A boot room can transform an unloved extension or corner of the house into a warm, organised, and essential part of your daily life, but only if it’s been well thought out.

Often seen as a purely practical space, the boot room can easily be overlooked or treated as somewhere to throw muddy shoes, wet coats, and everything else we’d rather people didn’t see!

Yet it’s usually the first place you walk into after a long day, and it sets the tone for how your home functions. When it works well, it’s the hub of the house, serving as a space that’s both practical and welcoming.

That said, getting it right is about more than just storage. A boot room should be a warm and dry environment where everything has its place. From smart design choices such as ceiling-hung racks to separate damp items from dry, to built-in benches with hidden storage, there are lots of ways to make this room feel more inviting.

Rather than an afterthought, a well-designed boot room can become a real asset. In this blog post, we’re exploring some boot room ideas that can make a big difference.

What Is A Boot Room?

A boot room is typically where muddy boots and wet coats are taken off before you enter the rest of the house. It’s a useful space that separates the outdoors and indoors, keeping mud, rain, and clutter contained in one place.

However the boot room has evolved into a much more versatile space, and modern homes often use it for lots of different reasons. For instance it might double as a laundry area (especially if it’s an extension of your utility) or a dog-washing area for your four legged friend.

What makes a boot room useful is that it’s a dedicated space to manage everyday mess. From benches with hidden storage, to overhead racks and drying rails, everything is designed to make the transition from outdoors to indoors easier.

Where Should A Boot Room Go?

The best place for a boot room is at a natural entry point to your home as it separates the outdoors from the indoors. If you have a side door or a space that leads directly in from the garden, this is the perfect place for a bootroom as you can remove outdoor gear before stepping foot into the main part of the house.

It also means you can keep the rest of the house clean and tidy while making everyday routines (such as walking the dog) much easier.

Boot Room Ideas

Below are some clever boot room ideas to help you turn this into a functional yet stylish space. As we said in the intro, boot rooms have become multi-functional, often serving lots of different purposes in the home.

Built-In Benches with Storage

Adding a bench to your boot room design has many advantages as not only can it be used as a seat when changing your shoes or sorting the dog, it can also be integrated with storage units to provide even more space. It can also double up as a way to include a dog bed, something we’re covering in more detail below.

Consider options like lift-up lids, pull-out drawers, or baskets that provide the perfect storage place for shoes and bags that can otherwise clutter up the space. By choosing a custom design, you can choose the types of doors and door handles, helping the space feel more personal to you.

To soften the interior of the boot room, add cushions or blankets to your bench as this makes it feel more cosy.

Top tip: To make use of every nook and cranny, think about adding a corner bench. This works great if you have any awkward corner and alcove, ensuring you’re utilising every possible inch!

Ceiling-Hung Racks and Rails

If you only have a small room to work with, there’s still lots of ways you can maximise the space and make sure this room serves a purpose. Consider using ceiling-hung racks and rails as they’re a great way to keep damp or bulky items separate from the rest of the room.

You can also hang wet coats or towels here allowing you to keep them dry and off the ground. From a practicality point, this also prevents dampness from spreading and stops the room from smelling musty.

By thinking about what space you have available vertically, you’re maximising any room that would otherwise be wasted. It also helps prevent the room from feeling cramped, giving you a functional yet stylish space that still meets your needs.

Shoe Storage

Dirty shoes lying around can soon make your boot room look messy and disorganised. In fact dirty shoes are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to mess in a boot room.

That said, it’s about having the right storage as there’s lots of ways to hide them away whilst still allowing for easy access. For example, you could have custom shelving units that allow you to store the shoes used more often while pull-out drawers can hide away less-used or seasonal footwear.

Angled racks are also a great space-saving idea, and make it easier to see everything at once. If you want everything hidden away, built-in cupboards can conceal any clutter, leaving the room looking neat and tidy.

At Bedroom Image, we design bespoke boot room storage based on your needs and space. We make sure to maximise every inch, creating a storage solution that works for you and the room. Book your free design and measure appointment to get started.

Flooring

Flooring is a key consideration too when it comes to your boot room as there’ll be plenty of mud, water, and dirt being tracked through. This means you want to choose something that’s hardwearing and durable such as stone tiles or slate that can withstand daily wear and are easy to clean.

Choosing a non-slip finish is also wise especially for safety. Whilst this is not an absolute must, the right flooring helps balance practicality with style.

Hooks and Peg Rails

Regardless of the type of boot room storage you use, hooks and peg rails are a must. They’re also simple and affordable yet they allow you to hang so many different things to keep them dry and out the way. From dog leads, to wet coats and bags, adding some hooks makes the space more practical.

To make the space more functional and family-friendly, install them at different heights so that children can hang their belongings too. Consider a sturdy design that can take the weight of heavy coats or backpacks as these will serve you and your family for years to come.

Pet-Friendly Storage

Pets are a very important part of your household so it’s only right that your boot room design caters for them too!

If your household includes pets, think about adding a space for pet essentials such as leads, towels, and food as this stops it from cluttering up your kitchen for example.

Many pet parents also design their boot room to include a dog bed as this gives your four legged friend a warm and cosy place to sleep whilst still keeping the house clean and tidy. To maximise space further, the dog bed can be integrated into a bench creating a space where your dog feels safe without taking up more floor space.

If you wanted to improve the functionality of the space even further, you could incorporate a dog shower area in your custom built unit, allowing you to rinse off any muddy paws before they step foot into the main living area.

Make It Personal

While the boot room is a practical and functional space that doesn’t mean it can’t feel homely. It’s still somewhere you’re going to spend a lot of time whether that’s washing the dog or sorting out your laundry.

The beauty of designing something custom is being able to add your own personalised touches as you can make this room look the way you want it to. From choosing your own colour scheme, to cupboard doors, to door handles, the choice is yours.

This helps the boot room feel like a more natural part of your home instead of something separate. Furthermore, your boot room might not be a room in itself but more an extension of your kitchen or utility. By designing custom storage, you can ensure the design is cohesive with the rest of the space, helping the interiors flow from one room to the next.

At Bedroom Image, we work with you to design something custom that meets your personal taste. We know that everyone is unique when it comes to interior design, so we build something based around you. Visit one of our showrooms to find out more.

Boot Room Ideas That Make a Big Difference

You’re not short when it comes to boot room ideas, as by choosing a bespoke design, you can plan this space exactly how you want.

From open shelves, to built-in cupboards, to smart shoe storage, there’s lots of ways to make this room practical and stylish so that it still feels like a natural part of your home. Whether you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated boot room or whether this is going to be an extension of any other room, making this space feel cohesive is key.

At Bedroom Image, we’ve been designing custom storage since 1978, helping homeowners create spaces that are functional yet tailored to their requirements. We offer a free, no obligation planning service in your own home allowing us to design something that truly works. Contact a member of our friendly team to find out more.