What is on the other side of the door? can you take photos of the entire entrance not just the one corner?

I would use all the vertical space you have! Not sure if the "random table" is in the Dining room, but I had great luck with IKEA Pax cabinets in our mudroom. You can outfit them however works best for YOUR needs. They can come with doors depending on how wide your space is. I use the pretty baskets for shoes and then the bins for mittens, hats, etc.

This is one we had (no bench) that actually might work for you to put work bags on top of. I like this locker style to keep the chaos wrangled and it give you extra hooks for more stuff

I think the bench AND reachable storage for littles, plus adult bags might be a tall order. Show us the rest of the space!

(finally got pics to post)

Replace the bench with a single low round stool for the children. They can take turns so only one stool needed. Then remove the mirror and cover that wall with shallow cubbies and hooks in whatever style suits your house. Adults use the upper area, children the lower.

There are door stops that attach to the door hinge which limit how far it can swing open. Hardware stores have them. Some ideas from Ikea.

any chance of reframing the door and putting the hinges on the other side? it would look something like this

If you took out the side lite you gain a few more inches of wall depth.

otherwise, try something shallow like this

Great suggestion Beth!

thanks everyone for the comments - njmomma, your example is exactly what I've had in my head for the space but haven't executed because I'm hoping to also solve for work bags.

Attaching pics that illustrate the whole space, including the small coat closet on the other side of the door. Thinking about it more, I realize maybe my first order question is whether we should consider structural changes to that wall the mirror is on - ie, knocking down all but a column of it or cutting the top part of the wall to make deep cubbies for the work bags. As the pics show, the risk with that approach is the entryway area starts to blend with the living room (the room that the awkward table is in). wondering if there's a way to create an entryway space at the back of the room that solves for our needs while also preserving the living room feel of the living room. hopefully that makes sense.

Should have mentioned - ignore the pack and play and the other stuff behind the couch in the living room - that area is currently a dumping ground for stuff, which is why I'm looking for a more productive use for it.

Not a Pro.

Do you have space in your garage? Can you enter into you home from the garage? I ask, because some people have made large mudrooms in their garage so that they can keep their entry way open and cleared of all shoes and coats.

Some Inspiration:

ORG Garage Cabinets · More Info

Garage/Mudroom · More Info

2 chairs with a small bench in between or something for your children to put their shoes in - behind the couch.

For your existing closet, double hang the coats - children's on the bottom and adults' on the top as high as you can easily reach. Adult and children's bags hanging on the inside of the closet door.

For shoe storage, add a row of these along the wall leading to the kitchen. Hats etc can go in the drawers. Add as many as you need.