Most of us in Boston and the East Coast met the first day of spring with a face full of snow–and boots full of mud. If you’ve lost your patience with piles of jackets and puddles of water, you aren’t alone. You’re just one of many who needs a mudroom.
And not just any mudroom. One that performs as well as it looks. One that tackles dirt, snow, mud, and water in a clean sweep. One that corrals mittens and gloves as well as it does soccer shoes, backpacks, and mom’s sanity. All important things.
In our experience at JM Construction, there are five things to consider when designing your mudroom.
Define what a mudroom is to you.
Traditionally, a mudroom is a small room or foyer where outerwear and footwear can be removed before entering the formal house. Some mudrooms are nothing more than oversized entryways. Others are expansive rooms. Regardless of their size, mudrooms are, by nature, transitional spaces; they equip us for the world beyond and are the first to take our bags when we come back home. Right up there with the kitchen, the mudroom is one of the hardest working rooms in the house.
Functional mudrooms mean open storage.
Every great mudroom introduces organization to chaos with an audible whisper. Hooks, meet jackets and backpacks. Bins, meet boots. Soggy snowpants, meet laundry baskets. By keeping these options open–meaning, not hidden behind cabinet doors and closets–they are far more likely to be used. Keep things separate and slightly out of view with deep cubbies and relish the uninterrupted floor space.
Pretty mudrooms mean doors and drawers.
On the other hand, there is something to be said for keeping some items behind closed doors. Cleaning supplies, extra linens, out-of-season gear, and tools belong out of sight and out of reach. Consider a bank of cabinets on one wall to keep the aesthetic clean or hidden storage in unlikely places, like under a bench.
The best mudroom ideas are personal ones.
Every family, household, and home function differently. If you want your mudroom to work for you, you have to pay attention to the ins and outs of the people who use it. What important things are you always losing? What are you always reaching for? What are you constantly putting away? What do you keep tripping over? Answer these questions, and you’ll find a mudroom solution.
Mudrooms are training grounds.
Organizing your daily routine is the best use of your time and your best mudroom ideas. Teach children to hang up their coats as soon as they come in. Designate a place for snowy boots and wet mittens to dry. Celebrate every time you find something on the first try and every time you get out the door on schedule. If your mudroom gets muddy, celebrate that, too–after all, that just means the rest of your house stays clean.
Building an effective transitional space for your home takes an awareness of your needs as well as an understanding of what your house and floor plan can do. When you are ready to walk through that door, our team at JM Construction can make sure your perfect mudroom is on the other side of it.
Need more inspiration? Read our guide to picking the perfect color scheme for your home here. Or, if you’re thinking about starting your home reno, book a project consult with JM Construction.