Mudroom Ideas

Mudrooms can keep your family organized and provide a space to store jackets, backpacks and shoes. Install shelves with cubbies to store your belongings, along with benches for seating and extra storage, to keep your mudroom clutter-free and tidy. Storage for a busy family is key to keeping organized. For a mudroom, consider installing lockers for each member of the family. Inside the locker you can hang up each person's coat, backpack or purse and outdoor gear. In addition to lockers, a place to sit is essential in all mudrooms. Benches provide a lot of space and you can install one easily along a wall. Benches with storage underneath provide another area to store accessories such as shoes and sports equipment. When kids come home from school, they have a space to throw their stuff without cluttering up the rest of the house.

Storage in the bathroom needs to be accessible. Consider hanging a cubbie storage unit on the wall in the bathroom to store bathroom supplies. Use baskets inside the cubbies for a touch of color as well as a way to easily access your items. This keeps the space clutter-free and the floors free of furniture, which makes it easy to clean.

Flooring in a mudroom and bathroom needs to be easy to clean and durable. A neutral color which hides dirt and blends in with the space is ideal. Tile has all of these components and will not break your budget. It is also very easy to maintain--when you have spills, use warm water and soap for a simple clean-up. Install the same color tile throughout the mudroom and bathroom for one seamless design. For a border, consider installing colorful mosaic tiles. Place an entry rug inside the door so you can wipe your shoes and prevent dirt from tracking in.

Paint the mudroom and bathroom a color to match the design in your tile and create a warm and inviting space. Relaxing gold and beige colors are cozy and blend well with neutral colored tiles. This color scheme also hides dirt and grime. To keep your family organized, paint one of the walls in your mudroom using chalkboard paint. Here you can write your grocery lists, maintain a family calendar or keep track of chores. Remember white and light-colored walls accent scuff marks and dirt so be wary when painting a mudroom white.

For the ceiling in your mudroom, consider tin. Tin comes in affordable sheets and can be installed in under a day, making it an easy project and an affordable update for your mudroom. The silver color creates height in your room while providing a creative design element.

For the mudroom benches, purchase colorful and comfortable pillows to soften up the space. Hang artwork and photographs to create an inviting and colorful touch to the mudroom. Black and white photographs grouped together above the lockers can create a personal touch. -Callie

(photo via Pinterest)