I don’t have a mud room, so I bought this small, sturdy hall tree (it reminds me of a baker’s rack) to put by my back door in the dining area off my kitchen. That’s where my family enters the house, when they come to visit.  My hope is to keep their shoes, purses, jackets, sunglasses, keys, earbuds, (you name it) in one place and we can avoid hunting for items when they get ready to leave!  The only reason I didn’t give this hall tree 5 stars is because the shelves and bench are not stained, natural wood. they are laminated with woodgrained paper.  I am, however, well pleased with its price and design and it looks great at my back door!