Choosing Mudroom Storage

Mudroom storage is a necessity in most homes. Shoes, coats, backpacks and purses can quickly become overwhelming. You can choose among lockers made for mudrooms, shelves and benches that take the clutter and turn it into an organized room that allows everyone to find their items quickly and easily.

Mudroom Lockers

Mudroom lockers made from wood are one of the most popular types of mudroom storage available. These lockers are far from traditional school lockers. Instead of metal, warm wooden bases with cubbies for shoes and ice skates line the bottom of the lockers. The lockers themselves are open so you can see where everything is inside. Each small section can be given to individual family members or you can opt to store one kind of item in each space. The lockers can be built right into the wall if you want to hire a carpenter, or you can choose a pre-made set of lockers for your family.

One aspect of using lockers as your main mudroom storage is that you can have as many as you like. Larger mudrooms can have more storage space but even the smallest entryway can utilize a locker system for storage since the unit uses wall space rather than floor space. Your locker system can also be painted whenever you like. If you want a stylish mudroom this is one option that you will love having in your home. There are dozens of options available including lockers with doors made from deep wooden colors and natural wood lockers that can be finished any way you like.

Click Here To See Mudroom Lockers

Bench Storage

Everyone needs mudroom storage that is multifunctional since the space in the mudroom is typically very limited. A bench with storage underneath is a great option that gives you a place to shed your outdoor shoes and clothing while providing plenty of space for small items. If you have a large family then you may want to opt for a bench that has storage cubbies that reach the floor. The cubbies can hold scarves, mittens and hats for cold weather or you can use them as personal organization for small items that don’t have a home.

Everyone in your home may want their own personal mudroom storage space. The baskets under the bench can be labeled for quick pickup of items as needed in the morning. Cell phones, extra sets of keys and purses will easily fit into the baskets. Lockers can be used for larger items such as backpacks and winter coats while shoes can fit into the cubbies under the lockers in your mudroom. With these three organization tools you can have most of the clutter out of the floor and out of your way.

Click Here To See Mudroom Shelving

Shelving

If you need additional mudroom storage, don’t overlook your available wall space. Wall space can easily be utilized for coat hooks and shelving. Coat hooks made from wood and attached to the wall individually are usually best for heavy winter coats. If you have a traditional coat hook set with all the hooks closely spaced together then you may find there isn’t enough space on the small rack for all the thick coats your family uses during the colder months of the year. Look for wooden hooks and space the about ten inches apart on the wall. If you have kids then you may also want to put their coat hooks below the adults to utilize even more space.

Shelving can also be attached to the wall. Make sure you aren’t missing out on using overhead space for seasonal items that are only used a few times a year but that are stored in the mudroom. Mudroom storage can be very untraditional, as well. Hanging racks for sports gear and ice skates put these items up and out of the way for the next time they are used and shelving made from wood will last for many years to come. If you are using plastic shelving take the time to put plastic liner on the shelves so that small items don’t slip through the holes in the shelving.

Click Here To See Shoe Racks

Shoe Racks

If you don’t have mudroom storage for shoes then you are missing out on one of the most used and most convenient storage units that are available. A shoe rack can be used in addition to shoe cubbies if you find that you simply don’t have enough space or you can use a shoe rack alone if you don’t have storage space for shoes installed. An average family of four usually has at least eight pairs of shoes, but most families have many more than this number. You can easily have all of your shoes organized and easy to find when you have a shoe rack in your mudroom.

A coat rack is also a useful tool for light jackets and scarves. While this mudroom storage may not be ideal for heavy winter coats it can be very useful when organizing smaller items of clothing. Kids especially will like having a coat rack that is at their height so that they can easily grab their fall jackets on their own. All of these storage items are a good idea when you have a family that needs extra organizational tools to keep their items on hand. Morning rush can quickly become more peaceful when you have a place for everything you need.

Tubs

Last but definitely not least you can consider using plastic or wicker baskets or tubs for mudroom storage. Tubs and baskets can hold seasonal clothing, sports balls and other items when they aren’t being used. You may find that more items are thrown into the mudroom that your current storage can handle, even when you add additional shelving and coat hooks.

When you don’t have enough space for everything tubs and baskets are a simple solution to mudroom storage that can be used around the year. You can also give each family member a cloth or wicker basket for their items so that everything is simple to find.

