Create the Perfect Mudroom for Your Home

Mudroom is just another name for a back porch or an entryway. You may already have a room like this in your home, especially if you live in a cold climate. The mudroom is where the kids take off their muddy or wet boots, hang their coats, drop their backpacks or store all their cold-weather gear or summer fun toys. Because of the intense use these rooms get it is important to have the right floors and walls for durability and storage to keep items off the floor.

Mudrooms are usually located in the back of the house off of a kitchen or garage entryway. But just because this room is meant for utility and storage doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style. You can decorate your mudroom to look just as nice as the rest of your house, only take care to use durable materials. Try some or all of the following decorating ideas to make the perfect mudroom for your home.

1.Flooring. When decorating your mudroom you need a floor that is durable, easily cleaned and moisture-proof. A tile or stone floor is easily mopped when dirt and water are tracked in. Be careful to choose a style that is not slippery when wet. Vinyl flooring works well too but make sure the sub floor is sealed and moisture-proof. A concrete floor is also a good choice. You can paint it or just leave it plain. Stained or etched concrete floors can look very attractive too.

2.Rugs. You will want to have rugs in the entryway and as a place to set wet boots and shoes. Rugs that are made for indoor/outdoor use work well so they are easily cleaned and take a lot of abuse. Natural fiber rugs like sisal work well too as do rugs that absorb, like cotton. Make sure the rugs have a non-skid backing to avoid accidents.

3.Walls. The walls will need to be able to stand a lot of abuse so you will want to use a finish that is washable and can withstand moisture. A high gloss acrylic latex paint with mildew guard in it would work nicely. Heavy vinyl wallpaper can also be used since it is washable and usually holds up to moisture in such places as kitchens and bathrooms. If you want to use a type of paneling or bead board you should use a painted style instead of stained. The painted board will withhold washings many more times than the stained variety. The good news with paint or wallpaper is that you can use a variety of colors or designs to make the room inviting and warm. There is no need to go with drab colors that are functional when any color will wash up nicely.

4.Mirror. A mirror on one wall is nice to have since this is the room you are putting on or taking off your coats, hats, etc. A decorative mirror on the wall beside the door is nice or you could put a full-length mirror on the back of the door. These are usually inexpensive and can be mounted with a double-sided utility tape. A mirror can also help to add dimension to a small room.

5.Cabinets, closets or shelving. Storage space is a must for a mudroom. If the room is large enough to add a closet you can use it to store clothing, an extra refrigerator or freezer, your cleaning supplies or vacuum or anything you need extra space for. A three-foot cabinet with a countertop on it would be good so you have a space with baskets on top to catch such things as keys or mittens and space below where you can store other such items. Putting up shelves can also work for storage of any items you find you use the most inside and outside. Whatever you decide to use the storage space for it is a must-have in any mudroom.

6.Hooks or pegs on walls. Sometimes the easiest way to store coats and sweaters is to have pegs or hooks lined along the wall. This keeps items easily at hand while letting the clothing have open air to dry if wet. Running a molding strip along the upper half of the wall and placing hooks in it is a stylish way to do this. You can also buy pegged strips and hang them. If you have young children you will want to place a strip of hooks or pegs at a lower level just for them. Then there will be no excuse not to hang their jacket.

7.Cubbies or cubes for shoes. Many times shoes end up lined along the wall beside the door until you have a pile of them to trip over. A separate cube for each family member or a shelf unit built for separate pairs of shoes is the best way to keep them organized. Another way to get shoes off the floor is to put closet-style shoe racks on the floor to set the shoes on. These are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased at a discount department store.

8.Bench or chairs. More than likely you will need a place to sit and take boots or shoes on and off. A bench is perfect for this. If you have an open style bench you can have baskets under it for extra storage. A chest style bench would work well too because you would have extra storage that is out of sight. If you don't want a bench you could put one or two inexpensive chairs side-by-side. Painted chairs would be best so you can wash them easily if they get dirty.

9.Exhaust fan. If your mudroom gets a lot of use you may want to install a bathroom type exhaust fan that is vented outside. This will help to keep the moisture of wet clothes and shoes from building up in the room. This is especially important during winter when you can't leave the door or window open.

10. Heat and insulation. Make sure the mudroom is well insulated and has a heat vent to keep it warm. Keeping the room at a decent temperature will help to reduce the chance of mold and mildew. If you added the room after your house was built you may want to install an electric baseboard heater. That way you can control the temperature of that one room with its own thermostat. Be careful to install the heater away from where coats will be hanging to ensure fire safety.

A mudroom is a great lead-in to your home saving the rest of the house from dirt and water that could otherwise be dragged in. With the right organization you can have more than just a catchall room, you can have a useful addition to your home.