20 boot room ideas perfect for both compact and larger luxurious spaces
Boot room ideas can be as big or small as your needs and home dictate. We've collected 20 options for your shoe, bag and general storage to help get you started
Boot room ideas can be a great addition to your new self build or renovation if you have the available space. But, even if you don't, there are still plenty of ways to carve out a corner of your home dedicated to keeping dirty shoes and mud at bay.
Perhaps you're looking at ways to make your hallway more functional or think your utility room can handle a multi-purpose role. Or, maybe you're still in the early stages of planning and know that a boot room is a must in your new home.
Either way, we've rounded up 20 boot room ideas that will provide you with a smart, practical and stylish solution to your needs, so step right in.
1. Colour drench in a sunny shade
When deciding on the best location for your new boot room ideas, it makes sense to ensure they have access to the outdoors. Including a back door in your boot room design makes sense and can help contain the mess and mud in one location.
Nonetheless, simply because your boot room is tucked away at the back of the house, don't assume you shouldn't neglect its appearance.
Instead, use the popular paint trend of colour drenching. And there's nothing guaranteed to bring a smile to your face than this sunny shade of yellow – even if outside it's pouring with rain.
You can find this vibrant CupOCustard shade from B&Q in a range of finishes to suit your decorating needs.
2. Make sure your flooring is stylish and practical
One of the most important design choices in your boot room, next to storage is boot room flooring. Subject to some pretty vigorous use, it needs to be first and foremost hardwearing and easy to clean. But does that mean sacrificing style as a result?
“In a boot room, flooring needs to work hard but that doesn’t mean compromising on style," Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca'Pietra reassures us.
"A herringbone terracotta tile, like our Marlborough Parquet, strikes the balance perfectly. It’s full of character, inherently practical, and can handle the wear and tear that comes with muddy boots and daily traffic. The texture and tone also bring warmth and visual interest to what’s often a transitional space.”
We also love the use of a ladder in this boot room idea which means your boot room storage can reach from floor to ceiling, making the most of this narrow but tall boot room idea.
Grazzie has worked in the interiors industry for more than a decade. At Ca’ Pietra, one of the UK’s leading stone and tile brands, she heads up creative, overseeing product collections as well as the company’s distinctive brand, look and feel.
3. Turn your hallway into a boot room
If new boot room ideas aren't possible, such as when renovating a Victorian house, turning your hallway into a bespoke boot room area instead can be the next best thing.
A built in seat and storage solution in this example provides plenty of storage, and also provides an opportunity to include popular hallway wall panelling ideas. In turn, this provides ample opportunity for hooks and open shelving that can function as storage, or a display area.
Smart chequerboard black and white floor tiling keeps the space in keeping with it's age, while a large mirror helps widen the space, and offer a last minute chance to check your appearance before you leave home.
4. Re-purpose a console table
Although fitted cabinets will provide you with customised storage in your boot room ideas, you may also find yourself owning other items that can work well too.
This scheme from Searle & Taylor has the best of both worlds with its floor to ceiling cabinets providing oodles of storage for shoes, boots and other items.
Then, in the middle of the room, we see a console style table with a low level shelf used as another space for shoes, but also as a display area. It adds a lovely finishing touch and makes the space feel curated and considered.
This large grey console table includes drawers and a slatted shelf at the base making it a perfect fit in your boot room ideas
5. Include natural ventilation in your boot room
If you are building a bespoke boot room or converting an existing space, it's always worth trying to include natural ventilation in your scheme.
"Adding ventilation will help keep the space bright, airy, and odour-free," notes Claire Garner, director of Claire Garner Interiors. With the potential for damp clothes, damp dogs and well worn shoes all blending together to create some dubious smells, the likelihood is you'll need to make sure these circulate out of the house – and not into the rest of your home.
If you aren't able to benefit from a window, read the advice in does a utility room need an extractor fan and apply some similar principles to help you find the right solution for your boot room ideas.
Claire Garner is renowned for her expertise in crafting timeless interiors that radiate elegance and sophistication. With a keen eye for design, she excels in layering muted colours, patterns, and textures to build design schemes with depth and personality.
6. Carve out a corner of your kitchen
Including boot room ideas in your kitchen may not always spring to mind when renovating, but when space is limited, you may have no other option.
Or, perhaps you simply need a smaller space for dog walking shoes and coats as you have plenty of other storage in your main hallway ideas. Either way, carving out a corner in your kitchen layout ideas can be an option if you need compact boot room ideas.
For practicality, opt mainly for enclosed cupboards to hide any clutter, squeeze in a small seat and use simple colours and a row of wooden hooks. Match your colour scheme to the rest of your kitchen design for a cohesive and integrated solution.
7. Combine wood and florals for a countryside feel
Another option for a small boot room idea is to add a standalone solution to your hallway renovation ideas, In this instance, it's about making sure style and substance and there in equal measures.
