A mudroom can protect your home from Mother Nature’s messes
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA (Jan. 29, 2023) — The rain, at last, has arrived – bringing with it squelched footwear, drippy coats and soaked umbrellas.
Watching my family come through the front door with their waterlogged shoes, coats, backpacks and sports gear, I cringe at the small flash flood they have created, puddling on the hardwood floor.
The beach towels come out in full force and create a summertime trail from one room to another, soaking up the meandering stream. There’s got to be a better way.
Halt – who goes there?
The mudroom is a room within our homes designed especially for these water-compromised days, where we shed dirty or wet footwear and clothing. There are different variations of this space that help make our lives easier when it comes to keeping the outside elements outside, where they belong.
There are three basic types of mudrooms. The laundry room, probably a common mudroom space on the West Coast, acts as a passthrough from the garage, kitchen, backyard or side yard into the main house. Some homes have an enclosed porch before you enter the foyer or entryway of the main house that acts as the mudroom. And other homes have an actual mudroom that may be located near a detached garage or the side of the house.
Regardless of location, the concept of the mudroom is fantastic. It’s a catch-all space where the mess from the outside is contained before you trail it into your home.
Storage is key
Whether you have this dedicated room in your home or you’re looking to create a mudroom-inspired space, let’s consider some components that make this space functional.
A mudroom must have storage: cubbies for shoes, hooks for coats, bags, bins and baskets to store gear for your pets, a pantry for household necessities, and any other practical means of storage that makes sense for you and your family.
As you’re creating your storage layout, make sure to incorporate seating in your design. For example, a lift top trunk where you store your bocce balls can double as a place to sit and pull on your rain boots.
Storage needs to be efficient in your mudroom, but also decorative. When creating a mudroom like setting in your entry, there are many one-and-done type pieces you can buy. The classic Pottery Barn entry set is a perfect example. Modular pieces like this make it easy to create a nook that fits your space just right; it’s functional storage that looks good.
If your mudroom doubles as a laundry room and you’re tight on square footage, consider stacking a full-size washer and dryer to open up space for storage.
Opt for easy-clean flooring
The flooring in your mudroom needs to be practical and bullet-proof. My flash flood sob story is a perfect example of why a hardworking floor is essential. Porcelain, luxury vinyl, brick, stone, cement and chic linoleum are all great choices because they can be cleaned as the water, mud and tiny pebbles stuck to the bottom of our shoes are brought into our homes.
Mudrooms are not the place for a natural fiber rug that can’t be hosed off. Industrial rugs, yes, but those don’t typically make a design statement. Some area rugs and modular rug squares made of synthetic materials can be hosed off and cleaned with pretty basic cleaning solutions, or even thrown into the washing machine. If a rug is part of your design concept, make sure to do your homework and select an area rug that will stand up to the wear and tear of a mudroom.
The finishing touches
Storage and flooring are the functional side of mudrooms, but don’t forget to treat this room like any other space in your home and add decorative touches such as lighting, art, window treatments, and accessories like cabinet hardware and personal touches.
Lighting can be functional, like recessed cans, but also consider adding a decorative chandelier, cluster of pendants or sconces. Art and window treatments will bring a layer of color and texture if your cabinetry or modular storage has a basic finish.
While the rain is visiting the Bay Area, think beyond the beach towel to soak up the water, dirt and grime. Create a tactical, practical and functional design to keep the unwanted winter elements outside, as well as decorative and functional storage to keep your belongings organized.
Jennifer Leischer
Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton, CA. Combining a public relations degree from California State University, Chico, with further studies in design and interior architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, Jennifer began her career as an interior designer in 1998, working for various firms in San Francisco and Orinda, and Denver, Colorado. She describes every designing moment, throughout her career, as a wonderful tutorial about the importance of relationships, open communication, and getting down to the basics of functional, yet stylish, living spaces.