If there's one room I wish I had space for it's a boot room. And while I'm not on the brink of moving to a house that has enough space for one (just yet), I've already got clear ideas of how I'd want it to look and function.
But, having made errors before in the way I've designed spaces that could have become brilliant boot rooms, I've decided to take advantage of the access I have to industry experts, and find out in advance the key boot room mistakes homeowners often make.
As gatekeeping information isn't my style, I'm sharing the mistakes with you, so that you, like me, can design a boot room that's as functional and fabulous as you hope it will be.
1. Designing your boot room based on a life that's not yours
There's nothing wrong with having aspirational boot room ideas when you start planning your new space, but the chances are, the designs you see aren't built inside homes like yours, and they aren't curated to suit your lifestyle.
"Thoughtful planning is key to ensuring a boot room works effortlessly day to day," says Rachal Hutcheson, interiors expert at Sharps, "and one of the most important considerations is designing the space around real-life routines, rather than an idealised version of how the room might be used. When storage is tailored to individual lifestyles, the space becomes far easier to maintain and is far more intuitive to use."
So while long country walks with a cute pup and child in matching raincoats might be on your vision board, if the reality is mud-splattered humans, pets and a plethora of soggy sports kit, then design your boot room based on this – not on the Instagram worthy life you might only get to occasionally achieve.
Rachal Hutcheson has worked at Sharps for 30 years where she is currently National Retail Manager, working across multiple showrooms and overseeing refurbishment styling.
2. Underestimating how much storage you will need
One of the main reasons boot rooms appeal to me is the fact they can provide a multitude of opportunities to hide clutter. From shoes and boot to bags and coats, good boot room storage is a must.
But, do we always get the amount of storage right? No, says Rachal Hutcheson, and it's a more common boot room mistake than you might think.
"We often see homeowners underestimate how much storage they’ll actually need. So, measuring items early on is key, from the height of walking boots to the number of coats you want within easy reach, this all helps to shape a layout that feels practical from the outset," she says.
And, it's not just Rachal who notes the common flaw. Richard Davonport, managing director of Davonport agrees.
“The biggest mistake homeowners make with boot rooms is underestimating how much storage they genuinely need. It is rarely just coats and shoes. You have school bags, sports kit, dog leads, seasonal outerwear, cleaning products and everyday items that quickly create visual clutter if not properly accommodated," he explains. "Effective boot room design begins with auditing what will live there, then assigning dedicated zones."
Richard Davonport is a luxury cabinetmaker and designer, and the founder and Managing Director of kitchen specialists, Davonport. The company designs and makes bespoke kitchens from its workshop in the heart of East Anglia.
3. Selecting the wrong types of storage
What's next on my list of shared boot room mistakes? The fact that even if you have allocated enough storage, if you don't get the design of that storage right, you could still find yourself with a boot room that's not fit for purpose.
Simply having racks for shoes and plenty of hanging space for coats isn't enough say the experts. Instead, having variety in shape, size and format is the best approach to take.
"Tall cabinetry for brooms and vacuum cleaners, ventilated compartments for damp footwear, pull-out trays for muddy boots and generous drawers for smaller accessories all help the space function properly," advises Richard Davonport. "Without this level of planning, homeowners often rely on open shelving alone, which can look chaotic within weeks.
"Depth and proportion are equally important," he adds. "Shallow cupboards may appear space-saving on plan, yet they often fail to house bulkier items. Bespoke cabinetry allows you to tailor internal configurations precisely, ensuring the boot room works hard daily rather than simply looking organised on installation day.”
"Including bespoke cubbies and a considered mix of open and closed cabinetry should always be introduced to ensure everything has its place," agrees Rachal Hutcheson.
Although the location of your boot room and how often it's seen by others should also be considered when finalising your design. If you're including a boot room area in your hallway ideas for example, you may need to consider aesthetics such as open shelving in order to make your entrance welcoming, as well as functional.
Shop these boot room storage essentials
Pop these handy shoe or boot hooks inside cupboards or on the side of units for extra boot room storage
Protect your boot room flooring or bespoke cabinets from dirt and mud with this budget-friendly shoe mat
Choose stylish storage baskets like these if you have open shelving in your boot room
4. Dismissing seating as an unnecessary extra
As someone who's constantly trying to pull of muddy wellies in a narrow stairwell, the thought of not having seating in my boot room is a mistake I'm confident I wouldn't make, but it seems it's an element of design that often missed.