Regardless of the size of your space, "when designing a boot room, it's crucial to consider functionality and practicality," says Claire Garner, but it's important not to get caught up in this at the expense of making your area look welcoming – particularly when it's located at the entrance to your home.
Whether it's choosing a colour scheme that matches the rest of your home, such as this pretty floral wallpaper that lends itself perfectly to a country cottage vibe, opting for a bespoke hand-made solution, or ensuring your flooring feels both luxurious and is hard-wearing, achieving the right combination of storage and style will result in boot room ideas that are a success on every level.
You can find an excellent range of similar Laura Ashley wallpapers at Next.
8. Utilise your landing space
Although your main boot room ideas are best located downstairs, if you have an excessive amount of shoes, clothes and bags to store, dedicating another area as an overflow could be an option.
Landing areas are often tricky to navigate when it comes to design ideas. Not always big enough to create areas such as reading nooks or even office landing ideas, they can however have ample space for storage.
This freestanding Chester Dove Grey Bootility Unit from The Cotswold Company demonstrates perfectly how your landing could instead become an extra boot room idea. And, while muddy shoes will likely be banned, it can instead be used for bags, summer jackets and even double up as a linen store.
9. Pick modern design for contemporary homes
"Boot rooms aren’t a new phenomenon and in fact, have been part of large country homes for decades," says Richard Davonport, managing director of Davonport. "However, because of the practical and hard-working nature of these rooms, they have also become sought after in modern day homes."
"How you make the best use of your boot room is down to personal choice," adds Richard, "but it could be a place to store outdoor gear; an entrance hall to welcome visitors to your home; or a functional part of a utility room but ultimately, it is about ensuring the rest of your home remains clutter and dirt free - something that makes them a great addition to open-plan living."
If clean lines and simple sleek finishes are more your aesthetic, follow suit in your boot room and pair neutral coloured cupboards and low-level drawers with a lighter wooden top that doubles up as a seat. Cover your back wall with the same colour wood, add simple hooks for coats and bags, then top with a slim shelf above and integrated lighting.
Richard Davonport, a luxury cabinetmaker and designer, is the founder and MD of kitchen specialists Davonport. The company designs and makes bespoke kitchens and has its workshop in the heart of East Anglia.
10. Install a sink for extra functionality
Whether your boot room is home to the dog, the kids sports kit, wet weather clothes or your daily commuting shoes, given the UK climate, it's likely water and mud will be a regular visitor to your boot room. So while space and storage is essential, if there's space to add a sink, the experts recommend that you do.
“A boot room is a hard-working room in the home and therefore needs the right equipment including the all-important sink," says Richard Davonport. "It is a key feature in helping to keep the rest of your home clean, as it is where you can wash muddy hands, rinse down your dog or even prep veg from the garden.
"With so many functions to contend with, you’ll need to pick a utility room sink idea that is made from durable materials. A traditional butler sinks work well here," suggests Richard. "Also consider the size and depth, and if space allows, choose one that is extra deep, so you can get a whole plethora of different items in it," he adds.
11. Choose easy to clean surfaces
When it comes to choosing materials for your boot room ideas, "choose durable materials like performance fabrics and porcelain tile flooring that can withstand heavy foot traffic and muddy boots," says Claire Garner.
"You'll want to ensure sufficient space for seating, coat hooks, and a designated area for drying wet clothing," adds Claire, but this all needs to be hardy enough to deal with the frequent appearance of rain, water and mud to your room.
Banquette style seating is perfect for a boot room, as when painted with the right finish, it's easy to wipe down and keep clean.
12. Ensure seating doubles as storage
Your seating doesn't have to just function as a seat if you're looking to make the most out of your boot room ideas.
"The best boot room ideas incorporate ample storage solutions such as built-in cabinets, shelves, and cubbies to keep outdoor gear organised and easily accessible," says Claire Garner.
“Typically, seating in a boot room will be in the form of a bench, either freestanding or more often than not, built in alongside a range of storage cabinets," explains Richard Davonport.
To make the most of the height available, also consider the size of the items you want to store. Remember that wellington boots will require at least twice the height of normal shoes so be sure to measure the height before your decide where to position your seat.
For an added layer of practicality, consider using pull out trays at floor level, such as these Grey Plastic Boot Trays from Amazon to contain any missed dirt that falls off shoes once they are dry.
13. Darker colours may feel more practical
A darker wall colour can feel more forgiving for dirty and busy boot room ideas
Not only is this beautifully deep jewel-green boot room from Martin Moore stylish and dramatic, it can feel more forgiving to use darker colours in a room that may need to hide some dirt in between cleans.
Boot rooms can sometimes be smaller spaces, so embracing a dark colour may seem contrary to keeping it feeling light and airy, but leaning into a dark colour in small boot room ideas can also help to make it feel like a cosy, cocooning welcome when entering your home from the world outdoors.
