Earlier, homes used to allow a direct entry from the garage into a hall, living area, or kitchen. Due to this, space would get easily dirty. And even if those homes had mudrooms, they used to be a tiny area with a few hooks to hang coats. That’s all. Fortunately, modern homes feature more practical designs. And if you have a thoughtfully built structure dedicated to this, you have every reason to feel lucky. But before you celebrate your joy, let’s find out how you can equip it for greater use and utility.
Basic mudroom elements
This space’s primary function is to contain the mess carried from outdoors that can easily travel to other parts of the house. You keep your soiled shoes, overcoats, overalls, and other items in this place so that you can clean and dry them. It means you would need hooks to hang your drenched coats or grab your towel quickly. With coat hooks, you can also envisage incorporating a shoe storage bench. It will allow you to store outdoor gears neatly. Then, shelving can be there above the hooks for storing hats, dog towels, etc.
If you also build a closet in this zone, you can easily store umbrellas, jackets, and other items. You can access them whenever you desire. Having a closet in a mudroom is also great because all your winter and garage stuff can lie there. You don’t have to make a place for them in the hall or bedroom. Additionally, mudrooms usually sit beside or near your kitchen. It means you can use this as an auxiliary closet for napkins, tablecloths, etc.
According to interior designers, installing a laundry sink in a mudroom can be quite advantageous. Cleaning and handwashing jobs will become convenient. If you enjoy spending your time in the garage, you can access it quickly for cleaning engine parts. You don’t have to carry your muddy hiking boots to the kitchen sink to get rid of the dirt. Also, its strategic position can motivate you to indulge in your DIY garage projects hassle-free. With a sink, you can have a countertop, too, though. It can convert this space into a little laundry room.
It can be a wise idea to ponder over if you don’t have a dedicated laundry space in the house. A few shelves or closed storage cabinets can solve all your concerns, along with a utility sink and countertop. Your supplies can go inside the cabinets while you do your folding work on the counter. Besides, this area’s central location will help you have a smooth day even when you have loads of laundry to handle.
However, your utility space doesn’t have to lack in aesthetics. It should allow you to carry out different tasks easily while looking attractive and organized. As such, it tends to be the entry point of the house. Hence, you will want to keep it relaxed so that you can immediately soak in the soothing energy at home as soon as you step inside after a hectic day. You wouldn’t for sure want to encounter heaps of laundry and shoes strewn all over this space upon your arrival. Hence, it makes sense to visualize and organize it a bit carefully.
For a large family
It pays to assign a personal storage space to everyone in a mudroom in a home with many family members. The easiest trick to achieve this is to add cubbies and bins with labels. Since every individual knows where they have to keep their items, they will develop a habit of storing and taking care of them. It also enables everyone to identify their items quickly.
For small space
The space at the entryway can be so premium that you may not even put a dresser there. In that case, you can focus on the area near the main door. Add a narrow shelf and hooks for bags, jackets, and keys. Or, if possible, you can create a bench-like seating arrangement with a deep hollow vertical space beneath. You can push your baskets full of gloves and shoes there. It would be a simple but beautiful addition.
For a mudroom under a staircase
Some homes tend to have flights of steps closer to the entryway. You can imagine the space under that staircase for mudroom storage. Otherwise, that portion will remain unused and go to waste. Given the shape and size available underneath, you can have a closet or add racks and a bench. Make sure you keep the entire look cohesive with shades and materials, matching or complimenting each other.
For a vertical space
You can introduce tall shelves in the entryway or mudroom. Storing out-of-season and occasionally required items higher up can help you reduce clutter in the main area. At the same time, you can decorate this spot with some exciting artworks aligning the look with the rest of the home. It would lend a lovely and attractive vibe to an otherwise practical zone.
For a command center
You can use your mudroom as a command center also. To achieve this, you can put a calendar, a to-do-list, a grocer list, and other planning materials for a quick reminder of different things or errands. Consider decorating this corner with old frames or a corkboard. You can opt for the latter if you wish to add more storage space for notes and documents.
Designing or repurposing a mudroom doesn’t have to be a tiring process. You can select items for it based on size and space. For example, you don’t have to think twice before installing a utility sink in a spacious mudroom. Similarly, if you don’t have much room, you can choose from a range of ideas hinging on benches, cubbies, shelving, and racks. The overall appearance of the mudroom is easy to imagine and implement. That’s why you don’t need to worry about its makeover. You would need to pay more attention only when it is a large space, and you don’t want to waste even an inch there.
