Adding a mudroom

Janinne P
by Janinne P
Did you recently add a mudroom or laundry to your home? If so, do you have any "if I had it to do over, I'd do this" tips? I'm adding a mudroom/laundry to the back of my house and the general ideas/arrangement are set based on existing architecture and budget, but I'm looking for tips on details. What little things make these spaces work better? I've spent hours on Pinterest, but a family with real experience might have something to add to my vast collection of ideas.
  4 answers
  • MaryStLouis MaryStLouis on Jan 11, 2015
    We live in an area with lots of rain, mud, and snow. I wanted creamy white benches with shoe storage tucked neatly underneath. I was living in a fairytale world, however. The reality is this; boots left in the middle of the floor, coats flung onto the bench instead of hung neatly on hooks, and even they are hung properly the coats drip onto the upholstered bench cushions. We are going to put in a mud room at our second home so my changes will include the following: 1. Hooks to be located away from the bench. 2. Bench may not have a cushion. If I later decide to add one I will choose waterproof fabric. 3. A row of boot trays large enough to contain the clutter where my guys can toss their shoes. My men do not 'tuck' anything away. They're sweet but not so neat. 4. Stained wood instead of painted surfaces. I'm undecided on this, too, but all those shoes have chipped and stained my pretty white surfaces. If your family isn't the big and active, always getting dirty types you may be fine with pretty, polished surfaces. I can't complain as my husband is talented and very helpful but I had to give up my dream of a Pinterest worthy mud room.
    • Janinne P Janinne P on Jan 11, 2015
      @MaryStLouis Oh, I'm pretty old (meaning experienced!) and pretty messy myself, so I would know enough not to plan on white. Hahah! I do want some hooks, but I'm not interested in the row of open "lockers" type arrangement I see so often. Planning on as big a walk in closet as I can manage. Wasn't planning on upholstering the bench either. All the wood in our home built in the late 1920s is stained, so I'm planning on repeating it in the mudroom. I sure appreciate all your ideas and I hope you love your new mudroom!
  • Belinda Todd Belinda Todd on Jan 11, 2015
    A sink to wash your hands if you've been working in the yard. A place to hang clothing after you've taken it out of the dryer. I have a sink and a toilet in my mud room and it's great if your working outside so that you don't have to track all the way through the house to use the restroom.
  • Janinne P Janinne P on Jan 16, 2015
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
  • Debi53 Debi53 on Jun 01, 2015
    Things I loved in my last laundry room that I miss terribly (sigh): 1.A flip up rack for drying delicate undies, etc Folds against wall when not needed 2.Individual labeled laundry baskets (darks, lights, delicates). Each family member sorted their laundry into the correct basket so no sorting needed on wash day. Mine were just on the floor under my hanging rack, but they can also be stacked vertically on shelves. 3.A retractable clothes line (metal not plastic)- great for drying blankets, bathroom rugs, beach towels...things that just don't fit on hangers. 4. I had room to keep my sewing machine set up & a stool tucked under the counter so that I could do quick mending while doing laundry without having to drag the equipment out. 5. Room for my iron & ironing board so that I could press things right out of the dryer.