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33 Mudroom Ideas That Will Inspire You to Get Organized

No matter what size you're working with.

By
interiors
Emily J Followill

Your mudroom is the first thing you see when you walk into your house—well, at least when you enter through the back or side door—so it needs to make a strong first impression. Of course, it also needs to be functional. How do you make a room meant to corral dirty shoes, all your bulky outerwear, and pet accessories look chic and organized? Trust us, it's possible. No matter how much space you're working with, we've got ideas for how to make your mudroom as stylish as the rest of the house. Keep reading for 33 mudroom ideas straight from interior designers.

1

Embrace Nostalgia

mudroom ideas
Read McKendree

This New England farmhouse by Katie Rosenfeld underwent a full Grandmillennial overhaul, complete with warm woods, charming finishes, nostalgic accents, and smaller rooms. In the mudroom, Rosenfeld applied Farrow & Ball's Lulworth Blue for undeniable sweetness. warms up this mudroom. The vintage rug from Landry & Arcari and layers of vintage baskets, bowls, and jugs, warm it up even further.

2

Strike a Balance Between Casual and Formal

mudroom ideas
Andrea Calo

When your entryway is also your mudroom, you need to make it extra functional and easy to stay organized. Designer Amity Worrel installed a custom block of hooks that wraps around the corner. It mimics chair line molding (though it's slightly higher for practical reasons). It's the perfect compromise between formal entryway design and hardy mudroom needs.

3

Lay Down a Jute Rug

angela rose x loloi collection
Angela Rose

"Jute rugs are very easy to clean—you can just shake out the debris," says designer Angela Rose. This makes them ideal for high-traffic rooms like a kitchen and, you guessed it, a mudroom. In this one, the floors are kept clear aside from the jute rug and a relaxing sage green paint color sets the scene. The perforated details on the cabinets add a personal and slightly formal touch.

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4

Invest in Fine Cabinetry

interiors
Emily J Followill

"They wanted it to feel like an old hamlet that had always been there," says Melanie Millner, the designer behind this home. The craftsmanship and attention to detail ring true in this mudroom, too. Right off the mudroom is a flower-arranging space within the laundry room, which is great since the entrance leads out to the garden.

5

Separate With a Barn Door

mudroom ideas
Pam Schneider

One way to keep your mudroom separated visually without having to do a big renovation is by adding a barn door, as Pamela Schaffer did here.

6

Double the Function

mudroom ideas
Heidi Caillier

Allow it to serve two purposes with smart furnishings. In this home designed by Heidi Caillier, this mudroom right off the kitchen is designed to be both a mudroom and a breakfast nook. The warm materials and built-in seating feel warm enough for homework sessions and casual meals, but the stone floor tiles and storage bench make it durable enough to function as a mudroom.

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7

Transition With Flooring and Color

bria hammel interiors 840 9th ave sw, rochester, mn 55902
Spacecrafting Photography

Bria Hammel chose historical colors and patterns that mesh with and enhance the architecture, as well as subtle surface tweaks like white tiles in the mudroom that are more durable than the adjacent hardwood floors in the dining room.

8

Use Standalone Storage Units

mudroom ideas
Jen Samson

If you can't build into the walls with custom shelving and cabinets, just get a good free-stand alternative that has enough space for plenty of jackets, hats, scarves, and the like.

9

Hide Storage With Curtains

mudroom ideas
Laure Joilet

Want shelf clutter out of sight without installing cabinet fronts? Take a page from Frances Merrill of Reath Design, who hung fabric panels from the counter beside the sink. They add softness to an otherwise hard-edged space. Bonus: A roomy sink and worktop can also allow your mudroom to double as a potting shed.

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10

Ensure Visual Flow

small mudroom ideas 
Amy Neunsinger

When a mudroom is doorless, consistency is key. For a drop zone adjacent to a blue-and-white kitchen in Beverly Hills, Mark D. Sikes kept the theme going with preppy striped wallpaper. This ensures the two rooms complement each other and blend well. In other words, don't just think of your mudroom as a storage bunker.

