Mudrooms can be the first and last room in the house. Catching dirty boots, kids’ coats and book bags, it’s a room where chaos and disorganization seem to be the norm. It is such an important place for busy families, however, that it pays to make it organized and functional.
| Resources |
| BOWA |
| BOWA.com |
| Upton Architecture |
| uptonarchitecture.com |
“Mudrooms often include spaces designed to help organize the way the family lives,” said Sean Ganey, registered architect and project leader at BOWA, a luxury design and construction company with locations in McLean and Middleburg.
In addition to traditional cubby holes and gym lockers, other organizational components, such as drying stations for wet umbrellas, craft tables for children and charging areas for cell phones, can make a mudroom extra-functional.
Some families even add dog showers and places for storing pet equipment and food.
“In general, we see this space becoming the hub for the smooth running of the modern family,” Ganey said.
Even if a house lacks a specified mudroom, Margaret Upton of Upton Architecture said just about any space, large or small, can be transformed to suit a family’s needs. “The best place is where the family enters the house,” Upton said.
Decorating these entry and exit spaces calls for a neutral floor tile and paint color scheme, she added.
“We also see a lot of wainscoting being used,” Ganey said. “It has the added benefit of being a more durable surface to protect walls from the scuffing of kid’s backpacks and the wear and tear of pets.”
A stone-type floor that “captures the modern aesthetic of bringing the outdoors indoors” works well for a mudroom, Ganey said. It also is less likely to show dirt and wear.
To keep mud off the floors, Upton suggested carpet squares. Washable bath mats and zip-off cushion covers for seating areas make for quick washing and cleanups.
“Both of these also make it easy to change decor without a big investment,” Upton said. She recommended nameplates and special hooks to indicate a space for each family member, and possibly handprints or paw prints to decorate each person’s or pet’s space.
Ganey suggested providing children an opportunity to customize their own part of the room.
“Sometimes that means just a different color or decal in their cubbies,” he said. “Getting their little space labeled with their own name is always a hit.”
There are plenty of ways to make the most of a space with limited storage, too.
“There are a lot of tools out there to help economize and tuck storage into every little spare space,” Ganey said. “What used to be seen only in the design of boats and RVs is now being used to help fit a lot of function into a small space in the home.”
