A boot room is a practical space by the back or side door where muddy boots, wet coats, bags and dog leads live, so the mess stops before it reaches the house. The essentials are a sturdy bench to sit on, coat hooks or pegs, boot storage underneath, cupboards for the clutter, and a hard-wearing floor. In the Yorkshire countryside, with walks, weather and dogs, a good boot room is one of the most useful rooms in the house.
At Oak & Pine by Design, we make fitted boot room furniture by hand in our Honley workshop. One of our recent projects is a bespoke fitted boot room cabinet with a solid oak bench. Here are the ideas that work best.
What should a boot room have?
- A bench to sit on while you pull boots on and off
- Boot storage under the bench: open slats, drawers or a drip tray
- Coat hooks or pegs at adult and child heights
- Tall cupboards for coats, waterproofs and the vacuum
- Shelves or cubbies for hats, gloves and bags
- A hard-wearing floor, such as stone, tile or a heavy-duty mat
Boot room ideas
1. A solid oak bench
The bench takes the most wear, so make it solid. Oak shrugs off wet boots and dog paws and only looks better with age.
2. Cubbies for each person
Give every family member their own peg, cubby and boot space. It makes getting out of the door far calmer.
3. Tall cupboards with doors
Hide the clutter. Tall cupboards keep coats, wellies and outdoor kit out of sight.
4. A dog station
Build in a bed space, a hook for leads, a drawer for treats and towels, and a place for bowls.
5. Ventilated storage
Slatted shelves and louvred or open doors help wet boots and coats dry out.
6. Add a sink
If plumbing allows, a deep sink for rinsing boots and dogs is a game changer.
7. Painted panelling
Tongue-and-groove panelling behind the hooks protects the walls and looks great in a hard-wearing paint.
8. Combine it with the utility room
If space is tight, a boot room and utility room can share one room.
Want a boot room built for your family and your dog? Talk to Daniel about your space.
Small boot room ideas
- Use a hallway alcove for a bench with hooks above
- Take cupboards to the ceiling
- Choose a narrow, deep bench with storage beneath
- Add a wall-mounted shelf above the pegs for hats and gloves
- Use an under-stairs space for boots and coats
Why made-to-measure boot rooms last
Boot rooms take a battering: water, mud, grit and daily knocks. Flat-pack furniture made from chipboard soon swells and breaks. A handmade boot room built from solid timber with proper joints can be repaired, repainted and re-oiled for decades.
Because we make everything to measure, we can fit your boot room around radiators, meters, sloping ceilings and awkward corners. We match it to your kitchen or hall too. See our fitted cabinets, including our boot room cabinet with an oak bench.
Frequently asked questions
How much space do you need for a boot room?
Very little. A bench with hooks and a cupboard can fit in a hallway alcove or a back entrance.
What is the best wood for a boot room bench?
Oak is ideal. It's hard, durable and handles wet boots well with a good oil finish.
How do you stop a boot room smelling?
Good ventilation, slatted or open storage for wet items, and a hard, washable floor all help.
Can you build a boot room into a hallway?
Yes. A made-to-measure bench, hooks and cupboards can turn a hallway or alcove into a compact boot room.
Boot rooms made by hand in Honley
We design and build boot rooms, utility rooms and fitted furniture by hand, led by master craftsman Daniel Fitzpatrick, a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen. Explore our handmade furniture.
Visit us at Unit 3, Crossley Mills, Honley, HD9 6PL. Your first consultation is free.
Book a showroom visit or call 01484 666 333.