I think I follow your logic but in the end is that the FIRST impression you want for visitors/delivery persons? Best case scenario would be halving that space, behind a door so anyone at the door would not see your closet, IMHO. There is a reason the traditional mud room was at the back door where only family entered.

Congrats on your new home! I think it is a great idea that you have, the den can be used for whatever purpose you desire. The nice part is the room already has a closet so it can be classified as a bedroom if you were to sell down the road. Just seems for those in the household who know when they'll be tracking in snow, dirt, grass, etc from doing yardwork etc. would make sense to use the garage entrance during those instances, and you may have space in there for a proper drop zone also..

The simple answer is live in it for a bit before making any changes. You’ll be abl e to decide what works, what is workable with minor adjustments, and what needs a complete change.

I think it sounds like a great idea - unconventional, but design it for how you live, not how others think you should live. Personally, I'd make it a walk in mud room/laundry room if that's possible, since muddy things and washing machines often go together. It's a room with a door, not an alcove, so it's not as if it will be exposed to the world.

(I like seeing hooks of coats and piles of shoes when I come in to a house - it's a reminder to me that it's a house of people I'm visiting, not a hotel room of transient visitors or a photography set where nobody lives. )

I can't tell you how much I hate coat hooks in any entry when there is actual space for a closet. IMO the main entry of a home tells the guests what kind of home you have so think about that. IMO a mud room at the fornt of the house replacing a den is not working for me. I live in my home but that does not mean all my shoes , coats , back packs etc need to all over the place in the entry. I think use the garage entry for a mud room and just build a nice closet in the entry .

"IMO the main entry of a home tells the guests what kind of home you have so think about that."

Of course i think about it........you've made my point.

Thank you for the replies! I think I'll update or post again when I take possession of the house and I can take some pictures of the front entrance.

Not one thing lives in isolation. Post the first floor plan in entirety.

Suggestions, are only as good as info provided.

Nothing is uglier than a pile of shoes; there are plenty of ways to make an entry warm, welcoming, and functional. For ALL. Apologies to TV......they needn't include clutter. : )

I have no problems with a coat rack or hooks in an entry for guests. It’s easy and there are many many different options.

We had the same layout in our old home and had a discreet coat rack hook system where the hooks folded flat when not in use. All our coats and shoes were at the back in the mud room. Hooks for guests alone easy and done

Even if you don't use a car, you can use the garage door as an entryway if that area has a more hidden mudroom type of space, and it especially makes sense in areas with a bad climate. You'll have lots of room in there without a car also. It's easy to install a keypad next to the garage door for easy entrance and exit. I wouldn't mess up a good floor plan to put a giant mudroom at the front door and take up valuable living space.

Art niche - remove tiny bit, adding tiny bit of den's diagonal part. Add typical door facing entry maybe, and not an unusual thing - to frame a new box...?