The Elusive Mudroom

A mudroom is a luxury most of us would like, but seldom have space for.

Very few homes have a separate room for a mudroom. Most “rooms” are a strip of wall by the back door or a basement entrance with hooks for coats and a wire rack with a rubber mat underneath for shoes.

While a handy spot for shedding wet or dirty gear as you enter the house, if it is not organized it can look untidy with extra clothing, sports equipment, and shoes finding their way out on the floor.

If you have space for a custom-made wall unit, you will love the final results—especially if you have school-aged children. It is an ideal spot for backpacks, coats, and boots to keep them from mucking up the floor in other rooms.

Here are some ideas for designing your own mudroom.

Separate cubbies for each child helps keep items organized and is a much-favoured style. Depending on their age, paint each cubbie a different colour so children can easily identify where their things go.

Great features include seating, drawers for scarves, hats, and gloves, and space for shoes and boots. Hooks at different heights for items such as hats, coats, backpacks, keys, etc. are a must. This also helps keep things from going astray.

Install durable flooring that can be easily mopped. Electrical outlets for recharging iPads, computers or phones are an added bonus.

Baskets under each bench are a perfect place for children to put their shoes. A plastic-lined woven basket or a rubber mat keeps wet boots off the floor.

Utilize the space above the cubbies with shelves or cupboards for out-of-season equipment
No room or budget for built-ins?

The Cubbie Shelf Wall Coat Rack (below) pairs well with the Cubbie-Storage Bench with Seat. Add baskets or coordinating fabric bins that slide into the cubbies. Add a bulletin board to pin reminders for appointments and notes, etc.