The Mudroom Reimagined

There’s something quaint about the idea of a mudroom. One thinks of an old New England farm house. A drafty “air lock” of sorts attached to the main house, the mudroom is lined with shoes and boots for winter. Coats and jackets are hung willy nilly on pegs. Heavy rugs or matts cover the floor. But while the name remains the same, like so many other features of the modern home the concept has been updated.

The mudroom is a small space well worth re-examining – like laundry rooms. Replacing the darkened musty entryway with order, space and light. Taking it’s simple utility and transforming it into seasonal storage, dropping in a bench for a brief respite before entering the daily commotion of home.

How to reimagine a mudroom

• Make the most of your mudroom space by adding shelves for storing shoes, boots, coats, jackets and other seasonal clothing
• Depending on the size you can choose to conceal it’s contents behind doors or leave things open for easier access
• Take advantage of horizontal space by storing off-season items up high
• Add custom seating – a sturdy bench with built in storage below
• Use matching cloth insulated baskets to store individual winter items for each member of the family
• Install hooks that every member of the house can reach. Your mudroom is also a good place to keep, and keep track of their backpacks
• Use all weather matts or durable carpet to keep mud and water out of the main house.
• If you mudroom is unheated make sure you have a well insulated door leading into the main house
• If the space is open to the next room, you’ll want a smooth transition from your mudroom into the main house.
• Make sure the area is well lit from above if you con’t have a lot of natural light in your mudroom,

There’s no reason why your mudroom can’t reflect the style and organization of the rest your home.