Are you ready to create a coveted boot room?

Who wouldn’t love a boot room? A dedicated space where dog leads, muddy boots and wet coats live. One shortcut to a boot room is buying a countryside manor or period home where a dedicated space already exists but what if your budget doesn’t stretch that far?

There are more modest ways to create somewhere for your outside items. In many cases, all you need is a hallway! Here’s our advice.

What every good boot rooms needs 

A boot room should provide a home for items that might otherwise make a space look cluttered. It also has a more practical application, in allowing anything that’s damp be hung up to dry.

Checklist for the perfect boot room

• Hooks, pegs, rails and coat hangers for coats, formal hats and dog leads

• Storage baskets for gloves, scarves and woollen hats

• An umbrella stand

• A bench or chair 

• Low level cubby holes for wellies

• Shoe racks

• Durable hard flooring

• A radiator or underfloor heating

• Overhead lighting

Not necessarily a separate room

Boot rooms were a common addition to farmhouses and estate properties but that is a small percentage of homes in the UK. The appeal of a boot room is widespread and people are getting creative about increasing storage for outside wear.

It’s possible to upgrade hallways to make them into mini boot rooms, using benches, shelves, hooks and storage units. Even large porches and understairs areas can be transformed.

Off-the-peg or upcycle?

Search ‘hallway storage bench’ or ‘boot room furniture’ online and there are 100s of ready-made options for sale. Although convenient, you’ll be restricted on colour, finish and size as there will be only so many pre-set styles a manufacturer will offer. The latter is important if you’re creating a mini boot room in an awkward space.

Gaining in popularity is upcycling and repurposing existing furniture into boot room beauties. Choose either vintage or retro items, unwanted modern furniture or the ubiquitous Ikea staples that are past their best and adapt to your exact needs.

This may involve removing or repositioning shelves, reducing the height of cupboards, adding elements such as hooks and rails, and repainting to match your colour scheme. Items that repurpose well include wardrobes, freestanding bookshelves and French/Welsh dressers.

Cupboard doors: it’s up to you

This is personal taste. Open storage allows for a quick hang up and maximum air drying opportunities but coats will be on display. If your nirvana is a sleek look with everything hidden, opt for cupboard doors.

Choose between fitted or freestanding

A good carpenter will be able to design and build boot room storage that’s wall-to-wall, flooring-to-ceiling but the price tag may be just as astounding as the end result. There are, thankfully, more wallet-friendly ways to achieve the look. 

If you opt for freestanding furniture, you can take it with you when you move next, just be sure to securely fix anything to the wall while it’s in situ. You can also cheat and create the illusion that freestanding is built in by using skirting boards, coving and beading to cover gaps.

Buying in for your boot room project

If you’re keen on creating a bespoke configuration, you can either reuse existing furniture or source something second hand. You can find some gems on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, local selling sites and charity shops – sometimes for free if you’re willing to collect. 

Is there a hybrid style?

Yes! There is something called a bootility - a utility room to which boot room aspects, such as shelves, a slim storage unit and some pegs, have been added. Don’t forget to maximise every inch of space by taking storage up to the ceiling. 

If you’re dreaming of your next home – perhaps somewhere where you can create a boot room – contact us for a list of available properties.