Neither, and no one would ever put shoes in those baskets. Cubbies are very hard to clean, so if you are actually bringing dirt and mud into the mud room, opt for boot trays that slide under a bench, hooks and a straight shelf above. No cubbies.

I would classify this as a much more modern mudroom than the two you proposed.

Efficient Mudroom with Storage and Seating · More Info

Of the two, the top one. But, as others have commented, the baskets are for aesthetic purposes only. The pic that @wdccruise posted is a much more functional and modern space.

Thanks everyone. Decorating is not my strength. I don’t plan to have baskets. I just want to add a bench and something to hang coats/bags in my mudroom. Trying to coordinate with my recently updated kitchen - not sure how I would describe the kitchen. Adding a couple photos.

Kitchen

Fine and quite lovely! Now...........where is a drawing of the actual space you have allotted for the mud entry.

Draw it, add feet and inches, The walls, the garage door, any window, all of it.

Add a picture of the drawing as a JPEG, in a comment box below.

IMO modern is closed clean storage no hooks and coats and hung nelter skelter so the top pic and no baskets. Just remeber what the style is can only be that when the kids understand how to put stuff away The big item is how you live or you will make yourself crazy trying to keep it a way it does not work for your family.

I like a simple dark stained bench that echos your dark island. A non-upholstered bench is most practical for a mudroom. Hang simple hooks that are designed to easily take a coat or bag. (Some hooks look good but are a PITA or things slide off of them by the time you walk away.)

Room and Board, good quality wood, dark charcoal stain.

Room and Board Crew Triple Wall Hooks come in 17 colors. You could blend them to your wall or the the grey of your cabinets.

"Orr" single hook for a more tame look.

This room and board mudroom has a lot going on in it but I think the bench and hooks make sense. Do you want a washable rug? What does the floor look like? What about lighting?

Thanks - flooring will be similar to what is in this photo.

Use your kitchen for your inspiration and consider functionality needs.

You are worried about looks, before the function. Horse in front of a buggy style: )

Post a drawing of the actual space. If it won't function? It will not matter what floor, what materials, what paint.

How many kids, what ages etc. What climate? Is there a dog?

You meet the needs, and THEN you make it pretty to blend with the brand new kitchen.

Here are photos of the current space. It is not big. The wall space where the bench could go is 51” (from wall to light switch) and 13” deep. So it would be a narrow bench. Kids are grown (1 home from college periodically). Yes, we have a dog. The laundry room attached to this space is getting remodeled with a dog bath. We are in NY. Appreciate the opinions!!

That is TWO walls of the four walls? Draw it flat.....all four walls, and where is the laundry ?

It has an opening or door to the laundry?

Life is feet and inches!

This is rough - and not to scale - but here you go!! Thanks

This little nugget is so stink-in cute.. I couldn't resist posting those sweet eyes

Are you renovating this mudroom yourself?

I think doors that can shut away shoes and things would be great. I agree with @Maureen to use your beautiful kitchen as your inspiration.

Rosebud beach side home · More Info

Ada Modern Classic · More Info

Old Irving Park Kitchen Remodel · More Info

We have Contractor doing the work. Just trying to finalize the design for the mudroom.

And yes, our little puppy is cute. Not sure how she snuck her way into the photo.

Sounds like hooks, a bench and shoe storage is all your are looking for. Since you are redoing the laundry room, be sure the entire space is complementary.

Have your contractor ACCURATELY take 1/4 inch graph paper, include the laundry and the powder room and re draw in entirety. Walls have a thickness, and you are redoing a room that attaches to the mud,right?

The WHOLE thing please? and thank you!!!. The contractor isn't your designer, but he is capable of reading a plan, if all the information is present....: )

What is the closet like? Do you just need a spot for daily shoes coats, and not storage?

Yes. Closet is a good space. Just need a space for work bags, daily shoes, etc.

We ask for the whole space, all the walls and windows and ALL affected/planned areas with their dimensions for a reason. So you can get the most from it...to suit your needs.

"Just need a space for work bags, daily shoes, etc." So.......you have a closet in a mud and what do you have for a front hall closet?

Whole pictures via drawing and camera? Shall equal maximum help, and often a better result than you thought possible.

Thanks for the pics and drawing. They are helpful and tells me that you are really only looking for help with a 51" wide landing area used for shoes and bag drop.

Will you be keeping the same floor that is there now? Will the traditional style door be staying there and if so are all the doors in that space the same?

Are you looking for bench and hook recommendations or do you want some kind of custom unit built for the space and a treatment of some sort to the wall behind the bench? Have you selected a wall color?

Sounds like she just needs suggestions for that wall by the door for her family to drop daily items when they come in. I would do a nice sturdy bench with a couple boot trays underneath , maybe a small laundry basket for dirty items that need to be cleaned. Some hooks on the wall for coats. If needed, a long shelf over the hooks where bins / baskets can be placed to hold gloves, hats, dog leashes, other small personal items that one spends valuable time looking for. Note that wet coats will drip down onto whatever is beneath them. You can keep the bench a few feet short of the door so wet coats can get hung there, or leave wet items to drip in the garage, or just toss them into the nearby dryer.