Given the moisture levels and traffic can be similar to your kitchen, it's also worth checking out the best kitchen paint to ensure you're applying a paint that will withstand the test of time.
14. Use a floor to ceiling solution
Even if you've only got one wall to spare for boot room ideas, you may be pleasantly surprised at just how much storage you can actually fit in if you opt for a bespoke, floor to ceiling boot room wall.
From boots to cycling helmets, bags to shoes and even the obligatory seating area, this well executed fitted bootroom design from Sharps shows the value in considering a fitted solution rather than freestanding cupboards or shelves.
Utilising every millimetre of space turns one wall into one of the most compact, but practical, family boot room ideas we've seen.
15. Don't underestimate the value of hooks
Hooks are your friend when it comes to boot room ideas. Practical, available in a wide variety of styles and finishes, as racks or as individual items, hooks can be used to hang a multitude of items.
So even if only have scope for simple boot room ideas that translate into a seat with storage underneath close to, or next to your front or back door, still consider adding hooks for hats, bags and coats on the walls behind.
Top with a simple shelf for extra storage or as a place for displaying pictures or treasured items or flowers collected on family walks.
"Hooks, integrated seating, and hidden storage all help make the space feel not just practical, but pleasant to use," says Richard Davonport. "Open shelving for frequently used footwear, enclosed cupboards for out-of-season items, and dedicated space for pet accessories or laundry can all help keep the space functioning smoothly."
Add a run of double hooks such as this simple black ones from John Lewis for coats and bags in your boot room ideas
16. Choose classic panelling for a hardy boot room finish
There’s a reason most of these boot room ideas have panelled walls like this design from Hush Kitchens, and it’s not just down to a boot room’s countryside-influenced heritage.
Wooden panelling will be painted in a hardier finish than emulsion, making it easier to clean. Gloss paints are the easiest to clean, but satin and eggshell paints are a good compromise between this ultra glossy style and a more popular matt finish.
Where you do have bare walls in a boot room, try using a washable paint to ensure the room looks its best for longer, without the need for repainting.
For a similar neutral, but hardwearing shade, try an eggshell finish in Alabaster White from the Dulux Heritage Range at Designer Paint.
17. Use doors to keep mud confined
While open plan living is a popular choice when renovating or self building, you’ll ideally want some sort of door to partition your boot room from the rest of the house - especially if you have dogs that you need to contain when you come back from a walk.
However, it’s nice to be able to retain a sense of openness if this is the general style of your home. Consider a glass internal door, or even a half stable door, as an option for dividing the space between your boot room ideas and the rest of your house.
18. Turn your porch into a boot room idea
A boot room might seem like something you create at the back entrance to your house, much like a utility room, however, there’s no reason not to create a boot room at your home’s main entrance – especially if you're looking for porch extension ideas.
In this renovated countryside home by De Rosee Sa architects, tough coir flooring has been used in the porch area along with practical wooden shelving, hard-wearing green panelling and plenty of neat wooden hooks.
It's all to easy to dismiss style when practicality and function come first, but it's those final finishing touches and thoughtful attention to detail to create a cohesive scheme that make all the difference – especially if it's the first space you enter in your home.
19. Don't forget the pets
Boot room ideas are often a great solution if you're seeking a home for your family pet. Allocating a space within a boot room wall such as this one not only gives them somewhere cosy to sleep or rest, it can also help contain their muddy paws while you deal with the rest of the family's shoes and coats.
If space is no object, you could even consider allocating space for a dedicated dog washing station, one of the more recent additions to modern utility room ideas.
20. Create a bootility room
If you don’t have room for a dedicated boot room, it’s easy to add the benefits to a utility room in a design now commonly referred to as a bootility room.
Seating and storage for coats are as always the key, so consider asking your kitchen design company if they produce the right kit to match with the cabinetry you’re choosing for your utility room. Or, if you want to zone and define each area, consider choosing a contrasting material to add interest to your interior scheme.
Feel you've got a better grip on your boot room ideas? Why not check out these utility room layout ideas to see if you can in fact squeeze a boot room in as well, and if you are hankering after a boot room, consider, should you have a utility room or a bigger kitchen?
Get the Homebuilding & Renovating Newsletter
Bring your dream home to life with expert advice, how to guides and design inspiration. Sign up for our newsletter and get two free tickets to a Homebuilding & Renovating Show near you.
Sarah is Homebuilding & Renovating’s Assistant Editor and joined the team in 2024. An established homes and interiors writer, Sarah has renovated and extended a number of properties, including a listing building and renovation project that featured on Grand Designs. Although she said she would never buy a listed property again, she has recently purchased a Grade II listed apartment. As it had already been professionally renovated, she has instead set her sights on tackling some changes to improve the building’s energy efficiency, as well as adding some personal touches to the interior.
