I don't like either option, I am sorry to say. The bench looks like it is eating up too much floor space. Have you considered eliminating it? You could always purchase a small bench rather than have one that is built in.

I am not sure what the red arrows are pointing out.

Neither. Area looks crowded by built-in bench, and I would not want the open shelves or cubbies. What size is this area?

You have no dimensions for anything, let alone for the space as a whole. Either way, both seem a bit crammed. Show the ACTUAL space and use dimensions, feet and inches for the walls.

Nobody wants to use hangers......maybe start with that, but first? Dimensions.

C

I totally get why you would not want to lose that space, but either way it is difficult to access. What do you envision storing there?

No, it’s tiny and inefficient. It’s more like a closet. What will you put in all those little shelves? When you walk into a mud room, you are wearing outdoor gear (need lots of hooks) maybe with sports gear, backpacks, a purse, grocery bags? You need places to set stuff down, take off wet or muddy shoes, hang up outerwear and backpacks, and stash gear. What will you and your family specifically ring into that space? A boot tray is the best thing for muddy or wet shoes.

What are your goals for the area? Do you want to include hanging space with a rod, hooks to hang jackets etc., shoe storage, other? If you post an overhead view showing dimensions and surrounding areas, I bet you'll get some good ideas and ways to lay it out.

I need dimensions and the shelving you show in both is really not reachable so will never be used as you think it will. Post the to scale plan here with some info as to what tyou have to have in the space . Post in jpeg in a comment DO nOT start another post .

Both are too busy for a small space. Keep it simple. In the pictures below the spaces are larger than what you have, but they're examples of what I mean. Or just make it into a closet and close off the space with doors. I seems like you're trying to accomplish too much in a small space.

Arthur Avenue · More Info

Coats and Cubbies · More Info

Craftsman Allure · More Info

How would you even access those upper shelves? Standing on the bench?

How would you open the closet door in A?

Sorry but neither work.

@blueskysunnyday Option A gives us an intentional space for storing umbrellas, walking sticks and snow shoes. Option B gives us more room to store hiking boots.

You haven't given the dimensions of this space or the surrounding area. YOU CAN DO BETTER and probably for less money. But nobody can help without more input from you.

I would probably just do a built in corner bench with cubbies below, then hooks -nice to have a low and high hook for each spot (lower for backpacks and higher for coats) - then with some high upper cubbies for spots to store off season/infrequently used gear - like the images that @kandrewspa show -

FWIW my boys never were great about opening/closing drawers etc when they were in a hurry, I hung tote bags on each of their hooks and managed to get them to drop their smaller items in there (gloves, hats etc) and that helped quite a bit

It's your home........and it's the internet. You ask? You get: )

Of the two, I would do A. Umbrellas and walking sticks would be relatively easy to grab from there.

Both are fine.

Those cubbies under the bench are awful to clean out. Put dirty hiking boots in there and you will be on your hands and knees reaching into them to clean them out. I know because I have them. And even though I don’t put shoes in them any more, they still get dusty and need to be wiped out periodically. You cannot store boots or umbrellas or walking sticks on the narrow shelves. Again, dust collectors that will need to be wiped clean periodically. All open shelves have to be dusted. Umbrellas and walking sticks can be stored in an umbrella stand or bin. You do need to build anything for them.

I don't believe you can actually get walking sticks (etc.) into the space shown in A -- the angling and clearance from the shelves is not sufficient, and at best you'd end up with the handles poking you in the head when you sit on the bench. If you put a flip-up lid there, you could put some stuff down in -- maybe off-season equipment, or something else you don't need often. The horizontal access from B is not worth the change in the surrounding closet, I don't think, but that depends a bit on how you'd use the whole thing.

Option A if you actually have hiking sticks and such to store there. or just close it off because it’s just gonna get dirty!

@acm @lharpie Many thanks for the practical feedback! The juice (extra storage) isn't worth the squeeze (keeping that sucker clean). Per your recommendations, I went with Option A! Thanks!

How would you even access those upper shelves? Standing on the bench?

How would you open the closet door in A?

How many people need to use this space at once? It looks to me like it is a one person at a time space right now.

"I went with Option A! Thanks!"

Let us know how that works.