012709entryway.jpgThe latest Time Out Chicago has taken a cue from past Apartment Therapy posts -- highlighting the need for helping out our homes during winter's onslaught of messy boots:

012709pebbletray.jpgWe wrote about (and you commented on) ideas for keeping boots out of the house here. Time Out has since picked up on the theme from there, saying,

Full disclosure: We found the following clever solution from a reader comment on apartmenttherapy.com. Channel a spa aesthetic by filling a baking sheet with round stones ($2–$6 at Michaels, 1101 S Canal St, 312-435-1843); the water drips between the cracks, so your shoes steer clear of the resulting runoff.

Anyone giving this a-go this winter? What has been your best boot solution so far? We purchased a bug boot jack on eBay after posting about it (and love it!), but still need a place to put our messy boots other than directly on the entryway floor...and a baking tray with rocks sounds inexpensive and near perfect.

Top photo via Time Out Chicago by Nicole Radja

Bottom photo via Martha Stewart