6 Ways to Make Your Mudroom Spectacular
If you are tired of children running into the house with muddy shoes and then discarding coats, backpacks and jackets across your kitchen or living room, a mudroom may be ideal for you. This small room is placed just off the entry way for your home, providing a place to take shoes off and a place to store items that come in the home, like jackets, umbrellas, sports balls, backpacks, dog leashes and sleds. However, while a mudroom is designed to be a functional space, it can also be aesthetically-pleasing and add style and charm to your home. Here are a few ways you can make your mudroom spectacular when you are designing your home.
1) Go With Light Colors
When you are designing a mudroom, you have to select a color for the walls, cabinetry or storage options and the flooring. While it may be tempting to select dark colors to hide dirt and dust, dark colors can make the small space seem even smaller and dingier. Selecting a light color can make the room seem brighter and bigger. However, this doesn’t mean you have to go with white, or another light color that shows dirt and dust. Tan and grey are light, neutral colors that also help to hide the appearance of dirt. Keep this in mind as you select colors for your space.
2) Select a Stylish Floor That Has Some Grip
Another factor to keep in mind as you design your mudroom is the flooring. People are going to be walking into your home with wet and muddy shoes on a rainy day. You don’t want to place carpet in this space, as the mud will be hard to get out. You also don’t want to use a slick surface, as someone could easily slip and fall on the surface. When you are selecting a flooring material for your mudroom, consider a tile surface that is textured. Many tiled flooring options, including stone and clay, are sold with a textured finish, rather than a smooth one. This is perfect for use in a mudroom.
3) Pick Storage Options That Make Most Sense for Your Family
When it comes to mudrooms, you have many storage options available to you. As you look at these options, consider what storage needs your family has and what will work best for you. If you hate to look at clutter, cabinets or closets with doors that help hide the clutter may be perfect for your space. However, if you have small children, they may not be able to open these closet doors. As such, cubbies and hooks may be a better system for you. Carefully consider what options will work for your family and then make your choices based on that, rather than appearance.
4) Clean and Durable Materials?
As you select materials for your mudroom, keep in mind that the space is going to get dirty and be subject to a lot of wear and tear. This is the space that everyone will enter your home through. They will walk through there day in and day out and use the storage materials constantly. As such, you don’t want to scrimp on materials that are not durable, as these will show wear and tear faster, and make your mudroom look dated and worn. Also, since the space will get dirty quickly, you want to make sure the materials are easy to clean, as you don’t want to have to spend hours each week cleaning hard to clean materials in the space.
5) Make Sure There is Enough Light
The last factor you need to consider as you design your mudroom is how much light is in the space. Even though the space is small, you still want it to be well-illuminated. This keeps it from looking dark, and allows your family to find whatever it is they need in the space. Keep in mind that people will be coming and going at different times of the day, so don’t rely on only natural light for the space. You will need a lighting fixture in the room to ensure there is enough light in the early morning and light night hours.
6) Stay Organized with a Mudroom
A mudroom can help curb the clutter in your home. It gives everything a place as soon as it comes through the door. And these multifunctional spaces allow you to make space for the items your family uses. You may wish to hang keys, coats or dog leashes in the room. Or you may wish to install a bench and shoe rack so there is a place for people to put on, take off and store shoes. The options are endless and it is all up to you. However, regardless of what you want in the space, there are a few general ways that you can make your mudroom shine. Making sure there is enough light, selecting light colors, picking a non-slip flooring material, and paying attention to the durability of items will help ensure your mudroom is functional and aesthically-pleasing.
Looking for More Mudroom Design Ideas?
Click here to read our other blog, Maximizing the Space in Your Mudroom!