When it’s rainy, snowy, wet, and windy outside, it can be tough for your home décor to stand up against the onslaught.
During the winter months, seats get scuffed, storage gets muddy, and carpets can be soaked clean through when people come in and out of the house. For many of us, the mudroom is our one line of defense against a messy, muddy home, so it’s important to plan it right! There’s no single right way to plan a perfect mudroom, but there are a few pieces that everyone should have. To help your redesign go right, here’s our list of the most important elements that every good mudroom needs!
Bench Seating
Benches are the quintessential mudroom seating option, and for good reason. They give you (or messy little ones) plenty of room to stretch out while untying muddy laces. They can also fit multiple people at once, so no one has to wait their turn to get clean and tidy. They’re simple, stylish, and offer lots of options for color, material, and size, but be sure to get something that cleans easily, like wood, acrylic, or vinyl. Stop by our store before you start planning your mudroom and check out some of our dapper and durable seating options!
Sectional Shelving
You’ll need sturdy, versatile storage for your mudroom, especially when it comes to keeping shoes organized. Consider putting cubbies and open-faced storage near the floor, right under the bench. That way, muddy shoes can easily be slid right in without tracking even more mud on the floor, and you won’t have to worry about reaching for overhead storage and having mud drip all over your face. Including a variety of shapes and sizes for your shelving can help keep things organized and add a dash of visual interest to the room.
Hanging Storage
You’ll want to include plenty of space for bulky items like backpacks, coats, and umbrellas too, so don’t forget hanging storage space. A free-standing closet is a great option for this, especially if you live in a small home or apartment, as they often have both hanging space and built-in cubbies. If you’re short on space or simply aren’t into the closet look, simple wall hooks will do the trick of organizing all your drippy hats and jackets.
Table Space
This component might be easy to overlook, but table space is a must-have in any mudroom. What if you grabbed the mail just before heading inside? Or picked up some flowers, or fruit, or even a fresh-baked pie from Mrs. Johnson’s house next door? Where are you going to put it while you peel off your dirty boots? Providing plenty of table space is super convenient, and can help prevent unfortunate spills and messes on your way in or out of the house. At our store, we have tables in all shapes and sizes for you to choose from. So, whether Mrs. Johnson went on a baking binge again and you’ve got five different pies to wrangle, or you just need a place to toss your keys while your boots come off, we’ve got you covered.
Baskets and Bins
“But we already have cubbies!” you say, “What do we need baskets for?” Well, with lots of mud comes lots of laundry and lots of items in need of a good wash. Do you want to risk dripping water or shedding dirt all through your house when moving those clothes from the mudroom to the laundry room? If you don’t have a washer and dryer pair right in your mudroom, baskets will be a super convenient way to move your dirty stuff from one place to another without making an even bigger mess. Plus, baskets are a great way to stash those miscellaneous items that don’t quite fit anywhere else.
Organization Tools
Especially if you have a big family, a system for organizing all the discarded clothes and accessories that tend to pile up in a mudroom will be a life saver. Built-in cabinets or cubbies labeled with each family member’s name can be a great way to combat early morning confusion about whose backpack belongs to who. Chalkboard, wood panels, or even custom paint jobs with family members’ names are all stylish ways to make your space unique and organized.
With all these elements in mind, you’ll be well on your way to a stylish and functional mudroom. If you need any help picking out furniture for your perfect mudroom, come on down to our store! We have a great selection of furniture for the mudroom or any room in your house that needs a makeover, and our associates are always happy to help make your redesign dreams come true.