11

Blend Outdoors and Indoors

Property, Ceiling, Building, Daylighting, Room, Architecture, Interior design, Lighting, Home, House,
Alison Pickart

In this hallway connecting the main home to the garage, Alison Pickart warmed up the outdoor-friendly materials—like the glass doors, a skylight, and a durable flooring—with cheerful throws and a complementary light gray paint for the walls.

12

Use All Available Wall Space

mudroom design ideas
Douglas Friedman

Ken Fulk used floor-to-ceiling storage to create a de facto mudroom from an empty hallway. A rolling library ladder provides access to odds and ends up top, while a built-in nook with a cushion becomes a spot for lacing shoes.

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13

Make It Out of Thin Air

small mudroom ideas
Dane Tashima

In the home of House Beautiful editorial director Joanna Saltz, shoes, coats, and bags on the entryway floor were a tripping hazard. Her designer Jean Stoffer's solution: install black-wood built-ins from Califorina Closets in an unused hall, with a footwear drawer and cubbies to hold gear and backpacks.

14

Get Organized

Shelf, Shelving, Furniture, Room, Wall, Clothes hanger, Interior design, Hutch, Cupboard,
Sara Tramp

This mudroom designed by Emily Henderson has a seriously impressive organization system. The hooks right by the door are for leashes and collars while human accessories can be hung by the bench—perfect for removing shoes. Then the top shelf above the bench is for gardening supplies, and everything else goes in the built-in shelves.

15

Scale Back

Furniture, Room, Bedroom, Bed, Wallpaper, Wall, Property, Interior design, studio couch, Floor,
Heidi Cailler

If you don't have a massive mudroom, don't worry: Heidi Caillier designed a small makeshift mudroom in a little nook by the back entrance and elevated it with custom millwork, fresh throw pillows, and a charming wallpaper backdrop.

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16

Add a Sink

Ceiling, White, Room, Property, Daylighting, Building, Interior design, House, Window, Lighting,
Simon Watson

If your mudroom is technically its own separate building or room, meanwhile, design it to serve double duty as a gardening shed or greenhouse. A skylight will work wonders and it's a good alternative to a greenhouse if there isn't room to build on in the yard. This mudroom designed by Jeanette Whitson feels more like a conservatory.

17

Skip the Furniture

Arch, Tile, Property, Architecture, Room, Floor, Interior design, Wall, Building, House,
Leanne Ford Interiors

Having a bench in a mudroom is great, but if it's going to clog the hallways and mess with visual flow, skip it. Simple add some hooks to the wall and you'll be set. Here, Leanne For spread them out evenly into two rows along the wall.

18

Opt for a Dutch Door

White, Room, Property, Pink, Interior design, Floor, Wall, Door, Tile, Architecture,
Beatriz da Costa

Dutch doors are great because they are part window and part door, each half opening and closing independently. This means you can use it as a window without worrying about kids or pets getting outside, or you can use it as a gate to let pets in and out.

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19

Lay an Area rug

White, Floor, Interior design, Room, Tile, Property, Ceiling, Building, House, Furniture,
Chango & Co

If you choose to use tiles for more durable, resilient, and easy-to-clean flooring (and you should, as that definitely helps in a mudroom), then warm things up with an area rug. Chango & Co. used a cheerful printed rug to warm up the back tiles.

20

Combine it with Laundry

Room, Property, White, Blue, Furniture, Interior design, Floor, Kitchen, Cabinetry, Countertop,
Nathan Kirkman

To prevent this working area from feeling small and cramped, designer Julia Buckingham created a "calming oasis with a touch of whimsy," by painting the cabinets a bright white and installing Sanderson's Swallows wallpaper. There are also plenty of extra storage spaces, which is a must in a mudroom.

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