Making a mudroom when you’re short on space

From the Resene decorating blog

The transitional space between outdoors and in, a mudroom functions primarily as a dedicated zone to keep everything you need for your comings and goings, like footwear, jackets, rain gear and sports equipment.

Many homes don’t have a dedicated mudroom, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need a place to stash your stuff right after you walk in the door.

Larger homes with bigger families are likely to benefit more from a mudroom, but even smaller homes can take advantage of the organisational and storage benefits that come with this space. If you're an apartment dweller, then your ‘mudroom’ may consist of a patch of tile at your entrance piled up with shoes. But there are plenty of space-saving solutions – including cubbies, lockers, hooks, benches, cabinets, shelves, drawers, baskets – that could bring some much needed order to your entry.

With a little bit of thought and planning, you too can shape a special space dedicated to all those everyday things you can’t live without where they’ll be organised and at-the-ready, even if space is tight.

Storage is king

Storage is one of those things that you can never have too much of. Not only is a mudroom the perfect place to eke out some extra storage space, but it is also a convenient one too. When you’re tight for time and already have one foot out the door, the last thing you’ll want is to have to search for something important.

When planning your mudroom, think about the specific needs you and your family members have, including the types of outdoor activities you regularly partake in. Jackets, footwear, keys, wallets, sunnies, hats, umbrellas, scarves, gloves and mail all need their own dedicated ‘landing pad’ if you want to keep clutter under control. Remember to think about things like bike helmets and locks or dog collars and leashes and the like.

If you’re short a closet in your entryway, low hooks and open shelves on a veranda or patio can also provide a place to stash wet rain jackets, gumboots and umbrellas before your family members even enter the house – which is especially handy if you have kids who might be too lazy to open a closet to hang their coat. But the same can work indoors as well – just be sure to protect your floors with a mat and make space for an umbrella stand to keep drips from getting tracked further inside.

Where style and substance meet

Since mudrooms are generally located at one (or more) of the entrances to a home, aesthetics are just as important as their practical functions.

There are plenty of ways to create a simple and stylish entryway to keep things tidy that takes up next to no floor space. You could make a custom set of hooks using a small pine board painted to coordinate with your walls, door or artwork so that there is always a place to hang coats, scarves and umbrellas. If you’re not able or keen to drill holes, use Velcro or easy-release adhesive hooks to hang it up – or opt for a good ol’ fashioned coat rack painted to suit.

Bring in some woven baskets or wooden crates and paint them to match or contrast so that you’ll have dedicated places to keep smaller bits and bobs like keys and sunnies. If space is really tight, try a small floating shelf with a dish to put wallets and keys in the moment you walk in the door and never be left searching for them again.

Take a seat

If you usually switch up or take off your shoes when you come indoors, be sure to add some form of seating to your mudroom. A bench can offer ways for even more storage, whether it be baskets or drawers underneath or inside a flip-top.

Painted furniture is better than upholstered seating for this purpose, since it can be easily cleaned and wiped dry if it comes into contact with moisture or mud. Opt for Resene Lustacryl for a semi-gloss finish or Resene Enamacryl for a gloss finish for extra protection and wipeability.

Shoe-ins

Depending on the shape and size of your footwear collection, you may need some clever storage solutions to keep everything organised and avoid any tripping hazards caused by footwear spilling out into the path of entry.

Keeping pairs of shoes in their own separate bins or baskets can help you to find the ones you need when you’re in a rush. Or go for drawers and paint the fronts with Resene Blackboard Paint or Resene Write-On-Wall Paint so that you’ll know where things are without even having to open them. To keep mess to a minimum, add some pegs low on the wall and hang wet or muddy gumboots upside down over a tray until they’re dry.

More mudroom ideas:

• If you’re designing a new home from scratch, consider a mudroom/laundry room combo right at your entrance – especially if a member of your family has a muddy job or hobby. Soiled clothing can go straight into the wash to keep dirt away from the rest of your home.

• Bright, patterned Resene wallpaper adds an element of fun, colour and personality to a mudroom. A design that comes in multiple variations can be used to create colour-coded ‘cubbies’ to separate the belongings of different family members.

• If you have a dog with a penchant for puddles, add a built-in rinse-off station to your mudroom to wash your canine down before they enter the main part of the house.

• If you live near the sea, your mudroom may end up serving as more of a ‘sand room’. Plan to store and organise towels, beach bags, hats and water gear, and add a rough mat for brushing the bottoms of your jandals off.

• Don’t forget to add a mirror so you can make sure you’re looking your best before you head out the door.

May 22, 2019

Visit your local Resene ColorShop for more colour ideas and all the expert advice and products you need for a superb finish on all your decorating projects.

Book a colour consult | Ask a Colour Expert | Ask a Paint Expert

Resene's decorating blog

Paint your home beautiful! Discover the latest decorating trends, tips and colour news.