How to Create a Mudroom in Your Home or Apartment

I know what you’re thinking: what in the world is a mudroom? Or you may be wondering why in the world you should want a room in your house that is designated for the placement of mud. The truth is that if you have a mudroom in your home, more than likely, you’re not a fan of mud at all. These little areas are simply spaces (typically near the entry of a home) where one can remove dirty/muddy shoes, or place other items that need to be kept near the entrance. Items such as keys, briefcases, and shoes are the usual effects kept in these areas.

Home decorating magazines usually depict mudrooms as these excessively “large” spaces with intricate, yet highly functional storage systems. But in fact, mudrooms need not be “rooms” at all. Actually, it is quite possible to create this kind of space no matter where you live. It’s all a matter of ingenuity.

1. CHOOSE YOUR SPACE–

   What you must do first, is decide where exactly you’re planning on building your mudroom. If in fact, you do have a foyer or spacious hallway near your entrance, you’re in luck. These are actually ideal areas to create mudrooms. You’ll need to keep in mind that items you place here may in fact become wet (or muddy, as the name implies). So you’ll want to make sure you have ample space to exact your storage needs.

   If you have no foyer (that is, the front door opens directly into a room) then choose another spot. If you have a coat closet, you might want to consider creating your mudroom somewhere near this area if it happens to be located near your front door. The object here is to carve out a space in your home that is easily accessible from the front entrance—a place where you can drop frequently used items.

   Note that laundry rooms/ areas make for excellent mudrooms. Since these spaces are usually designated for cleaning things, it makes sense that soiled items might hang out here. To this effect, a laundry nook is ideal for storing other frequently used things.

2. WHAT WILL IT BE USED FOR?–

   You will need to determine what your mudroom will be used for. Soiled shoes represent only one need for the space. But these locales can be used to store umbrellas (an extremely popular inhabitant of mudrooms), keys, and many other things. Perhaps you need a place to store items from work that you don’t want to trek throughout the house. Electronic accessories, keys, and mail are also items found in mudrooms. You will want to think of all the many uses for this territory in order to make sure that your storage needs are fulfilled.

3. BEGIN “BUILDING“ –

   Once you have assessed your square footage, and determined what your mudroom’s true purpose will be, you’re ready to begin. First you may be wondering how to cram all 15 of your most precious items in such a small place. Never fear. With the plethora of storage bin configurations available, your requirements will be covered:

   1. Visit your local Target or wholesale vendor. These types of stores have virtually endless storage versions depending upon your needs. If you have an extremely small space, check out storage options for dormitories. These “bunkers” are usually tailored for the kinds of items you’ll be tucking away for safe keeping.
   2. Use wire storage crates for muddy boots and shoes and place a protective “dirt-catcher” underneath. This way, the mud will not ruin floors, and you can dispose of dried dirt easily. If you really want to get fancy, you can purchase a boot tray, which is designed specifically for catching dirt underneath shoes.
   3. Wall storage units make for great “lockers”. Place some hooks along the interior walls for jackets and sweaters.
   4. Purchase stackable plastic bins for other items like mail, pens, or keys. These also can be purchased just about anywhere, even grocery stores.
   5. Hang a bulletin board made of cork material on the wall. This is especially good for grocery and errand lists, or anything else of importance that you need to refer to consistently.
   6. Consider a trunk, or storage bench. Trunks are great for storing items. Cover it with comfy pillow and/or fabric, and you have a seating area for removing soiled shoes.

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It does not matter whether you have a sprawling mansion, or a studio apartment. The trick in creating a mudroom is really in deciphering what your storage uses are, and figuring out ways to use the space you already have. Many people fail to utilize the space in the corners of rooms. These are also great “mudroom” locales, as many storage devices are specifically designed as corner units. Use your wall space as much as you can. Coats, keys, and other things can be stored on shelves mounted to the wall. As a matter of fact, you may find that your entire mudroom takes up no {floor} square footage at all!