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Help! Random room needs a purpose!

8 years ago

So I need major help. I have a room that has no real purpos, it’s a random space in our home. A little background about it : it used to be a screened in porch but the previous owners enclosed it and made it apart of the home but not the right ways. It’s got horrible vinyl siding and right now is just used for storage & for all our kids toys: it’s a hot mess! We will be putting a picture window into this room and it has a brand new open door to the concrete patio to the backyard. It also leads to the garage and into our kitchen. We plan on putting our home up for sale in May so we have to keep that in mind while we take this project on. I would love to hear any suggestions and advice on what we should do with this “room”.


Comments (19)

  • 8 years ago

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  • 8 years ago

    Is this the only access to the back yard, where you might want it to be a little dressier? Or would it make a great mudroom?

    Do you want to actually use it this winter, or will you be working on it to stage for going on the market?

    Heather thanked bpath
  • 8 years ago

    I would love to have a room like that. Go to Pinterest and search on the word mudroom and you will see lots of examples to turn it into an attractive storage area.

    For staging purposes you might also want to show it as a garden room. With windows on two sides, it looks like a great place for plants. Imagine an orchid wall; there are lots of examples on Pinterest.

    Heather thanked graywings123
  • 8 years ago

    I’ve always wanted a mud room. Yes it’s the only access to the backyard from the house, and the only access from the house to the garage. It will be put on the market in the next 4-5 months so I don’t want to make it personalized I want it to be a great point for a future home buyer.

  • 8 years ago

    Also we are considering taking the vinyl down, but still undecided.

  • 8 years ago

    I'd leave it, it won't add any more to the sale by removing it.

    Heather thanked Yayagal
  • 8 years ago

    Mudroom, office, playroom, daybed for a ‘sleeping porch’?

  • 8 years ago


    Ladies Street · More Info

    Heather thanked auntthelma
  • 8 years ago

    I like that too

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    For staging purposes, you want to show how convenient it is and play up the nice access. It's not a space to linger in, though. Of course, everything you have out there now will be gone, except the toys the kids use outside a lot.

    The bookcase where it is, is gee at. Add baskets or pretty boxes/bins and it's great covered storage. (I've picked up old wicker suitcase-style picnic baskets from rummage sales to hold outdoor entertaining stuff on my enclosed back porch.) For staging, maybe top it with an acrylic pitcher and tea glasses on a tray. Is there an outlet there? A smallish lamp on top would be nice.

    A wire bin for yard toys like balls and frisbees on the other side of the backyard door. Then along the wall that faces the front of the house, is that drywalled? Mount a row of hooks on both sides of the window, and a bench below.

    Definitely a cute flat rug or runner. (Maybe not a Bud Light mat lol!)

    Heather thanked bpath
  • 8 years ago

    Thanks for the advice! I’ve been checking out Pinterest today.

    So two walls are drywall, the other two have the vinyl. My husband wanted to get some wooded board from Lowe’s and put it on the walls instead of the vinyl.

    The two windows will be one big picture window once it’s installed so I thought maybe a bench with room for shoe storage under the window and maybe a coat rack near the door.

    I want the room to serve a purpose and love the mud room idea but what else would I put out there?

    I’ve been searching for baskets and other DIY on a budget type things. I don’t want to sink a fortune into a house we are going to be leaving but I want it to add character to the house and make someone fall in love with the space.


    We did try sticky tile and painting the vinyl siding (used to be lime green) but I am unhappy with the results.

  • 8 years ago

    what's wrong with the windows that you are changing them?

    I would do drywall rather than wood to replace the vinyl so the walls match.

    Heather thanked graywings123
  • 8 years ago

    Have you emptied the space? Once it's empty, I think it will be easier for you to "furnish" it. A bench, a coat rack and a pretty doormat might be all you need for it to register as a mudroom to a potential buyer.

    Heather thanked tartanmeup
  • 8 years ago

    I'd ask your realtor when the time comes. They know the market--at least they should know the market--and what sells. The good ones do, anyway.

    Heather thanked hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
  • 8 years ago

    The old window frames aren’t holding up so we got a window to replace them.


    I havent emptied it yet thats what what I have been working on.