Creating a Mudroom (Mud Room Ideas)

Mudroom or mud room, whatever you call it, I just love them. They welcome you home, collect your dirt, and give you a place to hang coats and leave your keys. Get the details that make a mudroom functional, durable and beautiful.

One of my biggest criteria when purchasing our last two homes has been to have a designated mudroom. Our last home didn’t have much of one, but we created a separate mudroom out of a closet with a little tweaking.

Our current home had somewhat of a mud room, but it was a really awkward space that lacked function. You can create a mudroom by defining a space in your entryway, making it easy to clean and full of storage.

The mudroom is now my favorite room in our home. Have you seen our full before and after? Don’t skip it!

What Is The Purpose Of A Mud Room?

Having a mudroom to transition between indoor and outdoor space can help keep your home clean and free of clutter.

When everything has a place and a purpose, with defined systems for organization, you’ll be amazed at the difference in your home!

Our Mudroom BEFORE

Not long after we moved into this home, Chris took a sledge hammer to the tiny coat closet. The doors kept falling off, and it was far too small to accommodate coats and jackets for our family of five.

It blocked both the walking path and light from entering the room. Check out these before images!

Needless to say, I wasn’t sad to see it go, though at the time we didn’t have any plans for how we would remodel the mudroom. After living in the space for a while, we recognized our needs for the mudroom design and I anxiously began planning!

You can see how we altered the floor plan here, if you don’t judge my drafting skills…

updated layout…

This photo was taken with a REALLY wide angle lens when the house was listed. The book bag is hung on
the closet that we removed. 

What Is The Best Flooring For a Mudroom?

First and foremost, I wanted the mudroom to be safe and easy to clean. We had brick floors installed to catch dirt, keeping it from the rest of our home. 

Our mudroom is a transition from the garage, so we often come in with wet shoes. The brick keeps the girls from slipping and adds a lot of much needed character to our home. It’s timeless, durable and easily vacuums clean.

You can read all the details about our brick flooring here. It’s one of my favorite decisions I’ve ever made during a remodel- I’ve never regretted this choice!

Regardless of the floor you choose, make sure that it is low maintenance and easy to keep clean!

Low Maintenance Mudroom

Another way we made the mudroom durable is that we had tongue and groove cedar walls installed, in lieu of traditional drywall. They wipe clean and make our home feel warm from the moment you enter it.

Mudroom Storage and Seating Ideas

I used pieces of furniture rather than built-in storage so that our mudroom can transition with our family’s needs as the girls get older.

The mudroom bench adds flexible seating for the girls to put their shoes on, which are stored in the baskets below.

I found the three drawer chest at an estate sale just around the corner and store spare keys, sunscreen, hats and accessories in it so that we can grab them quickly when we’re on the go.

Read all about our mudroom storage ideas if you’re looking for more mudroom organization and functionality in this room of your home!

When we remodeled this space, we had an adored family pet. Originally, we kept Dusty’s food and water bowls in our breakfast room.

We had to go out to the garage to get his food, and into the kitchen to get his water. In addition, we would frequently kick them, spilling water on the wood floors.

It just.wasn’t.working. After we renovated this space, Dusty’s food and water bowls were just outside of the powder room and his food was just across from them, making it far more convenient for the girls to lend a helping hand.

It felt a lot less chaotic and even with a spill every now and then, there were no worries about damage.

Mudroom Hooks

Finally, we added hooks to hang coats, jackets, bags and Dusty’s leash. Since the wall is small, we staggered them so we can accommodate more during the cold, winter season.

A few more details…

Shop this room:

Brick Floors | Bench | Baskets | Crystal Door Knobs | Light Fixture | Cedar Walls | Picture | Light Switch Plates  | {hooks are no longer available, but you can find some a similar style here}

If you liked this post, check out more of our home in progress: 

• A New Spa Bath at Home | Luxury Bath for Less
• Breakfast Nook Table Ideas
• Bright and Beautiful Eat In Kitchen with a Small Dining Room Table
• Modern Living Room Ideas

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I’d love to know, what’s your favorite room in your home? What do you love about it?