It may be called a mudroom, but that doesn’t mean you want it to be dirty. In fact, you probably want to keep it as clean as possible. This can be a difficult task without enough planning, though, since it’s literally the room people enter first. This means people are more likely to track dirt, gritty sand, pebbles and germs into this room first. So, how do you keep the dirt to a minimum and save your mudroom from living up to its name?
You start by considering who will be in this room and how the room will be used. This allows you to determine how much space you need to allot to each individual who goes in and out of the room daily. It also allows you to plan for its many uses. You can use this information to figure out what kind of storage solutions you’ll need.
Make your mudroom work for everyone in your house. Plan for shoe racks to house footwear for each person. Provide hooks for every coat that will be hung there. Consider other items that might be stored there such as briefcases or backpacks. You’ll want to ensure that there are plenty of storage solutions to go around.
Cabinets, shelves, bins and baskets are all helpful tools that you can use to create this organized space. You can use bins for hats, scarves and gloves. You may also want an area for hanging these items when they get wet from snow or rain. You can also house soccer balls, basketballs, footballs and other sports equipment in this room. You can use some of these storage solutions to put your pet supplies in as well (think leash, food, litter, etc.). Having enough storage is key in organizing this space to meet your needs. But, it’s not the only way to maintain cleanliness in this room.
Make sure that before anyone even walks into your mudroom, they have a mat for wiping the bottoms of their shoes. In fact, make that two mats. They should be drying their shoes or boots outside and again inside to keep the dirt at bay. You can also encourage people to remove their shoes. That’s one of the benefits of the shoe racks when they come in. A rubber boot tray can also be helpful for wet days, allowing your boots to dry off without messing up your floor. And, don’t forget a bench to make it easier for people to remove their shoes. This bench can have a dual purpose as well, serving as additional storage space.
Speaking of your floor, the type of flooring you use is important. You don’t want flooring in a mud room that will be easily damaged by water or easily scratched by grit. You want something that is good for high traffic areas, easy to clean, durable, and able to handle moisture. You may want to consider tile or luxury vinyl flooring, for example. There are many options, allowing you to choose a floor that matches the look and feel you want. However, consider a textured flooring for better grip as you browse what’s available.
There are, of course, other things to consider in your mudroom as well. Do you use this space to do wash? If so, you may want a table for folding your clothes and a drying rack for anything that can’t be thrown in the dryer. A drying rack can also be helpful for wet clothes after a day out in the snow or rain. Another thing you’ll need to keep in mind, if you do laundry in this space, is that you need space to store the supplies. You’ll want a cabinet, or a shelf designated for your laundry detergent, dryer sheets or wool balls, laundry softener, stain remover, clothing steamer, etc. You’ll want somewhere to hang your ironing board and iron.
What else do you use the room for? This is a great space for sharing notes with your family and keeping everyone up with the daily to-do list, since people are coming in and out of this room. You can hang a whiteboard or paint a large chalkboard on the wall to write reminders. You can also put a calendar in the mudroom to remind family members of important dates. This is also a great space for putting the mail. You could take this a step further and have a space for each person’s mail, so you don’t have to go through it later. You can take care of it immediately and it avoids a pile up on the table.
When you’re planning out your organization pieces, don’t forget one very important one, an area to put your broom, dustpan and other cleaning essentials. Because no matter how much you do to prevent mess, you’ll occasionally need to clean up. This way, you’ll be prepared when that happens.