Muddy boots

So, one day I was at a garage sale and I spotted this awesome galvanized tray. The only problem was it wasn't actually for sale. It was being used under their downspout. I offered them some money and since they were moving they sold it to me. We dumped out the water and sludge and I brought it home and cleaned it up. It's nice and deep so I was able to add a lot of gravel. Now, when we get home with wet, snowy, or muddy boots we put them onto this tray and the mess can drip there.  The rocks camouflage the dried mud and the tray catches the melting snow so it can evaporate. It always looks good!  

Unfortunately, I will never find this particular tray again. But, there are still countless trays to be bought in real stores. ;)

These black trays are common enough. This is what it looks like normally. The dried mud is always visible. 

Go to the store and get a boot tray. The deeper the better but even this shallow one will do. 
I did a minor clean-up on our old one. While you are out and about on your boot tray errand, go buy a bag of gravel at a Home Depot type store. Pour in enough that you don't see the bottom but not so much that gravel is going to be knocked out when it's time to retrieve your boots. 

When it's time to freshen them up again the rocks can be dumped out onto the sidewalk and hosed down. Then just scoop them back up, level them out and you're good to go for another season. 
Now, your entry will always look great!