A traditional boot room is becoming a must have in any family home, especially in the winter months as it’s the perfect space to remove muddy boots and shoes, store coats and winter warmers like hats and scarves, alongside a space to drip dry umbrellas. This space should be designed with practical storage solutions such as ample hanging space and hidden storage under benches. A well-designed boot room can make or break how the house functions, so it is well worth really thinking about it in advance and deciding what you need and what will work for your own home.
What is a boot room in a house?
A boot room is a practical space that connects the outside to the inside. It’s a dedicated space to take off boots, shoes and coats before entering the house, as well as a place to store them all too. Boot rooms are quickly becoming the latest space to add value to your home, offering great potential for both style and storage.
What’s the difference between a Boot Room and a Utility Room?
A boot room is exactly what it says on the tin. Think of it as a dedicated space that keeps the outside and the rest of your home separate and is a space where boots, coats and muddy paws are kept. A utility room is usually free of all this and instead is a space where laundry takes place, along with the storage of household items such as the vacuum and ironing board.
A bit of thought and a few new furniture additions can transform any boot room - an often overlooked and sometimes unloved area in the home - into an organised and stylish space. Here we've got some ideas to inspire, but a little tip 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 and in all weathers!
Utilise every inch of space
Traditionally, boot rooms may be a small space in your utility room, a porch, a downstairs cloakroom or even the under stair’s cupboard, so they may not be the most spacious areas. But that doesn't mean you can't squeeze in the storage and make the most of every nook and cranny. 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.
Storage
The key is plenty of it, and don’t forget to use your wall space as well as including cabinets and drawers. Consider a row of pegs to hang up a whole family of wet coats. A stylish and perfectly practical option is storage that incorporates cubbies of different sizes – somewhere to house your kids’ trainers, wellies of all sizes, hats, gloves and a spot in the corner for your brolly. Baskets are a great way to hide away clutter as are galvanised storage trunks. Open shelves and head height cupboards for keeping those lesser used or bulky items that only make it out for garden parties or holidays. Under bench storage or floor-level cubbies for wellington boots and the odd football that need to be tucked away less they become trip hazards.
Include handy 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.
Dog Parlour
It might seem like a fairly extravagant thing to include in your boot room, but a dog shower can actually make a lot of sense (if you have a dog that is!). If you're fed up with your pooch traipsing mud through the house after their walk or are done with having to wrestle them upstairs to the bath, then a dedicated dog shower could be the answer.
Think about flooring
When you’re tracking muddy boots, soggy anoraks and soaked umbrellas into your boot room, you want to ensure your flooring can withhold dirt and moisture. As such, hard flooring is essential, and choosing something that is hard wearing, easy to clean, yet still in-keeping with your interior scheme is paramount. Consider hard wood flooring, large tiles or floor slabs – all can endure high foot fall and can be easily mopped and buffed to maintain its surface.
Soft furnishings for that extra touch
It's also worth remembering that adding soft furnishings like curtains, blinds and cushions will help to create a more comfortable space, that while practical, can still look beautiful. Adding cushions to benches are a simple way to bring warmth to the space, but you could also try a fabric runner or folded throw to get the same effect.
Radiators
Heating your boot room might not be at the top of your to-do list, but it's not one to be neglected. Boot rooms almost always need a radiator, however small. By their nature, they often contain wet items of clothing, so you need to be able to regulate the temperature to avoid the entire room feeling cold and damp.
Cosy Corner
If you've no space for an entire room for coats and boots, how about turning a corner of your hallway or utility room into a space for these items? A peg rail hung on the wall will provide ample space for coats and jackets, while boots can be neatly lined up besides free-standing storage. If you have dogs that regularly need walking, create a little 'station' with all the things you'll need such as leads, treats, and balls, all stored in easy-to-access baskets.
Utilise an unused hallway
Hallways can be awkward spaces to design – often long, corridor-like areas, there aren’t an abundance of uses for them. If your hallway is wide enough, adding a bench and cupboards forms a great boot room solution, without taking away from an already functional room in your home.
Although a boot room is a very practical room, that doesn't mean it can't look stylish too! Be sure to give everything its own place so it doesn't become a dumping ground. If you’re looking for more space for your growing family take a look at our range of stunning developments and start planning the boot room of your dreams.