Tame the Winter Mudroom Madness with a Boot Tray

Winter can quickly turn your mudroom or entryway into a free-for-all — hats, gloves, coats, bags, the odd ski bib and, oh yeah, big burly boots that are constantly dripping with snow and slush — which are slowly but inevitably ruining your lovely floors. It’s enough to send you into an existential tailspin, or at least to the pages of a real estate website to research Life Change options in more tropical locales. But before you go to extremes, we have a modest suggestion: Get a boot tray!

There is no better way to tame the mudroom madness than with a sturdy and completely failsafe boot tray. Not only will it keep your winter boots looking organized and even a little civilized, it will prevent water from leaking through and creating a mess of salt stains and warping your beautiful floors. We love them especially when they are paired with a water-draining mat — entryway rugs that can soak up to a gallon of water or more without damaging floors below. 

We’ve rounded up a slew of boot trays and draining rugs to check out. Winter is already beginning to feel a bit more reasonable. 

Not only will this galvanized boot tray catch all your wintry debris, it will look good doing it, too. In summer months, you can use it to hold your houseplants. 

This durable polypropylene boot tray is popular with Amazon reviewers. And it makes a great pet feeding station in the off months. 

We are all about this copper boot tray embossed with pineapples, the symbol of hospitality. 

This extra-large sized boot tray can handle the whole family's needs. Made of durable recycled plastic, it is watertight and lightweight.

Great for small spaces, this boot tray can fit snugly beneath a shoe rack to catch shoe and boot run off.

Are you boho or no-go? This llama boot tray is made of vulcanized rubber and will keep the good vibes going in your space.

We love a good Waterhog rug. This draining rug is made to soak up tons of water. Rubber backing prevents moisture from leaking through. 

The bi-level surface of this draining matt soaks up moisture and dirt, and the rubber border keeps water in the mat and off the floor.

Loking for something to go with the modern decor? This shoe-drying matt from Umbra includes a plastic rack for holding shoes and a foam matt to catch moisture and dirt. 

Don’t forget a good shoe scraper! It will catch some of the dirt and wetness before it has a chance to enter the house. Made of durable coir, this one can be put to good use all year long.