The correct usage of your mudroom turns it into an invaluable room in your home. A mudroom, or small room close to an entrance way, typically off the kitchen, offers families a place to remove their shoes. The room earned its name from being a place where muddy boots and shoes were removed before entering the rest of the home. When designing this room, remember its purpose has not changed. Does this Spark an idea?
Locker Room
Give your mudroom closet a sports theme by using gym-style lockers. Install lockers to suit the number of members in your home, or as many as will fit in the area. Label each locker with an owner or owners' name. Assure the lockers have both shelves and hooks inside to accommodate the different needs of each family member. Paint the metal to suit the family atmosphere. Prime the surface area first. Choose colors to represent favorite sports teams or local high schools. Use alternating or different colors for each locker for a brighter, playful appearance for the closet room. Lay plain, durable-grade tile on the floor and use rubber floor mats for cleaning feet. Use short wooden or metal benches for your family to sit on while removing clothing or shoes. Place several hooks on the inner side of the door to hold any items that do not fit easily in the lockers.
Over and Under
Maximize the small space in your mudroom closet using storage areas on the wall and on the floor. Install flip-top custom benches around the entire bottom of the room. Measure carefully to assure the custom benches are as wide as possible without restricting movement in the room. Use wood benches with vinyl or plastic cushion coverings. Washable fabric cushions are usable. Seat the tallest person in your household on the bench and mark a few inches above his head. Hang matching storage cabinets on the wall from the ceiling to the spot you marked for your tallest member. Paint the wood if desired or leave natural. Use washable rugs or welcome-type mats for the floor.
Pegged
Give your mudroom closet maximum utility by using pegboard. Hang sturdy pegboard on all the walls in the room. Paint your pegboard to suit your family. Use bright and bold colors for an active family, or pale or pastel colors for a calmer or more serious family. Hang large baskets using anchors on the pegboard. Label a basket for each family member. Put the baskets in a vertical or horizontal line, or randomly according to the owner's height. Place large and small hooks all over the pegboard for coats, clothing, wet towels and even dirty socks. Adjust the hooks as needed for different items. Use plain tile in the room for flooring.
Tags: your mudroom, your mudroom closet, custom benches, each family, each family member, each locker
