Is there any opportunity to add an insulated porch, in front of your entry door, and create an entry/mudroom in there?

It looks like you have the right idea with the bench, shelving and storage baskets. I think a longer shelf and hook system might work better - such as in the example below:

Mud Room Laundry Room Walk in Pantry · More Info

Because the bench abuts right up to the door way, I'm wondering if the drop zone could be moved to the right of the entry doors?

Can we see a picture of the whole dining room?

What's behind the doors where the plaid jacket is hanging? Is that just a closet?

Where is the door to the house? I thought it was where the plaid jacket is hanging, and there was just some stuff there temporarily. Could the closet door be removed and that whole area be storage?

Maybe a few more picture? The area around the entry door to the house, the full wall where the basement door is, and where the closet is?

Yes, that was my thought...make that closet the drop zone...It's made for it. Don't ADD to this area, take away.

Get to know that hammer and nails girl! You can do this!

Just an idea on how to position things. (Not ideal but trying to make it work.)

Move the low buffet over to be under the back window, next to the china cabinet. Turn the table the other direction. I think this will free up some space near the door and the drop zone.

Ok, so there are two closets side by side. A shallow coat closet on the left. How big the one on the right and does it do behind the one on the left?

I would get the dog food out of the closet. We keep ours in a plastic garbage can in the garage, and keep an ice cream pail of food in the house (we refill it about once a week). If you don't have a garage, you may have room in the basement.

I have shelves at the bottom of my coat closet (just cheap metal shelves) to help contain shoes and boots.

It's too bad you have a bifold door on the closet instead of a regular door - a regular door would provide a spot for over the door organizer for caps and mittens, dog leash, and other smaller items.

I think the door on the right leads to the basement.

Please post a photo of the wall and across from the front door and the hallway.

i feel for you... i have 0 coat closets.

you could build a whole addition, but with a large family you will always have more things at the door than there is room for at the door. your best bet is good hygiene... everyone has to take everything with them to their room except the shoes they just walked into the house wearing. now you just have to deal with 7 pairs of shoes.

Darn. I was hoping to find some space to steal. Would you be willing to put the drop zone in the dining area where you have the green paint. I would like it away from the stairs for safe passage.

With five kids, your life will be in turmoil for a while...I would look for a piece of furniture (sorry the pew just isn't good here, as much as I love it) for that wall...something that's not deep and that won't encroach on the entrance to the basement.

Or something with more hidden storage..

I think you need a locker instead of a pew:

Birch 5, Section Coat Locker With Bench · More Info

Also, consider adding a rubbermaid deck box so that outside toys (and perhaps weights) could live there and not get dropped by the door.

Are you up for moving the dining room around for kicks?

You may have room for the bench/mudroom hooks in the corner where the china cabinet currently is. It would still be close to the door the children use.

Put the china cabinet over closer to the front door, to the right of the window on the same wall where the buffet is located

Have you considered a large armoire? There are many used ones which were built for large tube televisions. Perhaps you could repurpose the interior with additional shelves and hooks. When closed it might harmonize better with the dining room aesthetic.

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Build a wall starting between the closet and the other door that essentially hides the mud room area from the dining room and sort of extends the closet so it becomes a walk in closet.

I think the bench makes more sense there - good job!

I still think you can make use of some shelving/lockers/cubbies where the bench was, to get stuff up off the floor. I find hanging backpacks to be very untidy and cluttered looking, but they have to go somewhere. I was delighted when my kids were old enough to keep their backpacks in their bedrooms, and still remember to take them to school in the morning.

Would the pew work instead of 2 dining chairs on one side?

That is a big bench. I was hoping it would fit on the door wall.

I think the new setup will work much better for you. Now just move the hooks for the backpacks under the window beside the bench. They'll be less visible and you will have a clearer path from the door to the rest of the house.

If you like, you might consider putting upper cabinets on the wall behind the pew. They'd provide a lot of storage for bits and bobs and they'd be pleasantly out of the way.

I think that 5 backpacks will look cluttery no matter where you put them, so cramming them into an unused and space that's harder to see is better than making them the decorative focus of the room. Try them under the window. If it works, great! If you hate it, you can put hooks over the pew.