Is that closet located near where everyone enters the house?

Do you have room in the garage near the entry into the house to set up a mudroom space with hooks, lockers or cubbies for shoes, coats, etc.?

I cant imagine that closet being large enough? we have closet like that and it fits coats and extra shoes. but not drop zone for daily shoes/bags. what about pushing laundry to back of room and having front part be mud room space. it seems like a large space for just laundry out of 1600 sf.

Any place to sit to take off and put on shoes?

I have no idea but backpacks go to bedrooms . I have no clue as to the layout of the space but 1600 sq ft can be very liveable but with great design I see a pantry that is not in the woek zone of a kitchen so bad planning right there,At least name the spaces and really you should have come here long before the build started. That tiny space you mention is not going to do the job. Use thegarage like you planned and everyone takes their stuff to their room our kids had to do that for years in a small house we lived in it worked just fine,

What if you stack the washer and dryer and use the extra space for mudroom? Or, you could fashion some shoe storage on the wall in the laundry room. Lots of pics out there of angled shoe storage that won’t use too much depth. Where I live I would not want shoes and coats in the garage in the winter. They would be freezing to put on!

Maybe rethink laundry room, so you can incorporate some “mud room“ items, as a carefully configured space could be the answer. We had a very small laundry room with 3 kids and in reality, hooks and shoe storage is all that is really needed - a drop zone for everything is highly suggested.

1. Consider what can be stored in garage: pet needs, bulk purchases (laundry), off season items, etc. The type of storage should be considered so you know what to add.

2. Suggest removing the small closet door for easier access and add portable or built in cubbies. (See an alternative for closet at the very bottom.)

3. Use stackable machines, which will improve room’s options and functionality ie: vertical space for better storage.

Once laundry space/needs are defined, consider how the remaining space can be best configured. Use the long wall to its best advantage.

If you are able to incorporate shoe storage in laundry space, use the closed in cupboard for supplies, cleaning items, etc.

Change the swing of the door from the garage so that it opens toward the closet not the hallway. Do not put doors on the closet- use it as an open drop zone with sturdy hooks and a bench. It looks large enough for three people's worth of stuff.