A mudroom is a room where people can remove their dirty clothes and shoes, store their gear, and clean their pets. Most commonly, it serves as a secondary entrance. However, to make the mudroom work at its best, there are many functional mudroom ideas to look for.
A functional mudroom gives you numerous privileges. For example, it lets you wipe your feet on a mat or rug before entering the house to avoid dirt, snow, and rain. Besides, it gives you extra storage options.
In this article, we will look into ten of the best ideas that will surely turn your mudroom into something you’ll love and can greatly utilize. We will look into the key elements to have and cover things like flooring, lighting, and storage optimization. By the end of the article, you will find yourself equipped with a clear picture of how your mudroom should be.
Must-Have Elements of a Mudroom
For an existing room to become a mudroom, you might want to add to it or change some things about it. Here is a list of such must-have elements:
- Shoe Racks
- Cabinets or cubbies
- Pet food and storage
- Laundry basket
- A bench or a place to sit
- Rug or floor mat
- Hooks
It is clear that not all of these things can fit in every space. However, if you think outside the box, you can place as many necessary items as you want and make all of them work.
10 Functional Mudroom Ideas That Will Inspire You to Get Organized
Mudrooms are not just places to kick off shoes and boots. Nowadays, they are changing into areas that are very well put together and have a place for everything. As a result, they need to be spotless and organized absolutely fabulously.
Say you have an extra room with a door to the outside, or you are making one to use as a mudroom. Then you must follow the following ideas to get the most out of it:
1. Make a Plan Before You Start
When you make a mudroom, you need to have all the right things in the right place. So, make a list of the things you need to store first, then plan how to do it. Try to get the right amount of hooks, cabinets, and drawers. For easy access to your rain boots, storage should be able to double as a seat when possible.
A mudroom’s main purpose is to keep dirt, germs, and unpleasant things from the outside from entering your home. Hence, you also need to think about where you live and who will use the mudroom. For instance, do you live in a place where it snows? Have you got kids or a cat?
If you are always chasing after wet kids from the pool, put up some lower hooks with clean towels on them. That way, they can dry off before they step off the mat. If you like gardening, you could put a stylish laundry hamper at the front door for dirty clothes.
2. Choose the Right Flooring
If possible, always opt for natural materials for the flooring. When deciding on a material, consider your use, needs, durability of the material, and climate.
Materials like limestone, marble, and slate are top choices for the flooring of mudroom projects. All three of these materials are tough and will not show much wear after you walk on them in mud. They will also clean up quickly.
3. Install a Bench
Within a mudroom, a bench is one of the most important things that you can include. People need a bench to sit on, take their shoes off, or put them back on.
Your guests will thank you for using a bench instead of balancing like a flamingo while trying to put on a boot. It is also a good place to store things underneath that seating arrangement.
That’s why, when it comes to picking the right bench, a storage bench is always the winner. It can also serve as a convenient place to put on shoes and safely hide pool noodles, snowsuits, or other unsightly outdoor gear.
4. Add Color With Wallpaper
Get some wallpaper and make a boring room look great! Putting up floral wallpaper in your mudroom will make it look beautiful and full of color. The kids will love this fun way to greet their family when they come home! Additionally, it makes the mudroom feel like any other room in the house.
5. Use a Wardrobe
If you do not have much room, a freestanding wardrobe can work great as a makeshift mudroom. When the doors are closed, it will hide clutter and provide ample space to hang a lot of coats and jackets.
Being freestanding also lets you make a mudroom almost anywhere (as long as the wardrobe fits). Lastly, you can paint it to match your walls. This will help it blend in with the rest of the room.
6. Get Creative With Storage Options
One basket for sandals and one for sneakers in the mudroom can help you keep your shoes in order. You can store umbrellas and other things like wallets and keys in drawers or a hidden cabinet. If you have enough room, you can also make a secret door that holds shoes.
It is not a good idea to put all of your storage items on the ground. Smaller mudrooms do not have room for this. Replace them with floating shelves that have baskets for new gloves, scarves, and pool towels. You could even put up floating shelves to store dry boots and shoes.
7. Hooks Make It Easy to Grab and Hang Coats and Bags
A closet is the best way to keep a mudroom neat and nice-looking, but not all homes have enough room for one. Don’t be upset if your home is small because hooks can make things simple.
You can put up a nice wall hook rack to hang coats and bags that you can grab on your way out the door. These racks come with four to six hooks. A wooden piece with metal hardware is best.
No matter the size of your home or the place you live; hooks for hanging different tools and items are a good idea and easy to put up in large numbers. You can use as many as will fit on your wall.
8. Add A Pet Grooming Station
Pets can bring in mud, allergens, and other dirt. Putting a grooming station for your pet in the mudroom will help cut down on what your pet brings inside. Also, it saves money on expenses related to grooming at a salon.
9. Invest in Statement Lighting
You can not really call a mudroom functional if it does not have enough lighting, right? Get a lot of light and a lot of styles all at once by installing a statement light fixture.
You can make a statement in your mudroom with any style of chandelier. It can be a perfect combination of form and function.
10. Make Use of Bins and Baskets
Most of the time, we see either drawers or open spaces in mudroom cubbies. You are not alone if you do not know which way to go. Both choices have their good points. Here’s the third choice: bins or baskets that slide into the empty space.
If you want to add texture and break up the walls of cabinets, do not be afraid to use open baskets. You can quickly take them off to make more room, and they look as good as drawers.
Does Adding a Mudroom Add Value?
Absolutely! Your home might be worth more and attract buyers if you add a well-built mudroom. According to experts, it can raise the home’s value by up to 5%. But you should carefully plan your mudroom so that it has enough extra storage, features, and space for a family.
Is a Mudroom a Good Investment?
Yes, for sure! Not only does a mudroom raise the value of your home, but it also helps keep your valuables safe.
For example, let’s assume you are remodeling your kitchen. You should protect the parts of your kitchen that you have remodeled or are planning to remodel. And one of the most important things to do here is to keep those important elements free from outside pollution. For instance, if dust or mud goes into the new kitchen, it can ruin the flooring or paint.
A mudroom allows you to keep messes that might have spread to other parts of your house in one place. This helps you save money in the long run and makes your home look as nice as the day you remodeled it.
How Can Black Dog Homes Help You Build a Mudroom?
We are Black Dog Homes, a Wayzata family business. We build mudrooms for you. As a design-build firm, we handle everything from planning to construction! Our team has architects and contractors who work with compassion and dedication.
Our passion lies in crafting fine homes and unique architecture. Need customization? We can help! We know how to lead each phase of a project. We coordinate with professionals to make sure that everything runs smoothly.
At Black Dog Homes, we stand for quality, craftsmanship, and honesty. Do you want to add a mudroom? Think of us as your go-to builders!
Conclusion
A mudroom is a great addition to any modern day home. The functionality and safety it brings are exceptional. However, it surely requires careful planning. Considerations, like storage options and elements you want to keep there, can make all the difference.
To make the mudroom a success, ideas like a storage bench, wardrobe, and hook installation can be handy. Besides, you shouldn’t ignore the lighting and grooming stations for pets. All these ideas can help you achieve your dream project.
Don’t be afraid of the potential expenses because the return on investment will be solid.