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For most busy families, a residential mudroom is a catchall for jackets, book bags, purses, shoes, dog leashes and seasonal gear. It’s a space that should be warm and welcoming while also super functional—not cluttered and chaotic. Save money by transforming your mudroom into an organized, functional place without the help of a decorator or contractor. According to MainStreet.com, a good 70 percent of home projects are tackled by family and friends rather than professionals. Solicit help from handy family members and master your messy mudroom with these DIY fixes.
Low-Maintenance Flooring
Mudroom floors have the potential to get dirty, murky and wet. As the landing space when you first enter your home, the flooring must be durable enough to withstand abuse and frequent traffic. Consider redoing floors with materials that can be easily cleaned, swept and mopped. Nonporous surfaces such as tile, stone or sealed concrete can handle heavy traffic and are low-maintenance (source: Advanced Installation and Fabrication). Durable, moisture-resistant flooring is essential for a solid foundation, and natural “dirt-colored” hues are better at hiding dirt and dust. As an option, retailers like Flor.com offer modular carpeting in materials appropriate for heavy entryway traffic.
Photo by colecamp via Flickr
Personalized Hooks and Bins
Hooks and bins allow for handy storage of coats, hats, mittens, scarves and handbags. Consider personalizing a row of hooks—one for each member of the family. Put up framed pictures above the hooks to show which hook belongs to whom or consider decorative hooks, available at stores like Anthropologie.com. Metal or woven bins with easy-to-grab handles can be hidden in floor-level cubbies and are perfect for stashing pet accessories and shoes.
Photo by Unskinny Boppy via Flickr
Appropriate Lighting
If possible, your mudroom should have a combination of natural and artificial lighting. For smaller mudrooms with plenty of window space, natural lighting may be enough to illuminate the space during the day. Consider adding decorative window treatments that will provide privacy and design appeal, such as Roman shades or wood blinds, a large selection of which are available at TheShadeStore.com. As many mudrooms double as laundry rooms, install artificial lighting for night use. Consider a traditional ceiling globe to light up the entire space.
Photo by PoshSurfside.com via Flickr
Washable Seating
To make putting on and taking off shoes a cinch, install a bench or add other forms of multipurpose seating in the space. Choose seating that will be easy to wash and maintain, such as a heavy-duty wooden bench with a sleek, clear-coat finish. Add functionality to built-in seating by building cubbies beneath benches to hold extra gear. Benches can also act as storage areas with hinged seats that open to reveal hidden compartments. To add comfort and style to mudroom seating, consider making your own no-sew bench seat cushions—visit ClosetFactory.com for a DIY bench cushion tutorial.
Photo by Unskinny Boppy via Flickr
Mail and Key Holder Rack
Hunting down misplaced keys is a huge time waster. Having a space to hold keys and other frequently used items can make your days less stressful. Make or buy an organizer rack to install next to your mudroom door. Use divided slots for your cell phone, mail, wallet, sunglasses and gloves. Small hooks can hold keys for easy access. https://deskview.co/blogs/products/floating-desk suggests repurposing an old medicine cabinet or cigar box to corral your keys to ensure you never lose them again.
