Mud Room Organization Ideas on the Cheap

Mud rooms represent the transition from the great outdoors to the comforts found inside the home. They help keep the living space clean and outdoor gear organized. Use cheap and simple mud room organization tips to make the space attractive and clutter-free.

Hook it

Installing storage cabinets can be an expensive undertaking. It also shaves off valuable space from an already small area. Mud room designs for this spatially challenged part of the home should include hooks; they are perfect for hanging backpacks, umbrellas, jackets and briefcases.

Go up

Capitalize on the frequently unused overhead storage area. For example, install a simple shelf above the mud room hooks. Make sure to leave at least a foot of space between a hook and the bottom of the shelf for easy access. The shelf makes mud room organization of hats, folded scarves, electronics chargers and purses a snap.

Line the Walls

Stacking cubes or plastic organizers are perfect for keeping shoes in pairs. They are also a good choice when it comes to corralling wet shoes. Rather than stacking them one atop the other, go ahead and line up the organizers against the wall. For families with multiple young children, consider mud room designs that allow for color-coordination. A blue hook and cube are assigned to one child; a red or green one to another.

Tall Buckets rule

Do not let good corner space go to waste. A tall skinny bucket makes a perfect umbrella holder. Line the bottom with plastic and absorbent paper towels to prevent any water accumulation, leakage and subsequent floor damage.

Fight clutter

Shallow dishes are great for storing wallets, cell phones and keys. Larger dishes hold incoming mail. Their design makes the accumulation of clutter virtually impossible; as soon as you -- or anyone else living in the home -- places too many items in a shallow dish, they will fall. Sure, it's a bit annoying for the person picking up the items, but it is a great way of automatic clutter prevention.

Keep it clean

Keep a broom and dust pan close by. The same holds true for a roll of paper towels and also some shop towels. A tall, skinny storage closet holds these items with ease. No room for a storage closet? No problem! A beautiful curtain hung like a tapestry allows for copious folds that hide these items easily.

Avoid multitasking

Mud room designs can become their own worst enemies, simply by trying to have the space be a multi-tasker. For example, even though you store the dog's leash in the mud room, do not use the space to also feed and water the animal. Do not try to include laundry room tasks in your mud room organization scheme. Let this area of the home simply be a functional but welcoming first impression; nothing more -- and nothing less.