Boot Room | Design Tips

When it comes to considering the design of a boot room, the key thing to remember is this space connects both outdoors and indoors; it’s an area that provides a place for the family to prepare for, or decamp after, school or a trip which means cleverly designing the layout of the space and incorporating as much open and closed storage as possible (whilst keeping a calm, balanced design aesthetic of course!).

When it comes storage, more is always more and that’s no exception for a boot room. Closed storage in particular is ideal for coats that might only be used infrequently as well as a place to conceal a plant room/ server units. Tall cupboards with hanging space can accommodate coats and jackets with boots and shoes stored in pull out trays at the bottom.  No one wants to see piles of clutter when they walk in the door particularly after a busy day so well placed closed storage is essential to keep the overall look and feel of the space calm and uncluttered.

Open storage is also beneficial to store items such as boots and hats that need to be on hand and accessible whilst being stored away – thus can be seized at a moment’s notice for a long walk or afternoon horse ride. Baskets on open shelving also provide an easy to reach place that you can grab the car keys easily on your way out the door but look sufficiently tidy and in keeping with the uncluttered feel of the boot room.

A bench seat is ideal for families whose focus is on outdoor pursuits and offers more than just a handy spot to take off shoes, a bench seat is a sensational dual-purpose piece of cabinetry and is usually a must-have when considering a boot room design. This is due to the fact you can lift up the lid to reveal storage beneath for infrequently used items such as bags and boots.

Artisan shelves with coat pegs are usually designed above bench seating and ensures that everyday coats, jackets and umbrellas are easily accessible when coming in and out of the home. The shelf is also a great spot for bulkier items such as riding hates, cricket helmets etc and are an invaluable element to incorporate into a boot room design.

In terms of ensuring continuity and consistency with the overall project design, we always recommend installing the same cabinetry design and hardware as the main kitchen, however, changing the paint choices to reflect a change in light and space is always an excellent idea; thoughtful consideration of the colour palette is always time well spent in the long run.

The final element to consider is flooring. A key consideration but often overlooked compared to other areas of the house (where it can be easy to follow aesthetics more than function), flooring in a boot room must be hard-wearing and robust. A hard-wearing and robust stone flooring is essential in what is inevitably an area of high traffic and at Humphrey Munson we source the finest stone flooring from quarries all over the world.

The ultimate natural stone flooring, Babington natural limestone by HM Flooring library is a stunning limestone imported from Iran with beautiful natural fissures across the surface giving this flooring a unique finish. This particular floor works so well in a range of rooms from kitchens to bathrooms and boot rooms. Other flooring such as Burford limestone weathered (pictured above) looks equally amazing.

To find out more contact us at info@humphreymunson.co.uk or call us on 01371 821300.