The easiest way is to buy the mudroom and desk furniture. A catalog like Ballard designs or Home Decorators will have pieces that match each other.

I'd buy a hall tree or mud room piece, maybe a dresser and a desk and chair.

I'm not sure where to put the furniture...? In my second picture I'm standing in the hall, looking into the room. The door on the right is where guests will enter my home, the door on the left is entrance from the garage.

How would you lay lay out the furniture to make it not look choppy?

THANKS,

I would add a bench (open underneath for boot storage), coat hooks on the wall, and a shelf above the hooks for hats, gloves etc. by the entry door. If you know someone handy, this is simple to make yourself and can make it any size that fits your needs.

I would separate the office from this space. Add a desk near the fireplace & either have the chair along wall with desk facing out towards center of the room with fireplace to left or right (Photo 1) or face it more towards the center of the room facing the fireplace (Photo 2). You don't want your back to the fireplace.

Some back to back cabinets to offer some division between the spaces one for kids coats etc and one for office supplies as for color i would choose a really soft gray/ green