40+ Ways To Whip Your Mudroom Into Shape This Season
Mudrooms store everything from coats and shoes to sporting equipment and pet supplies, so it takes careful design to make them as efficient as possible.
In Canada’s climate, the space needs to accommodate each season’s attire, while standing up to an onslaught of Autumn leaves, snowy boots and the ensuing puddles of slush and salt. Scroll down for our best tips on how to keep your mudroom functional and stylish for the busy season ahead!
Match The Ceiling And Walls
This 3-in-1 laundry, cleaning supply and mudroom has a streamlined look thanks to its matching walls and ceiling. It’s also designed with durable porcelain tile that can withstand everyday foot traffic.
House & Home July/August 2022
Pair Classic With Playful
Mudrooms are a great place to have a little fun. The combination of cream wall panelling, graphic wallpaper and pink and brass accents brings charming elegance to this combined mudroom and laundry area.
House & Home July/August 2022
Opt For Full-height Storage
Take advantage of your mudroom’s full height by installing floor-to-ceiling storage. This maximizes space, and might leave you with some extra room to install a built-in bench like this designer did.
Install Drawers And Cabinets Of Varying Sizes
Take cues from this farmhouse mudroom located off the foyer that offers ample storage for big and small items. Bonus tip: a mudroom sink means you can wash your hands the moment you walk through the door!
House & Home June 2022
Add Wall Hooks
If you’re short on space or don’t want to add an entire storage unit to your mudroom, keep things simple with wall hooks. You can install designated hooks for coats, hats and shoes to maintain organization and have items within quick reach.
House & Home June 2022
Go Bold With Bright Cabinets
This designer transformed an all-white mudroom into a traditional entrance with glossy yellow cabinets and patterned wallpaper. The dark herringbones floor tiles provide contrast while also allowing the cabinets to pop.
House & Home June 2022
Play With Pattern And Color
This playful mudroom features burgundy millwork, aubergine terrazzo floors and a wall mural. The patterned cushion adds an extra layer of liveliness.
House & Home May 2022
Look For Second-hand Items
This designer found a large concrete sink for $20 on Kijiji, as well as salvaged fir doors. Sourcing vintage products is not only sustainable and cost-effective, but it brings an element of history to your space.
House & Home May 2022
Make It Easy to Clean
Mudrooms can get messy really quick, so choose durable and easy-to-clean materials for your flooring, cabinets and walls. This home opted for vinyl grasscloth millwork in their mudroom so kid’s fingerprints can be easily wiped off.
House & Home April 2022
Make The Mudroom Multifunctional
This hardworking mudroom is more than just a place to kick off your outdoor shoes. It makes the most of its square footage by featuring a built-in wine fridge, laundry sink and even kid-sized closets.
Mix Built-in Storage With Freestanding Furniture
At Lynda Reeves’s lakehouse, a niche in the mudroom is occupied by an oak bench. If you don’t want to go custom for your entire space, consider adding freestanding seating to offset the cost of built-in storage.
House & Home January/February 2022
Make Built-In Seating A Priority
In the Spring 2021 Princess Margaret Showhome, designer Sarah Baeumler turned an under-utilized corner into a functional mudroom with tall storage units and a built-in wooden bench. Desert photography adds sandy pink color to the otherwise neutral palette.
House & Home May 2021
Don’t Choose Anything Too Precious
Plenty of storage and hooks for coats equip the mudroom for busy school mornings. “We built this house to be lived in,” says designer and homeowner Hali MacDonald. “The dings and marks that happen along the way add to the story of our time in the house and the wonderful memories we’ve made.”
House & Home May 2021
Incorporate Something Vintage
In this charming mudroom, an antique pine bench is practical and “adds a sense of history to a new space,” says designer Allison Willson of this new-build farmhouse. A greige cabinet feels equally on-trend and timeless.
