Design Tips Mudroom
5 Essentials for a Stylish and Functional Mudroom
A mudroom is the second entrance of your house where you can drop off your outdoor items, including backpacks, soiled shoes, jackets, sports equipment, etc. It contains storage spaces where you can keep your things so you don’t bring them further into the house and possibly track in debris. Mudrooms come in all different sizes, sometimes they’re a whole separate room complete with 2 doors, a door from the outside and a door that separates it from the rest of the house, or they share a space with the laundry room, or they flow directly into the kitchen. Big or small, the mudroom has several essentials that make it a functional space. Here are 5 essentials for a stylish and functional mudroom.
Bench
A bench in your mudroom is essential because it gives you a place to sit down when you’re taking off your shoes. It also provides a surface area to put your things down – whether it be grocery bags, backpacks, gym bags, keys, mail, etc. – so you can comfortably take off your shoes and jacket without having to juggle whatever is in your hands.
Shoe Storage
You need a place to store your shoes so they don’t track dirt all over the place and they don’t get in the way of the door as you enter or leave your mudroom. Place a storage bin or baskets underneath the bench to store your shoes – if you have several people in your family, you can designate one storage bin per family member so the shoes don’t get mixed up. You can also purchase a bench that has built-in storage underneath it. Or if you have the space, you can incorporate a multi-tier shoe rack.
Heavy Duty Rug
Every mudroom, big or small, needs an outdoor rug, heavy duty rug, or washable mat that can handle the debris our shoes can collect. You should be able to wipe your muddy shoes on the rug or mat before taking them off and putting them away. Just because it’s a mudroom, it doesn’t have to look like a room full of mud. A heavy duty rug will help keep the mess in a concentrated area.
Personal Storage and Hooks
Besides having storage for your shoes, you’ll also need storage for other personal items like bags, keys, jackets, umbrellas, sports toys, etc. You can include personalized storage baskets for each person in your family – they can be on the floor or build cubbies on the wall. There should also be hooks on the wall, so you can hang your jackets, bags, and keys.
Wall Paint, Wall Decal, or Mirror.
Especially if your mudroom flows into another space, define the mudroom area with a mirror, wall decal, or wall paint. You don’t want things from the mudroom to slowly trickle into the other space next to it. Defining the mudroom walls will help keep the shoes, jackets, bags, etc. in its’ designated storage spaces.
