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Many homeowners are yet to tap into all the potential that a mudroom entryway has. There’s a lot you can do to improve the layout and design of this room, and this impacts the organization of your entire home. Find more information about the functionality and design of this area in this article.
What Is the Purpose of a Mudroom?
Many homes have a room or space between the main door entrance and the rest of the house. This area is known as the mudroom, and it is the transition stage between the outdoors and the indoors. The purpose of a mudroom is to give people entering our house from the outside a chance to leave and store items that might create a mess in the home.
In the mudroom, you can leave your muddy boots, bags, shoes, scarves, jackets, and any other outdoor items you may have brought with you. It is a drop zone you can find the mudroom entry wherever the entryways are in your home. This place could be the kitchen or the back door. In some home designs, it is combined with the laundry room to create a space for organization, storage, and other functions. Another name for this area is the utility room, depending on where you are based.
The Perks of Having a Mudroom
If you are wondering if there are any real benefits to having a mudroom in your home, there is good news. A mudroom can add value to your home when it comes time to sell it. Potential buyers are usually very happy to see these design features in a house. Having a mudroom space available is one way to protect and safeguard your property and space from moisture, dirt, and excessive wear and tear. It keeps your home clean and free from outdoor messes.
If you have any new piece of furniture, new wallpaper, or a fresh carpet, the last thing you want is to see all the mud from your kid’s shoes damaging your home interior. Having a mudroom space allows you to be more organized with your belongings because of all the additional storage room it offers. You can easily customize the area for your family’s requirements.
With all these benefits of having a mudroom area in your home, you might want to add a mudroom to your house. In the next section, we talk about the costs and feasibility.
The Cost of Adding a Mudroom to Your Home
A mudroom is a useful but often very small space in your home. If you are planning to do a full mudroom remodel and employ builders and professionals to design and create the space, it might cost you. The national average cost for adding a 35 square-foot mudroom is $6,000 and $12,000 for the entire project of creating a 50 square-foot area. There are various ways to bring down your costs by a few thousand.
A mudroom addition to your house can be an easy undertaking if you are willing to keep it simple and small. You can convert the area near the entry points to a designated mudroom with some DIY materials. You can cut as much as 75% off the costs of the mudroom remodel by using more affordable furniture brands for items such as the mudroom bench and bookcases.
Small Mudroom Ideas: What Should You Include?
When you are thinking about mudrooms, there are some basics items that you are going to find in a mudroom. Even if you only have a small space available, you want to incorporate as many of these items as possible.
Storage Space
Mudrooms typically have a lot of built-in storage space available, and this can be in the form of cubbies, shelves, shoe storage units, lockers, and mudroom cabinets. You can also consider open shelving and wall-mounted extra storage areas to maximize the small space. The greater the mudroom storage options, the better it is going to be for you to keep everything separate and organized.
Seats
Mudrooms usually have some form of seating area. A bench is a simple and important addition. It allows you to take a seat as you remove your food and get yourself ready to enter the rest of the home, be it the living area or hallway.
Mudroom and Laundry Room Combination
If your mudroom doubles up as a laundry room, then you can expect to see all the typical laundry items. These include a washer, a dryer, and laundry baskets.
The Floor
The flooring in this room is very important, and there are several good options. Tile flooring is a great choice because it is beautiful, easy to install and clean, and very water-resistant and durable. Besides a ceramic or porcelain tile floor, you can also consider the more affordable and beautiful vinyl floor option. Another option for your floor is a natural stone, which offers uniqueness, affordability, and durability. A wood floor is another suitable pick, thanks to its classic and sophisticated look.
You should also add a mat or rug to your floor. This item can make the spot look beautiful but can also be a place for you and the kids to wipe your dirty or wet shoes, depending on where you are coming from.
A Place to Hang Items
Every mudroom needs some hooks to hang your coats, jackets, hats, backpacks, scarves, umbrellas, and other forms of outerwear gear. You can also add a coat rack for additional.
Design, Style, and Decor
The size of the room can vary a lot. You can optimize a small mudroom to get more from the space. We have put together a list of great small mudroom ideas for your inspiration. There’s plenty you can do with the decor and design of your mudroom to make it one of the most inviting spots with lots of charm and warmth.
- Use wallpaper in your favorite styles and designs.
- Add a fresh coat of paint in a bold and warm statement color. White is a nice idea as long as you can keep it clean.
- Personalize the storage unit for each person in the family to put their stuff. You can use tags to label cubbies, drawers, and shelves with the person’s name. Doing this is also a part of keeping the layout clear and clutter-free.
- Add a family photo or two or a cherished picture to one of the walls.
- Enlist a designer for more interior design ideas.
Closing Thoughts
Now you know some of the top things you can add and changes you can make to this area near your hallway. It could be a built-in bench, cubbies, benches, hooks, extra shelving, or new cabinetry, for example. We hope all the mudroom ideas and tips can give you some inspiration on how to make this small utility room highly functional as well as welcoming and beautiful.