For a boot room, the most useful tall shoe cabinet is one with a mix of storage: adjustable shelves low down for walking boots and wellies, tilting or fixed compartments higher up for everyday shoes, and a finish that copes with damp and mud. Wood veneer and painted finishes suit a traditional boot room, high gloss suits a modern utility space and ventilated doors or open lower sections help wet footwear dry. Size it around your household’s bulkiest boots rather than its smartest shoes.<\/p>\n
Boot rooms put furniture under more pressure than a front hall. Footwear arrives muddy and wet, several people may come in at once and the space often doubles as a utility or laundry area. Our range of tall modern shoe storage cabinets UK<\/a> covers many of the options discussed below, so you can compare them as you plan.<\/p>\n Most boot rooms are small. In many British homes they are a converted lean to, a side return, a back porch or a section of a utility room. Floor space is limited, but wall height usually is not.<\/p>\n A tall cabinet uses that height. A single tall unit can hold far more footwear than a low cabinet of the same width, and it keeps the floor clear for boot trays, dog beds and the washing basket. It also keeps shoes off the floor, where they are more likely to trap damp and be trodden on.<\/p>\n The trade off is that tall cabinets need wall fixing and careful thought about who will reach the top shelves. Children and shorter adults should have their everyday pairs in the lower half.<\/p>\n Tall shoe cabinets vary in height, width and depth. Rather than focusing on a single number, think about how each dimension relates to your space and footwear.<\/p>\n Cabinets described as tall generally reach from around waist height to above head height. Taller units hold more but can feel dominant in a small room with a low ceiling, which is common in single storey extensions and porches. Measure the ceiling height and allow a gap above the cabinet so the room does not feel boxed in. A cabinet that stops at or just below eye level is often easier to live with in a compact boot room.<\/p>\n Narrow tall cabinets fit into alcoves, beside doors and at the end of a run of units. Wider cabinets offer more capacity but need a clear stretch of wall. In a boot room with a back door, radiator and window, wall space is often in short supply, so measure each gap separately.<\/p>\n Depth is where boot rooms differ from hallways. Slim cabinets with tilting compartments are shallow and save space, but they rarely suit chunky walking boots or wellies. Deeper cabinets with flat shelves take bulky footwear standing upright. For many boot rooms, a deeper cabinet is the more practical choice, provided the walkway stays clear.<\/p>\n Before deciding, count the pairs each person keeps in the boot room and note their height. Our range of modern hallway furniture UK sale<\/a> covers cabinets, benches and coat storage that work in boot rooms as well as front halls, which helps when planning the full layout.<\/p>\n The internal layout decides how well a cabinet copes with mixed footwear.<\/p>\n Shoes sit at an angle behind flip down fronts. These cabinets are shallow and tidy, well suited to trainers, school shoes and flats. They struggle with boots and anything wet, because tilting compartments are enclosed and trap moisture.<\/p>\n Flat shelves behind hinged doors offer the most flexibility. Adjustable shelves let you set a tall gap for wellies and walking boots and closer gaps for shoes. Doors keep the room looking tidy, which matters if the boot room is also the family entrance.<\/p>\n Tall open shelves allow maximum airflow and make it easy to see every pair. They suit boot rooms where drying is the priority and tidiness less so. They also work well for sports kit and baskets.<\/p>\n Some tall units combine closed cupboards above with open shelves or a bench below. This layout is especially good in boot rooms: wet boots dry in the open lower section, while clean shoes, hats and gloves stay tidy behind doors above.<\/p>\n Finish affects both the look of the room and how the cabinet copes with damp.<\/p>\n Oak and other wood tones bring warmth and suit country houses, cottages and period homes. They hide scuffs well. The main risk is prolonged contact with water, which can cause marks or swelling. Keep wet boots on a tray until they dry, and wipe spills promptly so water does not sit on the surface or seep into edges.<\/p>\n Painted cabinets in sage, stone, navy or soft white give a classic boot room look. They are easy to wipe clean, although darker colours can show dried mud and lighter ones can show scuffs.<\/p>\n High gloss suits a modern utility or boot room, especially in newer homes. It wipes clean easily and reflects light in a space that often has only a small window. Fingerprints show, so a quick wipe once a week keeps it looking fresh.<\/p>\n Glass fronted cabinets are less common in boot rooms, since muddy footwear is not usually something you want on show. Metal cabinets and shelving are hardwearing and can suit an industrial style, though check that the finish is protected against rust.<\/p>\n Every boot room needs a plan for footwear that comes in wet. Putting soaked boots straight into a closed cabinet is the quickest way to create damp smells and marks.<\/p>\n A boot room is rarely just for boots. Coats, waterproofs, dog leads and umbrellas all need a place.<\/p>\n A freestanding coat stand beside the cabinet is a flexible option if you do not want to drill into walls, or if the boot room is in a rented home. Our coat stands UK<\/a> include designs sturdy enough for heavy winter coats. Hang waterproofs where they can drip onto a mat rather than onto the cabinet.<\/p>\n Umbrellas need a dedicated spot to drain. A stand near the back door keeps them out of the way and protects wooden finishes. Take a look at our modern umbrella stands UK<\/a> for designs that suit a boot room.<\/p>\n Every tall cabinet should be fixed to the wall using the fixings supplied. Tall units can become top heavy when upper shelves are full and doors are open. In a boot room, where children and dogs rush in and out, secure fixing is essential. Check whether your wall is masonry or plasterboard and use appropriate fixings.<\/p>\n A well organised boot room usually follows a simple flow from the door inwards. Mud comes off at the step. Wet boots drain on a tray by the door. Coats hang on a stand or hooks nearby. Once dry, footwear moves into the tall cabinet, with each person’s everyday pairs in their own section. Umbrellas sit in a stand by the door, and a bench gives somewhere to sit while changing.<\/p>\n Capacity is easy to underestimate. Our guide on how many pairs fit in UK shoe cabinets<\/a> will help you check that your chosen cabinet holds what you need. If you are leaning towards a wooden cabinet, our article on wet shoes and wooden cabinet finishes in UK homes<\/a> explains how different finishes respond to moisture.<\/p>\nWhy Go Tall in a Boot Room<\/h3>\n
Sizes Compared<\/h3>\n
Height<\/h3>\n
Width<\/h3>\n
Depth<\/h3>\n
Styles Compared<\/h3>\n
Tilting compartment cabinets<\/h3>\n
Shelved cabinets with doors<\/h3>\n
Open shelving units<\/h3>\n
Combination units<\/h3>\n
Finishes Compared<\/h3>\n
Wood and wood veneer<\/h3>\n
Painted finishes<\/h3>\n
High gloss<\/h3>\n
Glass and metal<\/h3>\n
Dealing With Wet and Muddy Footwear<\/h3>\n
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Coats, Umbrellas and Everything Else<\/h3>\n
Safety and Fixing<\/h3>\n
Planning Your Boot Room Layout<\/h3>\n