Mudrooms can be super small (around 4 by 4 feet (1. 2 by 1. 2 m)) or basically the size of a normal bedroom. You almost always only find these rooms in single family homes, though. Depending on where you live, mudrooms may be called “utility rooms” or “entryways. ” Mudrooms are comparable to a lobby or vestibule in a commercial building.
Depending on where you live, these mudrooms may be more commonly referred to as “laundry rooms. ” The fancy mudrooms may be known as “foyers. ” In larger, older homes, the mudroom may be between the garden and main floor. [3] X Research source
This is especially helpful if you have children since you have a special area where they can get undressed without making a mess.
Keep your umbrellas next to the door in the mudroom so that you can grab them quickly on your way out. Think about stuff that you’d put on right before you step out of your home. Rain boots, snowsuits, scarves, and the like are all going to belong in the mudroom.
Pro tip: keep a second hamper in the mudroom. This way you can shed especially dirty clothes when you walk in the door without needing to drag them up to your bedroom.
You don’t want to overcrowd a small mudroom at your main door since you don‘t want people to feel crowded or overwhelmed when they enter your home.
You can even get a seating bench that opens up and doubles as storage if you want the extra room!
If you have younger kids, giving them cubbies in a mudroom is a great way to help them acquire executive thinking and organizational skills.
Those outdoor welcome mats made of coir, rubber, and jute grass are great if your mudroom isn’t especially big. Ruggable has blown up in popularity recently for offering a variety of washable rugs that look and feel great.
Putting a washer and dryer on the main floor also makes it easier to run ducts outside.
If you’re putting a washer and dryer in your mudroom, you kind of have to include a sink by default so that you have somewhere to drain the washer.
This isn’t to say you can’t pick a super interesting light fixture if you’re building or remodeling a home. The mudroom is a great place to make a statement design-wise since it’s the first impression people will get of your home when they enter!
Don’t be afraid to get colorful with the tile! This is a great place to showcase a tertiary color in your home’s color scheme. The classic black and white checkered pattern is a great option if you’ve got more of an art deco glam vibe going on.
You and your guests won’t spend a ton of time in the mudroom hanging out. It’s more of a transitional area. As such, feel free to get a little fun and playful with the art and colors.
You can totally include more than one mudroom if you’d like. Just keep in mind that mudrooms aren’t really livable space, so you don’t want to give up too much interior space if square footage is at a premium.
With that said, it’s unlikely that you should make a mudroom the breaking point between buying a particular home or passing. If you’re building a home and you can afford a mudroom, it’s likely worth the investment.
If you’re just home shopping for you and a spouse, or you’ve got a lone teenage child, you can totally get by without a mudroom.
If you have a small closet next to your entryway, you can always use that for storage, winter gear, and shoes. You can remove the door or not, completely up to you.
