Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Creating a Mudroom--Guest Post



How to Create a Mudroom Even If Your House Doesn’t Have a Designated Space
Kaitlin Krull

If you have a family, you know that children are known for traipsing grass, mud, and all sorts of other substances through the house. While we can promise you that this behavior won’t change anytime soon, we at Home Improvement Leads have a solution. A mudroom is an essential part of any family home and can be easily created even if you don’t have a designated room or space. Here are a few of our top tips for faking a mudroom in whatever way you can.


Adapt your entryway
Your home’s entryway is probably the most logical place for a makeshift mudroom, since it sees the majority of traffic and is the first port of call for messy kids after they arrive home. If you’re particularly DIY savvy, you can create a mudroom out of a tall cabinet with built-in storage for bags, coats, and shoes. Renters or homeowners with less technical skill can achieve the same organized result with a storage bench and wall mounted hooks or a coat rack. Just make sure you equip your entryway with a large mat and plenty of storage baskets to catch dirt and collect your kids’ belongings.



Utilize your porch
Enclosed and secure porches are another go-to for outerwear storage, so if your house is blessed with this bonus space, make the most of the area and adapt it to your mudroom needs. A shallow storage bench or dresser with drawers for shoes or bags works in even the tightest of spaces and will safely contain any mess to the very front of the home. If you choose this option, just make sure to keep your storage as hidden as possible and don’t forget decor since this is the first space any guests will see. 


Make space in your laundry room
Most bespoke mudrooms are actually multifunctional and usually share space with a utility or laundry room. If your utility room is big enough, section off a corner of the room for seating, shoe storage, and space for bags and coats. This option is particularly useful if your home has an accessible back entrance and if your children participate in equipment-heavy sports, since you can easily close the door and pretend the mess doesn’t exist. 


Outdoor-proof your kitchen
While spending time in the backyard is great for kids, it can wreak havoc on kitchens. If your family uses the kitchen as a thoroughfare to the backyard on a regular basis, you might want to invest in a durable indoor/outdoor floor mat and some storage bins to place beside the back door. Larger kitchens will benefit from wall mounted hooks and a wooden bench with storage baskets underneath to corral any wandering shoes or hats.

Use the garage
Homes with connected garages practically scream out for a garage/mudroom combination. Everyone knows that a garage isn’t designed to be the cleanest room in your house, so embrace the dirt and set up your mudroom station here to save yourself both space and stress inside the house. The only thing we insist here is that you must keep your garage well organized and tidy, otherwise you will invariably lose something sooner or later. 


Repurpose a hallway closet
If your entryway is too narrow or short for even a storage bench or dresser, consider converting your hallway closet into an organized mudroom-style space. All the standard storage options apply here (bench, hidden shoe storage) with the added bonus of three walls to hang all your coats and outerwear. If you want this space to be even more accessible, consider removing your closet doors and you will instantly have an entryway nook that wasn’t there before.


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