Leaving wet gear in the mudroom keeps the rest of the house clean.
A mudroom is a portal between the outdoors and the living areas of your house. It can be a separate room or a defined area in foyers or entryways. A mudroom is a place to shed coats, footwear, and items like umbrellas, sports equipment, and hats. Traditionally, mudrooms were more common in northern climates, where people wear heavier clothing to protect themselves from the elements, but today have become common in all areas of the country. Does this Spark an idea?
Floor
By its very nature, a mudroom floor is often wet. Choose a material for the floor that is as nonskid as possible as well as easy to maintain. Brick is one possibility; indoor/outdoor carpet is another. If you choose tile, be sure it has a PEI, or Porcelain Enamel Institute, rating of 4 or 5. Tile with this rating stands up to heavy foot traffic. Make sure the tile is non-porous to prevent it from absorbing water when rain, slow and slush get tracked in. Vinyl flooring also stands up well under wet conditions. Be aware that any floor you choose will not be completely skid-proof, and proceed with caution.
Walls
Picture someone bracing himself to remove his boots while wearing a wet or muddy glove or mitten. A person shaking off an umbrella or a wet dog drying himself sends water everywhere. The best bet for mudroom walls is the application of waterproof paint. But that doesn't mean the walls need to be boring. Paint one color half way up, top with a chair rail and continue with another color; or install bead board paneling three quarters of the way up, top with a shelf for storage and continue on with a contrasting color.
Organization
The key to keeping your mudroom from being a chaotic snarl of outerwear, boots and paraphernalia like sports equipment is having enough storage so there is a place for everything. Built-in closets corral dry coats. Cubbies or baskets on shelves above the closets and hanging areas and below built-in benches can house miscellaneous items like mittens, gloves and hats. Heavy-duty hooks, pegs or clothes racks are perfect for hanging wet clothing. Lockers can contain sports equipment, while a small basket on a side table is suitable for keys and mail. To help prevent bottlenecks, be sure to provide a bench or chair for people to sit to remove boots or shoes while others take off and hang their coats.
Extras
Once the basics have been put in place, it's time to have fun and let your creativity run free. Stencil a border around the top of the wall. Hang a series of family pictures on a clothesline above storage cupboards. Paint part of a wall or the door with blackboard paint to act as a family message center. Hang a wreath on the door and switch it out with the seasons. If space permits, install a sink, some shelves above it and a little counter space to act as a potting area close to the garden.
Tags: sports equipment, continue with, items like, remove boots, shelves above