House & Home October 2020
Opt For Hardworking Flooring
Practical 30″ x 30″ porcelain floor tiles (that mimimic slate) are the perfect choice for muddy boots in this cabin entryway. A set of skis and faux fur amp up the cozy factor: it’s okay to leave them out on display!
House & Home January/February 2021
Don’t Forget About The Little Details
Inspired by a Chloé boutique the homeowner saw in Paris, the picket detail on the stairway balustrade adds an artful touch to the entryway, complete with white and wood built-ins.
House & Home October 2020
Make It Moody
Tall, inky cabinets create a dramatic entrance at the back of this contemporary Vancouver home. There’s room for everything from sports equipment to seasonal clothing — all tucked behind sleek cabinet doors.
House & Home November 2020
Create Dedicated Storage
At designer Sarah Richardson’s secluded country home, Starlight Farm, each family member has their own closet and basket stored on accessible shelves for easy grab-and-go. A comfy bench is a must-have for taking off heavy gear.
House & Home May 2018
Add Decorative Touches
In the pool house, a console table is the perfect makeshift catchall and works to house bulky essentials like beach towels. The baskets below keep things organized while adding textural interest, plus straw sun hats add a decorative touch to the walls.
House & Home May 2018
Choose The Location Wisely
Designer Susan Burns decided to move this newly-renovated home‘s mudroom to the basement dirty boots from the outdoors are kept clear of the main floor.
House & Home June 2020
Go All Out With Custom Built-Ins
In the Spring 2020 Princess Margaret Showhome, designer Sarah Baeumler outfitted this hardworking mudroom with blue millwork and blush wallpaper. The built-in unit offers an array of hooks, drawers and cubbies to keep odds and ends stored away for a more uniform look while maintaining a lighthearted, fun vibe.
House & Home May 2020
…Or Opt For A Standalone Unit Instead
Backpacks, coats and winter boots easily fit in this handsome storage unit, where coats hang on the top row and bags can be easily grabbed from the lower hooks. Take it up a notch with a coat or two of ocean blue paint, like designers Kyla Bidgood and Kris Hageland did for this young family.
House & Home March 2019
Focus On Function
“Choose materials that are durable and long lasting,” advises designer Jenelle Erickson. “Think about how the family functions and uses the space and design around that, not the other way around.” This practical yet pretty mudroom has hardworking tile floors, a sturdy, wooden bench and built-in storage.
Make Sure Everything Has Its Place — Even The Little Things
“Creating a place for everything is key, such as baskets and cubbies, then everything feels orderly and livable as well,” adds designer Stephanie Smith. Metallic baskets are perfect for gloves, hats, keys and dog leashes.
Add Architectural Interest
In this narrow, blue-gray mudroom, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe, beadboard detailing gives the space a touch of heritage charm. Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry keeps seasonal items out of sight, and pinboards are a spot to corral important notes or photos.
Incorporate Wovens
Designer Barbara Purdy kept this light-filled foyer very cohesive with natural wood accents. Wicker baskets store items away and can be tucked away under a bench or console table.
House & Home April 2020
Try Heated Flooring
Not only does it help snowy boots dry quickly in the winter, but it also feels nice on bare feet after an afternoon in the pool. A double tier of shelves is the perfect height for shoes.
House & Home July 2018
Wow With Wallpaper
Graphic pattern adorning the walls and rich color accenting the windows are playful nods to this 1947 brick house and add flair to the simple yet striking mudroom.
House & Home April 2020
Choose Dark & Durable Tile
Mudrooms are extremely mess-prone, so consider materials that can withstand mud, water, snow or even sand, such as highly-durable slate and ceramic. A dark, dirt-concealing color, like the mini black hexagon tiles shown here, are a practical choice and provide some non-slip texture.
House & Home August 2015
Repurpose Existing Furniture
An affordable alternative to a custom built-in, this charming family-friendly mudroom unit was created using two narrow bookcases pushed against either side of a bench. Open shelving and textured woven baskets keep the space organized.