{ 0 comments }

From Muddy to Marvelous: Easy Design Tips for Mudroom Furniture

There is extremely fashionable mudroom furniture available in various stains and styles, which can help to create a lovely and functional entryway or mudroom for your home.  From traditional oak and cherry, to colorfully painted pine, there is a solution out there for every personality.

We have all been there; you come home from work just exhausted, walk into the mudroom and pretty much dump everything into a pile.  Your leave your jacket, shoes, briefcase, all of it, littered across the mudroom floor, or the nearest appliance. Just because you call it a mudroom, doesn’t mean that it has to be messy, muddy or full of clutter, with a few design tips you can have a good looking, and extremely well organized mudroom in a matter of days.   Remember, your mudroom is often the first room your guests will see and can set the tone for how the rest of the house looks.  Don’t let your guests think you live in a cave.   Make your mudroom both functional and an expression of your personality and design choices.

Design Tips

Before you begin, it would be a good idea for you to empty out any current items you have stashed in the space.  Move out all furniture and appliances and give the room a thorough cleaning.  This will prepare the space for its fabulous transformation.

The first thing to consider when decorating your mudroom, or any room for that matter, is the size of the space.  Make sure you measure the room accurately, any miscalculations could leave you with a roomful of items that make the space look even more cluttered, or simply will not fit.  Resist the temptation to fill every square inch of space.  As the saying goes, sometimes less is more.

After measuring and cleaning up the space, the next order of business would be choosing a paint color. Due to the fact that most mudrooms are relatively small rooms, a lighter color might be in order. Also, adding a nice trim or simple crown molding at the top will give the room a finished look.

The Furniture

A mainstay of a mudroom is a bench.  The bench makes for a nice spot for you to sit down and take off your boots (or pumps) after a hard day.  Many mudroom benches also have little storage cubby holes underneath that make the perfect spot to put your shoes.

Choosing a bench can be difficult because there are many different styles and finishes.

  • Linon furniture makes a beautiful bench that comes in an oak or walnut finish. This particular bench does not have the cubby holes underneath, but it does have a split seat that allows you to lift the seat and use the inside of the bench for storage. The Linon bench is 50 x 17 x 25.2 inches and retails for $140.00.
  • The Coaster Entryway Bench is another piece that would look gorgeous in any mudroom.  The plush cushions on the top give the bench a homey feel.  The best part of this bench would be the storage baskets underneath the seating.  The Coaster Entryway Bench would look great with something like the Prepac Sonoma Black Entryway Cubbie Shelf above it to hold your coats and hats.  This bench is 50″L 16 3/4″W 20″H and comes in a black finish, as does the cubbie shelf.
  • While some benches will need an additional piece in order to provide a place to hang your coats, some have an all-in-one option.  If you have a smaller space, this may be the better option for you.  Cymax carries a cherry Storage Bench with Coat Rack which is to-die-for.  Looking at this bench brings me back to the good old days when times were simple. You can almost smell the apple pie, as you hang up your jacket and toss your book bag onto the bench.

Another option would be mudroom lockers.  Now, don’t worry, they are not as institutional looking as they might sound, they are simply another all-in-one option used to keep a mudroom organized. Lockers have come a long way since your days in high school and are an efficient storage space for your mudroom while maintaining some fun in your overall design.

  • The folks over at Kittyhawk Enterprises make a sturdy coat locker set is made out of birch and can accommodate up to 10 coats and miscellaneous items.  As a one piece unit, the coat locker cannot be added on to, but for the quality and the price it is one of the most sensible and economical pieces on the market.  This locker runs about $293.00.
  • The slightly more expensive Orvis modular locker has style to spare, as well as some pretty neat features.  Each “locker” has a top compartment, 3 coat hooks, and a lower compartment, or “cubbies,” that can be used with, or without storage baskets.  The Orvis modular locker comes in cream, green, and red and is made from pine.  Perfect for a growing family, this modular locker system can be added on to as needed. The price is $298.00.

Buying pre-made furniture may be the most economical mudroom solution, however, sometimes a custom build is needed, especially if you are working with an odd sized, or shaped space.  If you’re going to go the custom route, you will probably want to search locally for a designer and have them plot out the best course for your design.  You may also want to look into one of the many closet solution providers as another option.   Many people opt for custom built shelving, which is available in a wide variety of materials and styles.  Wood shelving can add an element of warmth to your mudroom, while metal shelves evoke a more modern feel.

Whatever you choose, remember that just because it is a mudroom that you use mostly to pass through, you don’t have to choose between style and functionality.  You can have both.

 

{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries