If you are lucky, you will have a spacious, dedicated room in which to stash away everything from wet coats and shoes to dog shampoo and towels for that inevitable chore when you return from a muddy walk. But even if you are combining your boot room storage ideas with hallway ideas – in fact, especially if you are – there are many clever design tricks you may not have considered. We’ve quizzed interior designers and cabinet makers to find the best tips and designs to help you make the most of your boot room storage space, whatever the room’s size.
Boot room storage ideas
A mix of open and closed cabinets, shelving, hooks, and shoe racks should all figure in your boot room storage ideas. ‘I like practical open storage for shoes and boots and wall hanging for coats, it’s tempting to shut it all away but not as easy to navigate,’ explains designer Susie Watson (opens in new tab). ‘Vintage wooden cubby or parcel storage is worth hunting down on eBay or in sale rooms as this can be repurposed for shoes and looks good, too.’ Take storage into consideration at the start of your search for clever boot room ideas to achieve the perfect blend of functionality, style and organization for your home.
1. Keep it contemporary
A contemporary version of the traditional country-house boot room, this design features J-pull handles paired with pale wood. Maximize small boot room ideas with a bench seat featuring a hinged lid. Here, the space beneath the bench is divided between enclosed and open storage – a good idea if you want to keep muddy boots separate from other items.
2. Use every inch of space
While it’s the Victorian tile floor and deep double sink that are the attention-grabbers in this boot room from Louise Jones Interiors (opens in new tab), there’s a lot more to applaud. As well as individual storage areas for each family member, complete with overhead lockers, hooks, a bench and space to stash footwear, every other inch of space is utilized. Low-level cabinets beneath the basin area provide a place to put cleaning materials, while baskets are the perfect hideaways for smaller essentials.
3. Hide the clean-up zone
Maintain a sense of calm and order by hiding messier elements behind closed doors. K&H Design (opens in new tab) came up with this scheme to conceal flower room paraphernalia within a cupboard. If pushed for space, designate a cleaning cupboard below a sink, with places to store boots beneath. Close the double doors and the room returns to a serene state.
4. Have just what you need, no more
‘When choosing furniture for your boot room, it’s important really to think about what you use the space for,’ says Paul Deckland, Buying Director at The Cotswold Company (opens in new tab). ‘If you live alone and keep most of your shoes in your bedroom, putting multiple pieces of storage furniture in the space may be unnecessary. Instead, a freestanding storage bench with hooks is worth investing in. Or even a simple console table to store the things you need before leaving the house.’
5. Match your storage to your flooring
Finished in Matt Charcoal paint, this fitted storage cabinet – part of the Bramham range from Daval (opens in new tab) – perfectly complements the slate flooring in this boot room. Matching your flooring color to your walls or storage helps to create a smart, streamlined look that calms the clutter of a busy boot room. And a deep charcoal tone does much to hide scuffs and dirt, too.
6. Give small items a named cubby
This simple boot-cum-laundry room set-up from British Standard (opens in new tab) packs a lot of different storage ideas into a compact space. ‘When planning boot room storage ideas, we always think about practicalities first, incorporating plenty of coat hooks, shoe and boot storage, and places for smaller items such as hats and gloves,’ explains Adrian Bergman, Design Manager at British Standard by Plain English. These post-room style cubbies are just the ticket – especially with retro-style brass label holders so that everything can be returned to its proper place.
7. Build in wine storage
Even when space is tight, a multifunctional room with built-in wine racks, appliances (kept behind cupboard doors and stacked for a smaller footprint), hooks and storage will see plenty of use. Designers Blake London have added personality here with cabinets in an inky blue and geometric cement tiles on the floor. Storing wine out of the kitchen will mean it’s less likely to be subjected to temperature fluctuations, keeping your vintages in better shape.
