Corral Your Gear with a Makeshift Mudroom
Turn a nook or entry into an organized drop zone with cubbies, storage bench and a couple of coat hooks
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design is collected, not decorated, and that homes should always be as comfortable and functional as they are chic. In addition to writing for Houzz, I work as the Head Copywriter for Layla Grayce and Zinc Door.
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design... More »
With fall comes gear: jackets, rain boots, hats, book bags, etc., and when they come off, we need a place to put them. Commonly, these items are stored in mudrooms; however, every residence may not have such a space. We city dwellers and owners of small homes need a different solution.
We’ll call it the makeshift mudroom — essentially a spot to store your stuff, as simple as adding a bench to your hallway or creating built-in cubbies beneath your staircase. Wondering how to devise your own makeshift mudroom? Take a look at these shots to get your ideas moving.
We’ll call it the makeshift mudroom — essentially a spot to store your stuff, as simple as adding a bench to your hallway or creating built-in cubbies beneath your staircase. Wondering how to devise your own makeshift mudroom? Take a look at these shots to get your ideas moving.
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Without a mudroom, you likely don’t have the handy built-in storage they usually offer. This can be easily solved with a standalone storage piece like this for your entryway. It has a place for everything: jackets, shoes, school supplies — and because it’s not a built-in, you can take it with you if you move. Perfect for apartment hoppers.
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If your space won’t allow for such a large piece, equip it with a bench and install hooks above for jackets. Shoes can be stored underneath. Don’t want everyone seeing your muddy boots? Put a couple baskets beneath the bench to corral your shoes.
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If you’re okay with something more permanent, take the previous idea a step further with a built-in bench. If you want to hide your your gear, add doors to the open storage spots. Don’t forget hooks for hanging bags and jackets.
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Put your bench or storage as close to the front door to will lessen the chance for muddy tracks throughout your home.
by The Shabby Nest
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Have a small nook space? Transform it into functional mudroom storage with hooks and baskets for shoes and odds and ends.
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Have space under the stairs? Install cubbies and drawers. You'll have storage without interrupting your hallway's footpath.
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Consider the possibilities of your kitchen cabinets. They may already be able to function as makeshift mudroom storage, or you may need to renovate them a bit. Regardless, this is a great option if you don’t have room in the entry and your kitchen has the space.
by knowles ps
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If you are taking advantage of your kitchen to create your makeshift mudroom, remember that the cabinetry can be as sleek and stylish as the kitchen itself. Mudrooms get a bad rap for being less about style and more about storage, but it doesn't need to be that way.
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Even installing a few hooks can do the trick. Better than picking up wayward jackets and scarves off floors and chairs!
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Create a space for your shoes by adding a small shelf beneath your hooks. Your makeshift mudroom storage need not be fancy, it just needs to do the job.
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| Sometimes all you need is a lineup of baskets. Assign each member of your family his or her own basket, and say goodbye to wayward gear for the season! More: Browse photos of mudrooms |
Ideabook updated on Sept. 23, 2011.
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One day I told my husband I was taking out the closet and making it a mud room, and I did it when he was away from home for a month. I pulled off the sliding closet doors, took down the shelf and rod, and used the support backboard from the shelf to hang my coathooks on. Then my daughter and I painted it, replaced a fluorescent bulb that had burned out, put in a shelving unit specifically for shoes, set in a bench with cubbies below it to accommodate larger stuff (laptop cases, boots), and the bench is essential for our preschooler when she needs to have help with her shoes. Finally, I hung up a mirrored key holder with a shelf, to catch the keys, wallets, cell phones, and check the hairdos as necessary.
The only thing I haven't done yet is get an electrician in to punch through an outlet, so we can create a charging station on top of the shoe shelf. There is an outlet on the wall directly behind it, in the library, so it shouldn't be any big deal. If my Dad were here, he could do it himself...but although I know how to replace an outlet, I don't know how to wire one from scratch!
It was a great project, which we finished off with a plastic boot tray (for wet shoes), and a big waterhog-type LLBean hall rug that exactly fits the hallway, from the door all the way up to the door into the laundryroom/downstairs bath. This is the perfect entry point after a day at the beach...sand just doesn't come into the house anymore, between the mud room, rug, and the shower right there.
You never know what will make a good mud room until you try!