A New England variation on this might be the "mud room." Generally the informal entrance to a house with a large closet(!) and a bench or seating area of some sort. When a bunch of kids come home and shed boots, shoes, jackets and mittens after a day of playing outside the reason for the name is quite apparent. It differs from a sun room or a Florida room (which I have heard occasionally) in that you don't spend time in there, it's where you put on/take off/store your outdoor apparel.