How to create a boot room

Inspired by a B&Q how-to. This guide is based on the B&Q video "How to create a boot room" with Kate Hewitt Home, which takes a realistic hallway and turns it into a properly organised entrance space on a sensible budget. The bench section is particularly well done - it's not just a decorative touch, it actually makes putting boots on much less of a faff.

1. Plan the space honestly

Measure the wall you have to work with and count the people who use the entrance regularly. A boot room for a family of four needs a lot more hooks and shoe storage than one for a couple. Sketch it out: bench at what height, hooks how far apart, shelves above or below, and whether you want closed cupboards or open storage.

The biggest mistake is trying to cram in too much. A boot room that's too tight to actually use is worse than a messy hallway. Leave enough clear floor in front of the bench to sit down and pull boots on comfortably - at least 700mm.

2. Choose the right flooring

Whatever was there before, the entrance zone needs a floor that handles wet boots and muddy dogs without suffering. Ceramic or porcelain tile is the most practical option - wipes clean, doesn't stain, and doesn't warp. Slate and natural stone look great but need sealing and are cold underfoot in winter. Vinyl or LVT is a decent compromise - warm, waterproof, and easy to clean.

Lay a hard-wearing mat inside the door as a first scrape zone, then the main floor material runs from there into the space. Don't use laminate directly at an external door - it will swell.

3. Build or fit the bench

A bench at about 450mm high - standard seating height - with a lift-up lid for hidden shoe storage underneath is the most useful configuration. Build it from 18mm MDF or ply: a back panel fixed to the wall, two side panels, and a top panel with a piano hinge along the back edge for the lid.

Line the inside with a simple plywood base and add a small lip at the front to stop items sliding out when you open the lid. Fix the bench securely to the wall - people sit on these and lean on them, so they need to take the load. Line the interior with vinyl or painted MDF so damp boots don't soak into the wood.

4. Fix the coat hooks

Hooks at two heights work well for families: a higher rail at around 1500–1600mm for adult coats and bags, and a lower rail at around 1000–1100mm for children's items. That said, a single row of generously-spaced hooks is better than two overcrowded ones.

Fix into wall studs or use proper hollow-wall fixings. Coat hooks carry real loads when wet coats and heavy bags pile on - this is not the place for sticky pads. Stainless steel or brushed brass hooks tend to hold up better than chrome in a damp porch environment.

5. Add shoe storage

Below-bench storage handles everyday shoes and wellies. For the shoes that don't get used every day, a simple open shelf above the bench at 400–450mm depth works well. Angled shoe shelves (tilted slightly back) keep footwear visible and accessible without taking up too much depth.

If the space is tight, a vertical shoe rack on castors that slides out from one end of the bench is a neat solution. Welly boot storage is awkward - they're tall, they're usually wet, and they smell. A rack or peg rail that keeps them upright and off the floor, with a drip tray below, is about the most you can do.

6. Install a shelf or peg rail above the hooks

A shelf above the coat hooks at around 1800–2000mm high is handy for hats, scarves, and items that only come out seasonally. Keep it narrow - about 200mm deep - so it doesn't feel oppressive in a hallway. A peg rail (a timber batten with Shaker pegs screwed in at regular intervals) below the shelf is useful for bags, keys, and dog leads.

Fix the shelf on hidden shelf brackets or a ledger batten. Level is essential here - a visibly unlevel shelf in an otherwise neat boot room will annoy you every morning.

7. Add a mirror

A mirror in the boot room sounds like a luxury but it genuinely earns its place. Most people like a quick check before they leave the house, and in a narrow hallway a large mirror makes the space feel bigger. Fix it to the wall at a sensible height - eye level for the tallest person who uses the space - and make sure it's secured properly, especially if you've got children or dogs who'll regularly brush past it.

8. Paint and fit lighting

A boot room takes a beating - wet hands on door handles, bags dragging along the wall, muddy paws. Use a durable paint that wipes clean: a good eggshell or satin in a practical colour (mid-tone greens, warm greys, and navy blues are all popular). Gloss on the woodwork handles cleaning better than emulsion.

Lighting matters more than you'd think. A dark hallway makes the whole entrance feel unwelcoming. A ceiling downlight or pendant over the main entrance zone, plus under-shelf lighting if the budget stretches, turns it into a space people actually want to use.

When to call a handyman

Call Richard if you want a fully fitted boot room with built bench, hooks, and shelving built as one unit rather than assembled from separate pieces. The difference in how it looks when it's all built-in and painted out is considerable.