"Seating is an often-overlooked detail that can make a significant difference," confirms Rachal Hutcheson. "We frequently recommend incorporating a built-in storage bench, providing a comfortable place to put on shoes whilst adding another layer of concealed storage. These thoughtful elements are what transform a boot room from purely functional into a refined and luxurious space.”
Of course, if you've only got space for a small boot room, or are perhaps considering a bootility which combines a boot room and utility room in one, there are still ways of including seating that don't take up as much space.
Benches such as this Nkuku Hasa Storage Bench from John Lewis give you the option of open cubbies for shoes and boots, as well as somewhere to sit and take them off. After all, leaning against freshly painted walls with muddy hands, while wrestling with boots and wet weather gear is something to avoid whenever possible – a fact that my hallway walls are testament too.
5. Forgetting practicality when selecting boot room flooring
While we might all enjoy splashing in muddy puddles at times, if your boot room is included as part of your porch ideas, or includes access to the garden, you certainly don't want to make the mistake of choosing the wrong boot room flooring.
“One of the most common mistakes we see in boot rooms is selecting flooring based purely on appearance, without properly considering performance," warns Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca'Pietra.
"This is a space designed to cope with wet boots, grit, pet traffic and temperature fluctuations, so the tile specification matters just as much as the design. Polished surfaces, for example, may look beautiful but can become slippery when wet, while softer materials can show wear far sooner than expected.
"Slip resistance should always be assessed," she notes, "particularly in households with children or dogs. Porcelain with an appropriate slip rating offers durability and ease of maintenance, and it will not absorb moisture in the way some natural materials can if left unsealed.
"Another mistake is choosing tiles that are too small and heavily grouted, which can create unnecessary maintenance in a hard-working area. Larger formats with tighter grout joints are often more practical," suggests Grazzie.
"It is also worth thinking about how the flooring connects visually to adjacent spaces," she adds. "A boot room should feel cohesive with the rest of the home, not like an afterthought, and the right surface can anchor that transition while still performing under pressure."
Consider these porcelain tiles for your boot room flooring
These dark porcelain floor tiles have a slip resistance rating of R10 and would be perfect for high-traffic boot rooms
In a smaller space try these pale grey porcelain tiles for a lighter finish. They also have a slip resistance of R10 and a stone-like appearance
Grazzie Wilson is head of creative at tile company Ca'Pietra and is known for her creative and stylish approach. Offering consistently stylish and innovative solutions to tile and bathroom design has made her one of the most well-known and admired names in the industry.
6. Not selecting good hardware early enough in the process
And last, but certainly not least on our list of boot room mistake is the one touch point you might easily overlook – but can certainly be annoying if you get it wrong. Your hardware and handles for your boot room storage will get so much use on a daily basis, that like your flooring, it needs to be up for the job.
“Hardware is frequently treated as a finishing touch in a boot room, when in reality it should be specified with durability and ergonomics in mind from the outset," says Gareth Hull, design lead at Hendel & Hendel.
"This is a high-contact area, with doors and drawers opened repeatedly, often with wet or cold hands, so handle design and finish selection are critical.
"A common mistake is choosing overly delicate knobs or finishes that are better suited to lighter-use rooms," he warns. "In a boot room, solid brass construction and resilient finishes such as brushed nickel or darker tones that mask marks tend to perform better over time. Size and grip also matter. Longer pull handles can be easier to use when carrying bags or managing children, whereas small knobs may feel impractical in everyday use.
"Consistency should not be overlooked either," he adds. "Aligning cabinet handles with coat hooks and ancillary hardware creates a sense of cohesion, ensuring the boot room feels thoughtfully integrated with the wider interior rather than pieced together.”
These textured handles come in a range of finishes and are ideal for use on boot room cabinets and drawers. There are also other products in the collection such as knobs and backplates.
Gareth Hull is the Design Lead at Hendel & Hendel, a leading UK hardware brand. He leads on the design direction for the brand’s collections and interior styling. With a background in product development and a keen eye for detail, Gareth's approach seamlessly blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics and his work emphasises refined forms, elevated materials, and a balance between contemporary, traditional and transitional pieces.
Boot rooms are of course not the only way of creating storage in your home. For other great ideas, take a look at the other types of built in storage you could include in your self build or renovation, and make sure you aren't missing out understairs storage ideas that can store more than just coats and shoes.
