Storage System
Tuck muddy shoes and toys out of the way to keep your workstation neat and tidy. Remember to label storage bins to find items
easily.
Think Sinks
Consider installing an easy-to-clean undermount sink so family members can wash up before entering the home. Fabric skirts
can hide unsightly bins used for under-counter storage.
Built-In Bench
Seating plays an important role in a mudroom, prompting guests to sit and remove dirty shoes. Add a cushion to your bench
or chair in a durable, outdoor fabric for easy cleanup.
Opt for Tile Floors
Keep cleanup simple with a tile floor. A mop and bucket of soapy water will easily wash away any dirt your family or pets
drag into this room.
Shower Service
Not all mudrooms have to involve mud. At a beach or lake house, add an outdoor shower for easy, quick rinsing of dirt and
sand. Cubbies and hooks are great for storing beach bags, towels, and flip flops.
Beautiful Back Door
In this cheery yellow mudroom, deep built-in drawers provide easy storage, and a countertop provides the perfect surface for
sorting mail and folding laundry.
Keep In Touch
Don't let your refrigerator door have all the fun -- make the most of a pantry door, and turn it into a family message center.
Wipe Your Feet
Just like a doormat, these cubby holes have carpet swatches inside to help remove dried mud from work shoes.
Cabinet and Chair Combo
Create an instant mudroom in any room of the house by pairing an easy chair and a cabinet for storage. Rain boots don't have
to be placed on a shelf to be out of the way -- just make sure items have their own designated spot.
Shoe Station
Stairways can be great makeshift mudrooms if outfitted with hooks for dirty towels in the summer and coats in the winter.
Add a stool or bench for tying shoes just before running out the door.
Protect Your Plants
Mudrooms transition the outdoor spaces to the inside of your home, but you can also use a mudroom as a garden room to protect
delicate plants from harsh weather.
Pet-Friendly Place
A mudroom is an ideal spot for your pet's food and water station. Just be sure to keep the dishes away from high-traffic areas.
Hidden Mudroom
Conceal your mudroom's storage from backdoor visitors with cubbies designed to look like simple white cabinets. Consider organizing
the space by family member rather than by item.
Laurey W. Glenn; Robbie Caponetto
Makeshift Mudroom
In this coastal home, built-in benches serve as drop spots for beach bags, buckets, and flip flops. With plenty of coat hooks
and a sturdy doormat, any entryway can double as a mudroom.
Van Chaplin; Charles Walton IV
Garden Center
Mudrooms don't have to be filled with muddy shoes and jackets -- this one is all about gardening. A large farm sink offers
a place to water plants, arrange flowers, or wash your hands after a day in the flower bed. Cabinets store vases and gardening
tools.
Color and Whimsy
Don't forget to decorate with the same care you would your living room. Soothing green adds a punch of personality to built-in
storage, and whimsical pictures hung behind the sink help this mudroom feel like a room rather than just a workspace.
Practical Foyer
A unique bamboo coat and umbrella rack makes this foyer the perfect place for guests to hang their belongings.
Multipurpose Master
Mudrooms are multitasking areas, so don't limit your space to cleanup and organization. Squeeze in a home office by adding
a desk to built-in storage units.
Childproof Process
In order to keep your mudroom neat, don't forget to teach your kids the system. If shoes have a certain shelf, show them where
it is. Keep storage for kids' toys and clothes low to the ground so they can contribute, and reward them for being tidy.
Fun and Function
Finally, there's no reason mudrooms can't be playful and represent the style of your overall home. Use fun patterns and paint
colors (or a handmade shell chandelier) to make this a space you want to use.
