7 Reasons You Should Add a Mudroom to Your Home
October 9, 2024
If you’re remodeling your home, one of the features that should be considered essential is a mudroom. While historically, homes used to have a coat closet by the front door to hold a few items, today’s homes have expanded on this small closet and created the mudroom in its place: a multi-functional, highly useful space. If you’re on the fence about whether or not your home needs a mudroom, read on for reasons this room could be perfect for you, as well as what you can include in it.
#1 A mudroom will keep the rest of the house cleaner
If you and your family get in the habit of entering through the mudroom–using it as a casual, second entrance–you’ll keep most of the dirt and mud from the outside contained in that one space, and off the floors in the rest of the house.
A well-designed mudroom will also keep your home clutter-free. It can corral all the loose items you need every time you leave the house: keys, sunglasses, umbrellas, coats, boots, the dog’s leash, school backpacks, and more.
#2. A mudroom will help you get out the door faster
Mornings can be stressful. Finding everything you and your family members need to head out for the day is hard–and when you’re doing it in a hurry, it’s a recipe for disaster. Your mudroom will streamline your morning routine because you’ll be able to find everything you need, and it’ll all be there for you to grab as you head out the door. No more hunting for missing shoes or your kid’s lunch box. It’s there waiting for you.
Today, prep kitchens are growing in popularity again. They are small, functional kitchens that are connected to the main kitchen. A prep kitchen will usually have a sink and dishwasher, possibly a range or oven, and often another fridge. It will also give you more counter space for cooking and room to store bulk items and appliances.
A prep kitchen is especially useful if you like to entertain. You want to be able to spend time in the main kitchen, maybe have your guests sit at an island and visit with you while you put the final touches on the meal–but you don’t want to be looking at a sink full of dirty dishes or a stove spattered with tomato sauce. If you’ve done the bulk of the cooking in the prep kitchen, the mess is hidden until you’re ready to deal with it, and you get to enjoy your guests and a clean kitchen while you eat.
Many of today’s homes have open floor plans, which feel spacious and are wonderful for encouraging conversation and spending time together. But they’re not great for concealing storage and work zones. Prep kitchens solve this problem.
#3. A mudroom will help you stay organized
A place for everything and everything in its place. A thoughtfully designed mudroom will include space for each family member to store their belongings: a bin or basket for shoes, a tray for muddy boots, a hook for a coat and a bag, and a place to store sports gear. When each member of the family–even the furry ones!–has dedicated storage space, it’s easy for each person to find what they need.
pendant lights that hang from the ceiling, especially over an island or other prep space
lighting over your sink
multi-bulb LED strips or LED tape that mounts on or inside your kitchen cabinets, pantry, or drawers, allowing you to find what you need
under-cabinet lighting that shines directly on the countertops
#4. A mudroom can help you keep up with the laundry
Does that sound too good to be true? Many people decide to put their washer and dryer in their mudroom, combining it with the laundry room. This makes it easy for people who come in muddy or wet to throw their dirty clothes right into the machine. Others opt to keep the laundry room a separate space but build the mudroom near the laundry room, and include a hamper in the mudroom’s design. Keeping dirty clothes off the floor? Yes, please.
Recessed lights mounted inside shallow openings in the ceiling
Flush-mount or semi-flush-mount fixtures that affix directly to the ceiling
Chandeliers or lanterns that hang from the ceiling by a chain
Track lighting
Recessed (also known as can) lights are popular kitchen fixtures. They mount into the ceiling and can be placed wherever you want. They come in diameters of 4, 5, or 6 inches. The best thing about recessed lights is that they don’t take up any visual space, so if you have a pendant light (or three) in your kitchen, the recessed lights won’t steal the show. On the flip side, because they only shine directly down, they can cause shadows that flush- or semi-flush-mount lights won’t.
Recessed lights over your sink can be a great idea, especially if you have a window behind your sink and don’t want to block the view with a pendant light. You still get great, bright light while allowing the window to take center stage.
Flush-mount or semi-flush-mount light fixtures attach directly to the ceiling or have a gap between the light and the ceiling. They come in innumerable shapes, sizes, and styles. The best thing about this type of fixture is that the light shines back up onto the ceiling as well as down into the room. This disperses the light and does away with shadows.
If you don’t have pendant lights over your island or elsewhere in the kitchen, you may want to use a chandelier or lantern for ambient lighting, as it will become the focal point of your room as well. If you do use pendants elsewhere, adding another hanging light may result in too much visual clutter for the space.
While some may think that track lighting is outdated, it’s actually growing in popularity again with contemporary new designs. Track lights can be installed in a variety of layouts and with various numbers of lights, to suit any space. And because the direction of the individual lights can be adjusted, you can really customize track lighting to your specific needs.
#5. A mudroom keeps “stuff” out of sight of guests
The kinds of items that are generally stored in a mudroom are not what you want out on display. Muddy boots, backpacks, maybe a school project that needs to be turned in–a mudroom gives you a place to keep these items accessible but out of the line of sight. That means your house looks neater and less cluttered, and you can keep needed items from being on display.
#6. A mudroom helps you care for your pets
Many times, people use mudrooms as pet care central for their homes. You can build in space for a kennel or crate, or a shelf for food and water dishes. You can even install plumbing and include a dog-washing station with hooks for towels and space for shampoo. Your mudroom can keep all your pet paraphernalia in one place, and provide a warm, safe place for your pet herself to hang out.
#7. You can customize your mudroom however you want
When you add a mudroom on to your house, the sky is really the limit in terms of what this hardworking room can hold. You can design it around your specific family, your hobbies, your needs, and what will make your life easier. And as your needs change, you can find new ways to use your space. Mudrooms can also fit any style, from farmhouse with barn doors and rustic shelving to modern with sleek cabinets and classy light fixtures. You can make your mudroom fun and colorful, sophisticated and minimalist, or whatever else you can dream up.
mudroom ideas
There are so many potential features you can include in your mudroom. Here are some ideas to help get you thinking–we’d also love to talk to you about your needs and desires for this versatile space!
Add a utility sink as a space to wash up after a game or some yard work.
Built lockers along one wall–one for each member of the family. Outfit them with shelves and hooks.
Plan for seating somewhere in the mudroom–a place to sit and remove your shoes or to set your bag while you sort the mail.
Include as many baskets and bins as you can. You’ll be surprised how much you can store in a well-outfitted space.
Don’t forget to consider a dog-washing station!
Have an electrician install outlets for you. A mudroom is a handy place to charge your kid’s tablet before school or your own work laptop.
You may want a small desk for tasks like answering mail, making a grocery list, or signing your kids’ permission slips.
Make sure you have large rugs to trap the mud and dirt that gets tracked in, and prioritize beautiful and durable flooring.
Glam it up with art on the walls and an eye-catching pendant light. Hang a mirror for those last-minute make-up checks.
We love built-ins in every room of the house, and the mudroom is no exception. You can design built-in shelves, benches, cabinets, lockers, and more.
Mudrooms may be the most underrated and useful room in the entire house. Your dream home won’t be complete without one. If you’re planning a home renovation, talk with your contractor about where and how to include this hardworking second entrance to your plans. Many people position them near the kitchen, laundry room, or garage for easy access to those spaces. Your contractor can discuss your options with yo.
And if you’re in the Virginia, DC, or Maryland area, we’d love to help. Contact us today and let’s discuss your dreams and desires for your home. We love making good homes great by designing and building beautiful spaces for families to enjoy for years to come.