Everything You Need to Know About Building a Mudroom

Feb 06, 2020

Mudrooms in the past were common only in farmhouses where family members had to wash up and take off soiled clothes from working in the fields.Even if your home doesn't have a designated mudroom, you can use any space that is near an entrance as a mudroom. It doesn't even need to be a room - it can be a mud area more than a room.Read on to learn all you need to know about building a mudroom in your home.

First, Plan for the Shoes

You might be surprised at the number of shoes your family has. And they take up a ridiculous amount of space. Shoe storage has to be your top priority when you build a mudroom.Think about what you want. Visibly displayed and easy-to-access shoes for everyone in the house? Or you can assemble a shoebox or put together a storage bench to store all the shoes out of the way.Either option is possible. Just keep in mind how many shoes you have. One storage bench isn't going to cut it to fit all the shoes for a family of 6.Another consideration is whether the mudroom will house all the family's shoes or not. You might want to pack away off-season shoes such as swim shoes an snow boots when not in use.But even still, will all the shoes be kept in the mudroom? Even specialty shoes like cleats and ballet slippers? Or will some shoes be housed in bedroom closets or the garage?Once you know approximately how many shoes you need, you can start planning the storage solution. A wall-to-wall cubby rack works great if you want to easily find and put away shoes.

Hanging Hooks

You will need a lot of hanging hooks. If you have 4 people you might assume you need 4 hanging hooks - wrong!Ask anyone with a mudroom and they will tell you that you need at least 2-3 hooks per person in the family. One hook for a backpack, one for a coat or sweater and one for another coat or sweater for days that are colder or warmer than the other coat calls for.Don't forget library bags, purses, scarves, ball caps, dog leashes and so on. You see? Lots of hooks are needed.Mounting a hook doesn't require anything more than knobs and screws to make a functional double row of wall hooks. Just make sure they are the right size for little members of your family to be able to reach on their own.

Consider Individual Lockers

Another great idea for a mudroom is to build or buy individual lockers for each member of the family. Building up a storage unit for each person in the home will help your mudroom stay organized.Belongings (theoretically) will stay in their designated spots. You'll have fewer shouts of "where is my backpack?" as you try to get out the door in the morning.Plus, you get to close the doors and have a mess-free space. Just make sure you properly anchor your furniture.

Final Thoughts on Building a Mudroom

The most important consideration when building a mudroom is that it works for your family.It might look gorgeous on Pinterest, but if it doesn't suit your lifestyle and number of people in your family, it will quickly become a dysfunctional space that isn't worth it.Next, read all about organizing your storage spaces.

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