for extra storage.
Surround the seating with concealed cupboards to make the seating the focal point. Painted in a lush shade of forest green to make the area a vision in green.
2. Keep things simple
Don’t overcrowd a small space, just have the essentials and some thoughtful houseplants. Pack away anything you don’t use on a day-to-day basis and keep shoes, boots and coats that you wear most days out and easily accessible. As a room that is commonly connected to the outdoors, with a door leading to the garden or the font porch, this is the ideal space to welcome house plants.
The key to keeping hallways neat and welcoming is to confine the messy business of muddy wellies and running shoes, soggy coats, umbrellas and dog leads to a separate boot room area. Strong wall shelves and coat pegs are your best friend when it comes to your boot room, so make the most of any wall space you have to play with.
3. Choose budget-friendly solutions
If bespoke built-in seating and storage is not within the budget, fear not there’s a solution. A storage bench is just as effective in doing the job. A design with a wide wicker drawer provides lots of storage space as well as somewhere to sit and pull boots on and off. A flip-up seat hides muddy boots, while Shaker-style pegs and a shelf above can hold everything from hats and coats to dog leads. Ideal for storing outdoor paraphernalia and concealing untidy equipment or scruffy kit, this bench box has ventilation to prevent things getting mouldy.
4. Opt for efficient open shelving
Open shelves are great for accessibility and, with the addition of smart wicker baskets, will help provide natural texture and interest. Woven baskets are ideal for all your utility and boot room storage, concealing items in an attractive box. Hide wellies and everyday shoes out of the way in baskets or on racks.
5. Hang coats up to dry
Invest in handsome, functional furniture to keep outdoor gear together. A tall unit provides neat hooks to hang jackets, hats and umbrellas with an integral lidded box at the base for jumpers, throws and scarves. Offer extra hanging space with a Shaker peg rail on the wall.
6. Build bespoke storage
If your boot room is blessed with high ceilings, maximise the full storage potential by taking a vertical approach to cabinetry. Fitting overhead cupboards above a seating area is a really efficient storage solution for items that aren’t used on a daily basis. It also an efficient way to use vertical space for storage.
Before you pick out your storage buys, make sure the room is decorated with a hard-wearing paint and robust flooring that’ll cope with all the foot traffic!
7. Conceal coats and boots behind closed doors
Large cloakroom cupboards offer the perfect stashing place for bulky winter coats and seasonal essentials – just close the doors and calmness will prevail. If space allows, why not dedicate one cupboard for winter wear and one for summer, so that the right coats and boots are always on hand as you dash out the door. Open hanging shelves are also great for storing outdoor garments, aiding drying and helping to keep mildew at bay.
8. Create a shoe-shining station
A handy step-up-stool in a well-lit room is the perfect place to buff up footwear. Leave just-cleaned shoes to air on a sturdy trolley before wearing out. Store polish, brushes and laces in a rustic box for safekeeping.
9. Make it a versatile space
Short on space? A boot room-cum-utility room is the perfect solution, complete with large butlers sink for rinsing off muddy pets, sports kit and shoes – an industrial-style wall lamp ensures you don’t miss a bit!
10. Welcome pets
Today’s open-plan homes mean the humble boot room is now so much more than a place to park mops and muddy boots. ‘With the help of bespoke fitted furniture, a modern boot room can be used to provide all sorts of essential ‘behind-the-scenes’ storage for everything from out-sized vases to a luxurious pet bed lined with comfy cushions,’ says Richard Moore, design director, Martin Moore. For those with bijoux boot rooms, built-in storage is your best friend.
Keep carpets paw-print free by creating a large pet bed that also doubles up as a useful cubbyhole unit, perfect for displaying shoes and wellies or wooden crates filled with dog treats, leads and toys.