Traditional mud rooms are separate areas in a home designed for holding muddy and wet boots, rain coats, jackets and similar articles of clothing. Nowadays people all over the country, not just those areas where rain and snow are abundant, use mud rooms as storage areas for a variety of items. Your mud room can be in a space as small as a closet, or simply be along the wall of another room. Whatever your budget and space constraints, making a small mud room can be done with just a bit of time and creativity. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Consider who will be using the mud room and what will be in there before trying to design the space. If you plan to use it mainly for coats and boots but have children, you will need to include storage and hooks that are accessible to them, as well as those appropriate for the height of adults in your family. If your family is into outdoor activities and you have a lot of sporting gear, you will need to use storage that can conceal it so that your mudroom doesn't look cluttered, such as a tall stand-alone cabinet or armoire.
2. Locate the mud room where you are most likely to use it. If you tend to come in through your back doorway or garage, it makes sense to put the mud room near that area, whether it's a doorless pantry near your kitchen or in a corner of the laundry room. If you most often come in through your front door, your mud room will need to be located near that entryway.
3. Hang coat hooks or use a coat rack -- mud rooms are commonly used for coat storage, but these hooks can also house backpacks and purses. If you live in an apartment or rental home, don't want to use tools or put holes into your walls, use removable adhesive hooks. Read the package to ensure that the hooks you use can handle the weight of your hats, scarves and jackets.
4. Use appropriate floor coverings if you live in a damp area, or one that receives snowfall. A textured, non-slip mat or rug with a waterproof backing is good for wet rain boots and snow boots. Even a basic doormat can work to keep your mud room clean. Look for a washable mat or rug made of polyester, microfiber or cotton so that it can be tossed into the washing machine -- you don't have to worry about scrubbing to remove dirt and mud stains.
5. Paint the walls to distinguish the room, especially if your mudroom will be a nook in a common area, such as your laundry room, entryway or living room. Use a high-gloss latex paint, which will allow you to easily clean it with soap and water. This is important since the walls of your mudroom will have to be wiped down regularly. You can use a color that is vastly different than the adjoining space, but that is still complementary. For instance, if your mudroom will be in a recessed area of your living room, which has a turquoise, mocha brown and cream color scheme, painting your mud room soft lime will complement the living room while still giving it separate character.
6. Buy complementary shelving and storage if your mud room will be open or part of another area. For example, if the mudroom is right next to your kitchen and dining space, which has a mahogany table and chairs, using mahogany modular storage cubes would tie the look of the two rooms together.
7. Add a place for accessories that you normally bring in, such as keys and mail. Without containers to store these things, you may find that your mud room becomes a cluttered catch-all area.
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