House & Home June 2010
Maximize Every Square Foot
In this mudroom, Lynda Reeves made use of an empty corner by adding a sink with a shallow basin and a removable wood grate — a feature that makes tasks like rinsing dirty shoes or washing the dog more convenient.
House & Home Makeovers Special Issue
Keep It Kid-Friendly
In this space by designer Denise Ashmore, a bench doubles as storage thanks to built-in drawers, while colorful, playful Muuto knobs hung at different heights allow children to easily hand their schoolbags and jackets.
House & Home August 2015
Add An Organizer
An active family may need more than just a traditional storage unit to accommodate their needs. In design editor Sally Armstrong’s own home, a DIY organizer helps keep smaller items in check. “I love having a place to put sunglasses, keys and mail when I walk in the door,” says Sally.
Learn how to make this mod organizer here.
House & Home September 2015
Separate The Space
Designer James Davie opted for a sliding pocket door to separate his mudroom from his kitchen, and chose a low cabinet to avoid blocking the window. A long basket on the lower shelf provides necessary storage.
House & Home January 2015
Add Pattern With Flooring
In this mudroom by designer Nam Dang-Mitchell, patterned cement tiles add a dash of whimsy into this otherwise utilitarian space and complement the wall of white oak built-ins.
House & Home March 2016
Mix Open & Closed Storage
In this mudroom by designer Brian Gluckstein, a wall of built-in storage with open shelving and twin closets keeps clutter at bay. “A mudroom should be a pretty space. If it’s designed well, it shouldn’t look messy,” he says.
House & Home November 2013
Go Bold With Color & Pattern
The mudroom is often the first thing people see when they enter your home, and an opportunity to make a great first impression. This welcoming space by Les Ensembliers does just that with bold black-painted doors and a whimsical nature-inspired wallpaper.
House & Home December 2013
Embrace Outdoor Elements
Mudrooms are often the transition point between the indoors and out, so why not nod to nature? Incorporate textured and natural materials that are cohesive with the rest of your home’s design. This mudroom by designer Sophie Burke features Pennsylvania bluestone tile, natural linen drapery and a woven wicker basket.
House & Home March 2016
Balance Form & Function
Mudrooms are meant to be practical, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also be decorative. Here, woven storage baskets, accordion hangers and a tufted bench with high legs soften the look of the foyer. A small floating shelf takes advantage of the shallow space behind the front door and is perfect for holding keys, mail and sunglasses.
House & Home April 2013
Accommodate Pets
If you’ve got pets, a mudroom is the perfect place to set up and store their belongings. This space by designer Christie Hansen doubles as the dogs’ room, and each pup has their own spot to sleep. Cubbies and open shelves help keep pet accessories neatly corralled.
House & Home October 2010
Give An Awkward Nook New Life
If you’ve got an unused closet or nook, transform it into a mini-mudroom by removing the door and adding a bench, shelf and peg-rail hooks, like in this coastal-inspired mudroom located in the home’s front hall.
House & Home March 2011
Make It Fun
Rather than giving her mudroom a sterile, utility-room feel, decorator Heidi Smith went for a breezy, relaxed look with beach-inspired elements. The space is kept practical with hooks for hanging hats, bags and towels.
House & Home July 2013
Find Clever Ways To Stash Sports Gear
Keep sports equipment in check with plastic bins for smaller pieces, and suspend bulkier or harder-to-store gear with brackets. In this custom built-in, everything in its place means that the fun patterned wallpaper is kept visible.
House & Home April 2012
Get Creative With Storage
Homeowners Lara and Rick Irwin built their utility area to accommodate a bank of battered storage lockers from the 1930s. Though the piece is vintage, it’s still functional – each member of the family has a designated space for their belongings, and the fact that the unit is magnetic means that it can be dressed up with photos, too.
House & Home July 2013
Consider An Addition
Before designer Connie Braemer renovated this 1920s home, it had limited storage options. Now, a mudroom addition at the rear of the home includes cupboards and shelving that cleanly store outerwear, toys and sporting equipment.
House & Home April 2007