Every country house has one, even if it is only a corner by the back door. The boot room is where the outdoors is dealt with before it reaches the rest of the house, and a good one makes everything else calmer.
Start with the floor
A tray or a slate mat for boots, and a washable rug for the dog. Everything else is easier once wet and muddy things have somewhere to go that is not the kitchen floor.
Hooks before cupboards
A row of sturdy hooks at a sensible height beats a wardrobe. Coats, leads, hats and bags should be visible and within reach, which means they actually get hung up. Wooden or iron hooks suit the room best.
Baskets for everything small
Gloves, scarves, torches, dog towels, poo bags. Baskets keep the small things corralled without closing them away. We like a pair of woven rattan baskets for this: one for the dog's things, one for the family's.
Dog essentials, to hand
Hang the lead by the door so it is the first thing you see. A tweed and leather lead such as The Lincoln looks as at home on a hook as it does in the hand.
A seat
A narrow bench or sturdy stool makes taking boots off a dignified affair rather than a one-legged hop. Everything about a boot room should make coming in easy.
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