How to Create a Mudroom

If you are constantly searching for stray shoes, keys, and gloves, consider adding a mudroom to your home. A mudroom is a transitional space between the inside of your house and the outdoors. It provides space to take off shoes, hang up coats, and store keys and handbags. A mudroom that is designed well can help keep your house clean and organized, as well as adding valuable storage space.

The purpose of a mudroom is to encourage you and your guest to leave most of your things in that area, preventing clutter and dirt. What items must be accommodated in your mudroom is a matter of personal preference. If you are an athlete, a mudroom is an excellent place to store regularly used sports equipment. If you are a gardener, this area could be used to clean off before entering the rest of the house. And if you have children, a mudroom is an excellent way to encourage them to hang up their things and put their things in an appropriate location.

Traditional mudrooms are built into homes with a door to the exterior and a door to the interior of the home. These doors prevent heat loss and provide the most formidable barrier against dirt. They might have a washer/dryer, sink, and even a floor drain for easy cleaning. Often they will have enough storage to house anything that might be needed for someone to go outside. Areas of this size are most useful if you spend a lot of time outside or are near the ocean.

The required area for a mudroom will vary as space and your needs dictate. The best location for one is directly inside the most used entrance in your home. If you have an attached garage, it could also be in the corner of the garage closest to the door. Also, if there is utility room near an entrance, consider creating a mudroom to get the most use of the space. Even if space is tight, an unused corner is still worth turning into a mudroom. Even without formal barriers to the rest of the room, you will still reap the benefits of having this area in your home.