I’d post a plan sketch of the whole space with the dimensions in order to gain the best responses. Looks narrow so inches matter.

Thank you! edited to add dimensions as well as a few ideas I have.

IMO that space barely has room to turn around in so at best some lockers on the back wall .The locker will be at least 16" deep or useless and thta will leave only 32" to move in no way will that work.

I think your second option would be best if that also removes the shelves in the back. The unit you build with the bench and cubbies would have to be quite shallow but could work.

If there are multiple people dropping off coats, backpacks etc at the same time will they have to squeeze past each other? I would be tempted to do something a bit more temporary first before adding lockers etc - then you can see how the space works

you could add a nice row of heavy duty hooks (in our hall we have some mounted high for coats and some low for backpacks) and then float a few nice baskets below on the floor for shoes, cleats etc — we also have a monogrammed tote bag hung on each of the lower hooks so kids can drop gloves, hats etc in there then they stay together and aren’t all over the place - just a few ideas :)

@la_la Girl We have had upper and lower hooks for a while now with baskets for shoes and it just has become so messy looking. My kids are still young, but we really need a place to store the coats since we dont have another coat closet. We need the storage in the back (2’ deep) to store extra kitchen appliances since we dont have a ton of cabinets in the kitchen.

I’m not sure how this is going to make it less messy than hooks and baskets??? but it’s a closet so thats ok! i’d probably just do hooks and 12” deep shoe shelves to leave the passageway big enough. a bench is nice in theory but makes a longer distance to squeeze by and more likely kids are just going to throw things in.

Well we loved ina house with no way to store coats , back pack etc so we all took our stuff to our bedrooms and IMO that is waht will work best for that space and for sure if you have appliances in there now. Maybe post a plan of the kitchen to see if at least that space can be made more functional.

wow that space is really narrow. Is there any other space in the kitchen for the cubbies? I'm working with my neighbor on her entry plans and she's considering a bench on one side of the room with storage underneath for shoes and arts and crafts style 2/3 height wainscoting on the opposite wall with hooks for coats.

Looks very functional. Your husband did a great job.
Please post when it’s all finished and the coats and boots etc are all in place