Our "Drop Zone"

Because we live in a newly built house, we have A LOT of projects to make it our own. We have a 3 car expanded garage, which is quite huge and we have plans for a mini mud room to be built along the back, but for right now - this is what works for us.

This is the view coming in from the garage. We got the floor runner a couple of years ago as a set from a friend. We love the 8x10 and it is in our living room, but I never knew what to do with this. Right now, it keeps all the dirt off the carpet. The basket holds our shoes, and it works fine (not great) as long as I, personally, keep my shoes out of it - it fills up too quickly. I got the whiteboard from Hobby Lobby and had my friend put on the vinyl lettering. The hooks are designated and right now are holding their church bags, soon they'll hold backbacks or jackets, etc. The whiteboard is where I write down our chores for the day. They love to check it in the morning, or sometimes I let them write on it. What a treat. I' d like to put a big clock over it. The laundry room is to the right. At first, I thought I wanted the laundry room upstairs, which would be nice but didn't come with our model. But now, it's great having it off the garage - there is a big utility sink and that is where all the dirt goes before going in the house. There are over the door hooks, and we put our wet swimming towels on it, or wet snowsuits. What else is missing? Maybe a bench to sit on, but I don't think there is enough room. What do you do for a drop zone? I am ALWAYS looking for ways to improve.