The mudroom is making a comeback in building trends…and for good reason – they provide a practical solution to the inevitable mess that follows us home.
With “a place for everything, and everything in its place”, a mudroom can be the answer to lost mittens and missing hats and shoes.
A mudroom also means no more last minute tearing the house apart looking for your car keys…if you’ve got a central location where all of the things you’ll need on a daily or near daily basis can be found, your stress level will plummet…and that’s always a good thing!
But what if you don’t have the space in your home for a mudroom? Does this mean you’re doomed to daily scavenger hunts?
No…it just means you’ll need to be a bit more creative to find the right solution for your home.
Think about what you need vs what you want
To start, let’s consider what a mudroom does for a home and its occupants.
Put simply, a mudroom organizes items we need on a regular basis – especially those things we’ll need when we leave our home such as shoes, coats, homework and business papers, electronics, car keys, etc.
It also keeps the mess we bring in from outdoors contained in a central location which helps to keep the rest of the home cleaner.
Although it might be on your wish list, you don’t really have to set aside an entire room to suit your needs…there are ways you can “fake” a mudroom to suit your purposes…and do it for little to no cost as well!
Here are some ideas to get you started creating your own personal mudroom.
Choose the one that’s right for you and your family and start enjoying the benefits of better organization and easier clean-up…fast!:
Common mudroom elements
Think about the features that are common in the mudrooms you’ve seen and replicate them on a scale that fits your space options…and your lifestyle.
Vertical storage
Hooks
Whether you’re short on space or not, hooks are without question one of the most helpful features of a mudroom.
From coats and scarves to purses and backpacks, hooks are easy and inexpensive additions to help keep your things organized.
Tip: Remember to place hooks at various heights to ensure that everyone can easily use them.
Shelves
From modular shelving that takes up an entire wall to floating shelves strategically placed, shelves are a great organization tool that every mudroom should include.
Tip: Use the shelves “as is” or use baskets and bins to help keep things organized.
A “catch-all”
Also known as a “drop zone” or “launch pad”, this simply describes a place where you can drop everything you bring into the house with you; car keys, sunglasses, purse, backpacks, etc.
The beauty of a drop zone is that when you’re ready to leave for work and school in the morning you’ll know exactly where to look for what you need to take with you!
A bench
Benches serve as more than just a place to sit down and remove your shoes. They can be used for storage as well – add a basket or two and they’re another instant drop zone!
Even more helpful; benches with storage built inside the seat (e.g. a piano bench)
TIPS:
- ⬥Use baskets and trays to help keep your things organized and easy to find.
- ⬥If you have the room, an umbrella stand and a coat tree are great organizing solutions.
- ⬥Use or build a large tray and fill it with river rock to catch any dirt and mud from your shoes
- ⬥You can even use a side table and chair as a “drop zone”
- ⬥Assign each family member a hook, shelf and/or a basket(s). Add name tags or initials for a nice touch.
- ⬥Consider your family’s tidiness habits when creating your “fake” mudroom. If you – and your kids – are unlikely to open a drawer and place your shoes in them, opt for open bins and shelves instead of closed drawers.
- ⬥When you put together all of the elements of a mudroom, put it as close as possible to where you and your family enter your home. You want to make it as easy as possible for every family member to remember to use them.
