Mudroom Makeover

A mudroom serves not only as an entrance into and out of your home but also as a highly functional space if designed efficiently. Many homeowners overlook designing this area and tend to keep it very unorganized. decorating your mudroom can be easy, affordable and fun. We've selected some simple ways to create an organized and beautiful space.

First thing you need to decide is what you want to store in your mudroom so you can select the right accessories. Typically you'll need to store footwear, outerwear, cleaning supplies and sporting gear. If you already have a closet space, you'll want to buy organizational items like shelving, shoe cubes, coat racks, stacked rods and slide out bins. If you don't have a closet, you can purchase cabinetry that is designed specifically for a mudroom. The key to staying organized is to make sure that you have a place for everything.

Since your mudroom is the place where you typically leave and enter your home everyday, why not set the mood with bright, uplifting colors like blue, green, yellow, red or even purple. It should be easy to find the right color and shade to complement your home's décor.

Having a place to sit adds a warm and practical element to your design. Since you can never have enough storage space, look for benches that have compartments, drawers or lift-top storage.

Your floor will endure lots of traffic and abuse, so you'll want to select a durable, slip-resistant and easy to clean flooring material like ceramic, unpolished stone tile or textured rubber. Don't forget the doormats, they will help to keep dirt and debris from being tracked inside.

Lighting is an important element so you'll want to choose fixtures that offer bright illumination. Since it is a busy area it is best to install ceiling fixtures.

If you spend the time to design your mudroom properly, you'll find it to be one of the must useful rooms in your home.