This is what my hubby has been working on these past 2 weekends. We almost have the mudroom the way we've always planned it to be.

He built the benches first and then added the bead board and trim. Each section will get a double coat hook and the dividing boards between will get another hook down lower for things such as backpacks, my purse and the like. I'm hunting for wire baskets that fit to corral the shoes to go under the bench.
 It wraps around 2 sides of the room and this is with only 1 coat of paint on it. There will be 2-3 more coats of paint added and then possibly some coats of poly on the seat. Or I'm considering making cushions for them. I've even found a tutorial online that looks pretty easy. But then I'd have to hunt for just the right fabric. Oh the "hard work" that would entail. LOL
We have 9 foot walls on the 1st floor so we have tons of space above. We are going to add cabinets and/or shelves to the upper area which will equate to loads of storage.
 Hubs is thinking putting cabinets on one side and shelves on the other. I'm not so sure of that plan. I think it would look weird, out of balance. There is 36" of wall there so I am considering an 18" high cabinets with an 18" high open shelves underneath. What do you think?