What Is A Mudroom?
We have all heard of mudrooms, and I’m sure we all have a friend that has an amazing mudroom that ties their house together. But what is a mudroom? Well, the simple answer is that a mudroom is sort of like a bridge between the exterior and the interior of our homes. A mudroom offers homeowners with an in-between space in their homes that prevent dirty shoes and other outerwear from making a mess of the rest of the house.
Purpose
The main purpose of a mudroom is to remove or clean shoes upon entering the home. You don’t want to leave a trail of mud, dirt, and other debris through your home, especially if you just installed new flooring. Mudrooms also provide the homeowner with a place to store coats, hats, gloves, and other articles of clothing, as well as things like keys, dog leashes, wallets, and so much more.
Location
The location of the mudroom really depends on the design of the house. You can have one by the front door to greet guests as they enter your home, by the back door or garage to keep the mudroom isolated from the living quarters, or even next to the laundry room, which will make washing those mud soaked clothes a lot easier. It really just depends on how you plan on using your mudroom.
Benefits of a Mudroom
Now that we know the purpose of a mudroom, let’s take a look at just a few of the major benefits of incorporating this type of space into your house.
Low maintenance
With proper organization and cleanliness, mudrooms should be fairly low maintenance. There might be a lot of work in the beginning – getting everything set up and established with your family – but after that, there’s not much to do besides some upkeep from time to time. Everything will be in its proper place, most messes made from mud, dirt, rain, etc. will be contained to one area, and the rest of your house will be clean. That is if people follow the rules.
Cleanliness
In addition to helping keep a house better organized, a mudroom will also keep your house clean of mud, dirt, salt and snow in the winter, and other forms of debris, so you won’t have to sweep or mop the rest of your house as much. Putting your shows on racks and having mats down to catch the mud/water, it will really make a difference in the rest of your house. No more soggy and muddy shoes in the bedroom, no more wet coats on the couch.
Organization
A typical mudroom is going to be nice solely for the fact that it helps promote organization at any of the entry ways of your home. You can make a habit of taking off your coat/hat/boots and placing them in containers and even hang your keys/bags on hooks so you’ll always know where they are. This helps create a routine for you and your family, so you won’t have any last-minute disasters when you’re trying to get the kids off to school in the morning.
Benches, Chairs, & Lockers
You can’t have the perfect mudroom without having somewhere to sit down while you’re removing those stubborn rain and snow boots. Here are some of the best pieces of mudroom furniture.
Benches
This is a must for any mudroom. If the area is situated next to the front door, a bench will make the process of removing boots and shoes that much easier.
Chairs
If you don’t have the space for a bench in your mudroom, perhaps try a chair instead.
Lockers
A nice locker or closet will be ideal for any mudroom as it gives you a place to keep those coats, jackets, scarves, and hats that isn’t out in the open. It will make your mudroom, and house overall, look a lot cleaner.
Hooks & Pegs
If lockers and closets aren’t your thing, or you don’t have the space, you can try out hooks, rods, and pegs instead. Install any of these over your bench or chair and you’ll have a quaint way to hang those coats and keep them from being bunched up and damp for any longer than they should.
Hooks
The good thing about hooks is that they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Only need one hook? There’s something for you. Need three or more hooks? You’ll be able to find something to meet your needs.
Pegs
Much like the hooks mentioned up above, pegs offer you with an easy way to hang your coats, jackets, and other articles of clothing. What’s better is that you can easily make a set of pegs on your own.
Bins, Baskets, & Buckets
What do you do with all of your shoes and boots now that they’re in your mudroom? Don’t worry… here are a few ideas to help keep your space organized.
Bins
If you already have a bench with cubby holes or a locker, then incorporating bins into your mudroom storage plan is a no-brainer. Bins come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges, which makes them quite versatile in any mudroom setup.
Baskets
Buckets are good for any shoes (or toys) that need a dry place to be stored after entering the home. Make sure those shoes are dry though, because you don’t want those boots and shoes starting to mildew in your clean home.
Paint & Tile
All of the furniture and storage containers in the world won’t accomplish as much as a nice paint job and the proper flooring in your mudroom. You’ll want to find a perfect combination of style and function when designing your space.
Paint
You’ll want to find a color of paint that will best suit the look of the rest of your house, especially if the mudroom is connected to the living room. Honestly, the color depends on your tastes, but you will want to find a type of paint that is going to be able to handle mud and water and other types of abuse over the years.
Tile
The choice of tile is probably the most important thing about the look and durability of a mudroom. You’ll want a tile that can handle a great deal of wear and tear that also looks nice. See what color and type looks best with the rest of your house, but remember, it will get dirty so make sure to get something that will hide the dirt and that is also easy to maintain.
Go Out and Prepare Your Mud Room
Now that you know about all of the furniture, storage containers, paint, and flooring, you’re well on your way to having the best mudroom imaginable. Now go out and build a mudroom of your own. Trust me, you’ll be thanking yourself sooner or later.
