13 magnificent mudroom ideas

Mudrooms have always been a necessity in the country, but they're becoming more popular in city homes as well. Everyone needs a place to keep shoes, coats, and bags organized. When you're living the country life, though, mud is the reason for the mudroom. It's a place to drop muddy boots and gear, and get cleaned up a bit before coming into the house. A pretty mudroom is nice, but don't make it so fancy that you'll be upset if (or rather, when) it gets dirty. This mudroom has an area for washing up with a flip-up bench.

Your country mudroom is one of the hardest working rooms in the house, so it needs tough materials. Laminate cabinets shed water and wipe clean easily. Stone or tile floors are tough and tolerate muddy boots, but a quality linoleum also fits the bill and is more affordable.

If your home doesn't have a mudroom, you can still dedicate a space to keep track of your comings and goings. With a few adjustments, you can turn a bookshelf into a makeshift mudroom. Add a boot tray to the bottom shelf to corral mud and water. Remove the top couple of shelves and add a row of hooks for hanging coats and bags. Add hooks and message boards to the sides. Store bins on top and on lower shelves. Include a catch-all try for emptying pockets and a chair for sitting down to pull on boots.

Consider turning a cluttered closet into a mini mudroom. Remove the door and fit the space with shallow cubbies at the back of the closet and a bench that extends to the front. Add hooks to the back wall, and baskets and buckets for added storage. Mount magnetic dry-erase boards on the side walls to create a message center and a place to hang keys. Make the space extra special by adding a pop of color with wallpaper or paint inside the closet

Include a message center in your mudroom. Chalkboard paint easily turns a cabinet door into a spot for reminders or notes to your family. Adhesive cork transforms a cupboard into a bulletin board. Use magnetic organizing containers on metal surfaces. Bins, shelves, and hooks ensure there's a place for everything. This mudroom even has a spot for the dog's bed.

End the frustration of searching for duct tape or batteries. Storing like objects in bins just makes sense, and makes it easier to find what you're looking for. If your bins don't come with built-in spaces for labels like these, get out your label maker and tag each one so you'll always know where to find and return items.

Bring a taste of country to your mudroom by using vintage items in creative ways. Here, an old ladle holds pocket change, and an enameled metal plate serves as a mini magnet board. An old shutter mounted on the wall makes a handy mail center. Hang metal pails from bracket hooks to hold everything from mittens to magazines.

Get the look of built-in mudroom cabinetry without the expense. Here, matching adjustable bookshelves were placed on either side of an upper wall cabinet, which became a bench with the addition of a sturdy shelf and cushion. Wainscoting and a shelf with hooks fill in the space between the bookshelves and provide a spot to hang coats. A baseboard wrapping around the bottom of the whole area really gives it a built-in look. This entire project cost $324.

Cubbies make it easy for everyone in the family to find their things, and more importantly, to know where to put them away. Label overhead bins with names or initials, and there's no question where the kids should put their shoes, coats, and backpacks. Make sure hooks are where kids can reach them if you expect them to hang up their coats.

A retractable clothesline is the perfect addition to any mudroom. It takes up no space at all when not in use, but is worth its weight in gold when you need it. Hang wet clothes and snow-encrusted mittens and scarves. You might consider adding a second line at kid height, so they can hang up their own wet things.

Including a laundry center in your mudroom is a great idea if you have the space and the plumbing. Stackable models take up less room, and you can hide them with a curtain hanging from a tension rod. Here, wheels were added to the bottom of a shoe organizer, and a cushion was placed on top, so it easily rolls out and makes a great place for sitting down and putting on or taking off shoes.

The mudroom is the ideal spot to store pet food, leashes, toys, and other supplies. Storing food in sealed containers rather than in the bag will help deter mice and other pests. This wall-mounted dog food dispenser frees up shelf space and lets you feed Fido without lifting a heavy container each time.

Whether you're muddy from doing chores in the rain, or the kids spent the afternoon making mud pies, or the dog decided to roll in a mystery substance or take a dip in the pond, a shower station in the mudroom is a great idea.