8. Make the most of vertical space
The best boot room storage ideas adapt to your space. So if you have a room with a high ceiling, be sure to incorporate this benefit into your design. A wardrobe-sized cabinet can be extended with additional storage above – ideal for items used only infrequently, or for stashing away out-of-season items such as tents and camping gear. Use a ladder to access the elevated cupboards, attaching it to a metal rail it can slide along, for safety.
9. Put boot room storage in a porch
If you don’t have a separate boot room, consider incorporating storage into your front porch ideas so it can double-up as one. Charlotte Crosland designed this entrance with a glass pitched roof to add light and a feeling of space, helping to balance all the cubbies and hooks for coats. Painting all the woodwork the same pale color also stops the space looking to enclosed and overcrowded.
10. Fit storage into the tiniest space
Even when space is at a premium, smart storage solutions will help you to make the most of the square footage available. Under a staircase, where head height is limited, a bench with built-in storage is the idea option. Think of it as a mini decompression zone, where you can kick off your shoes and the stresses of the day before immersing yourself back into family life. Just watch your head when you stand up…
11. Don’t just keep boots on the floor
If you want to give your pooch its own place to sleep, away from the main living area, the boot room is ideal. Break with convention and keep boots and shoes in wall-hung cubbies, leaving the floor free for your pet’s bedding, food and other essentials. This can actually making finding footwear easier, as all your options will be at eye height. Just reach out, boot up and go…
12. Make use of an alcove
Turn an existing alcove to create a handy nook where visitors can offload their outdoor wear. Here, a vintage rack and a built-in bench deliver the boot room experience in the smallest of spaces. ‘I wanted to create a functional boot room that was a rustic yet decorative entrance to a country house,’ explains designer Tom Cox of Ham Interiors (opens in new tab).
13. Commission bespoke joinery
Having made-to-measure cabinets built to fit your space – and your storage needs – is the best way to achieve boot room bliss. Factor in essentials, including hanging space for coats, cubbies and baskets, shoe and boot storage, and any bespoke fittings you may need – storage for tennis racquets or paddle boards, for example. A custom design will also allow you to build around any architectural or awkward features, creating a better aesthetic and maximising the functionality of the space.
14. Add decorative details
When planning your boot room storage ideas, don’t forget to factor in aesthetics along with more practical elements. Here, interior designer Jojo Bradley (opens in new tab) has incorporated decorative details including horseshoe hooks and a bench cushion upholstered in a graphic design, to elevate this boot room.
15. Add food and laundry storage too
With the right storage in place, a boot room can double as a laundry, flower room and can even include pantry ideas, which can be a handy place to stash dishes and plates while entertaining. In this scheme by Martin Moore (opens in new tab), a double-door fridge finds a home in a multipurpose space that is packed with cupboards, shelves and pigeon holes. The result: an efficient storage system where everything has its place.
16. Combine beauty with utility
Built-in joinery with a mix of open shelves and closed storage has been designed by Emma Sims Hilditch (opens in new tab) for this space. She has added large floor baskets and a comfortable seating area to help break up the space and make it a more welcoming setting. A soft paint color – Pigeon by Farrow & Ball – adds the finishing touch.
What do you store in a boot room?
Boot rooms are for storing far more than just boots. Consider everything that gathers in your hall or entryway, around your stairs and porch, and you will probably want to find a space to store it in your boot room. This includes shoes and boots, coats, jackets and wet weather-wear, sports wear and equipment, hats, umbrellas, pet paraphernalia and kids’ school bags. You may even want to find room for all those extras – from sunglasses to keys – everything you need when you step out the door. For more information, see our what do you put in a boot room guide.
How do I keep my boot room clean?
The best way to keep a boot room clean and neat is to have a combination of storage solutions, from hooks for coats to cubby holes for often-used items to cupboards with doors that can hide away clutter. Choosing boot room storage that’s easy to wipe down if it gets scuffed will help the room look and feel clean, and finally, having a floor that’s practical is a must. Our advice? Keep some cleaning products handy in your boot room, from cloths to brooms, and even a vacuum cleaner, and the room will always be easily cleaned.
