Considering how often we wear shoes, it’s surprising that so many homes don’t have a dedicated space for storing them. Many of us just kick them off and leave them by the door when we get inside. If this sounds like you, consider installing a boot room or ‘bootility’, a practical space for storing outwear, sportswear and of course boots to either your kitchen or another area in your home. Beautifully built to your requirements, the boot room can suit both large and compact spaces, so you can easily find one which is right for you. Here are just a few…

Hallway boot room
It can be difficult to know how to get the best out of corridors, but if your back door leads into a hallway, then this might be the option for you. The shoe storage itself can extend from one end of the corridor to the other, offering plenty of space not only for footwear, but also all your other outdoor essentials.
The drawers in this particular design are topped with solid wood to create a long bench which is perfect for perching when you put your shoes on or off.

Compact boot room
If your kitchen has an unconventional shape or you have space to fill in your kitchen design, consider a compact boot area. This could simply consist of two drawers for storing your favourite shoes with panneling on the wall behind to tie in with the rest of your kitchen design. Consider a shelf high up as well for displaying books or plants for extra storage. A compact bootility such as this can really help turn an awkward space into a standout feature that is both aesthetically pleasing and very practical.

Bootility feature wall
Most of your kitchen cabinets are likely to be against one or two walls in one section of the room so that you can easily move between them. This is great for functionality but can sometimes mean you’re left with a plain wall elsewhere. However, this shouldn’t be viewed as a problem. Instead, think of it as a blank canvas offering the opportunity to add a unique feature to your kitchen design.

That’s exactly what the owners of this property have done. The wall opposite the kitchen furniture uses panels to create several clever storage spaces, with the top providing shelving and the bottom creating the ideal place to keep shoe baskets tucked out of the way.  To top of it off, lighting has been installed to put a spotlight on items stored on the wall and shelf below.

Corner boot room
If you have a room with a corner that looks bare, a boot room could easily transform the space. In this example, the owners added a boot room just beyond their new kitchen using the same wood panels used on the main kitchen door. This creates a cohesive flow from one room to the next. Tucked into the corner, the panels run down the centre of each wall where they connect with wooden benches with shoe storage underneath. The benches have been topped with seat cushions for comfort and added texture, while shelving has been placed at the very top of the panels complete with woven storage baskets.

You can see further kitchen design tips here. Also, make sure you follow us on social media for our latest updates. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Houzz.