4 Things To Consider Before Designing Your Mudroom

A mudroom is a transitional space between outside and the main living area of your house. It serves as a space to store and organize your outerwear, shoes, sports equipment, and other items that are typically brought in from outside. A well-designed mudroom can help keep the rest of your house clean and organized, making it an important feature for any home, especially for families or workers who tend to get dirty.

In this article, we’re going to discuss tips to create a practical and effective mudroom. We’ll cover topics like the value of storage, the advantages of incorporating a laundry area, and the necessity of having a spot for your smelly sports equipment.

1. Storage

If the purpose of a mudroom is to take all your dirty outerwear off before entering the house, where exactly are you supposed to put all of it? Well, at the very least you’ll need storage, and at the most, you’ll need somewhere to wash off, but let’s focus on the first part for now.

The type of outerwear you’ll likely be storing are shoes, boots, jackets, and other items that are brought in from outside like shovels or sidewalk salt. It is important to have storage options for a wide variety of items, but that can become kind of overwhelming. So, what sorts of storage items are best for a mudroom?

When it comes to choosing, there are many options available, such as closets, cabinets, shelves, hooks, and baskets. Choosing the right storage options will depend on the items you want to store and the space you have available, but we’re certain you’ll find a solution.

It's easy to have grand ideas for how you're going to store things, but it's another thing to actually stick to it. After shovelling it's easy to just want to strip those heavy boots off and toss them in the corner. Ensuring your items are easily accessible and easily put away is going to be key to keeping the area well organized. This means choosing the right size baskets or hooks to fit what you want to store. Utilizing wall space with shelves and hooks and choosing furniture with built-in storage can also help make clean-up easier

2. Incorporate A Sink Or Dog Shower

A mudroom is a space that is frequently used by both people and pets, making a sink or a dog shower important elements of its design. A sink in your mudroom can be used for a variety of purposes, such as rinsing laundry, cleaning up after messy projects, and even washing off dirty paws. And of course, a dog shower can help keep muddy paws from tracking dirt and debris throughout the rest of the house.

When incorporating a sink or a dog shower into a mudroom design, consider the size of the space and the flow of traffic in and out of the room. The sink and shower should be easily accessible and located in an area that is convenient for use and isn’t easy to trip over.

Design-wise, a sink or dog shower can be incorporated into a mudroom in several ways. A standalone sink or shower can be installed in the mudroom, or they can be integrated into the design of a custom-built unit. When choosing a sink, consider the type of material, size, and style that will complement the overall design of the mudroom. Similarly, when selecting a dog shower, consider the type of nozzle and spray pattern that will best meet your needs.

With the right design and placement, a sink and dog shower can greatly enhance the functionality and convenience of a mudroom.

3. Can You Fit A Laundry Station?

If you read the storage section and thought to yourself “why would I just store my dirty items?” this section is for you. While there are some perpetually dirty items like work boots that probably aren’t worth the effort of cleaning, there are plenty more that are worth cleaning, which is why a laundry station in your mudroom can be so valuable.

Incorporating a laundry station in a mudroom design can be a challenging but rewarding task. Consider the available space, plumbing, and electrical requirements when planning your design. If space is limited, consider using stackable washer and dryer units or a compact laundry sink.

Doubling your mudroom as a laundry room can also give you more space in your house for other features like a small home office or additional storage space.

4. Store Your Sporting Equipment

This might be specific to Canadian audiences, but a serious consideration for your next home--or for this home if you're renovating--is where are you going to put your stinky hockey bags? I think you know the answer.

A designated space for sporting equipment prevents it from cluttering up the rest of your home and makes it easier to grab and go when it's time to hit the ice. Not to mention it localizes the smell, and if you’ve got a laundry station, means you can store and clean it all in one place.

When it comes to storage units, lockers are a great option for sports equipment as they provide ample space for larger items and can be labelled for each family member. They also utilize vertical space well. Shelves and hooks are also practical options for smaller items and can be used in conjunction with lockers for a complete storage solution.

If you have many athletes in the house and require a lot of space for their equipment, designate a specific area for their equipment and use a label system to ensure everything has a designated space. Grouping items by sport can also help maximize storage space and make it easier to locate items when needed. Consider incorporating hooks and shelves to keep smaller items organized and easily accessible.

We hope this article has given you inspiration to design your mudroom because a well-designed mudroom can greatly enhance the organization and cleanliness of a home. With the right design and planning, you can create the perfect mudroom for your home that meets all your needs and enhances the overall design of the space.