The Marvels of Mud Rooms

Once you and your family have lived in a home with a brilliant mud room, it becomes one of those spaces that you will ensure every home thereafter will have; a well designed and strategically planned mudroom. In today's home, the mud room is usually the interior space between the garage and the home; a location we generally overlook, perhaps by merely including a large closet. Architects often stash the laundry facilities in the mud room. It's usually obvious at this point that it is not the architect who does the laundry in the home - personally, this is not my location of choice for the laundry as I prefer to keep laundry as near to the bedrooms as possible for ease of use and also because a well designed mud room should include so much more. The idea of a mud room is to keep the dirt and the clutter contained in this space, but if mud does arrive in the mud room then the goal is to keep it there! In addition to great storage (we'll get to that) we need a way to dispose of and contain the mud. I love a mud room that includes a wash facility such as a shallow shower base and wash shower. This is brilliant for cleaning muddy shoes, boots, paws, work clothes and even sports equipment. Even if boots, umbrellas or clothing are simply wet from the rain, having a spot that includes a drain over which we can allow the items to drip dry is extremely handy.

Speaking of great storage, which we can never have enough of in a mud room (or anywhere for that matter), we should include things like lots of hooks to hang clothing, hats and even dog leashes. If everything has a permanent home, when you need it, it can easily be found. It's like the last place anyone ever looks for the cordless phone is on its charger... eventually they will figure out that the dog's leash is always on a particular hook and that their gloves, if returned to a specific drawer or bin, can easily be found even on the most rushed mornings. Include a bench to sit while you put on your shoes or lace up your boots and a mirror for last minute checks. You should also have a bulletin board in the mud room so you can attach letters or notes that need to be taken to school the next day. I always have reminders and lists on mine. Walls and floors should be finished with easy-to-clean, durable surfaces such as ceramic tile or marble. If the dog shakes after having his feet washed or the kids have muddy hands and lean against the wall while they are removing their shoes, there is no harm done. Mud rooms may get dirty, but they can be the best tool to keeping your home clean and beautiful.