For those living in the upper Midwest, a “mudroom” is considered a necessity and is an important part of a home’s floor plan. For families with kids, a mudroom is a critical consideration when building, buying, or remodeling a home.
Regardless of where you live or how much snow, mud, or beach sand is being tracked into your house, a mudroom serves as a buffer between the interior and exterior of the home and is usually located just off the garage. A mudroom is a high-traffic area that is used daily and is designed to handle dirt, wear, and tear. Ideally, it’s a room that helps keep a family organized!
Dura Supreme Mudroom Cabinetry in an Open Floor Plan featuring our Curated Color “Cast Iron” painted finish.
At a bare minimum, a mudroom should have closet/storage space, lots of hooks for hanging coats and jackets, and a bench to provide seating while putting on or taking off shoes. Although this room’s main purpose is functional, there is no reason it can’t be attractive and inviting and make organization easy.
Dura Supreme locker and boot bench design by Kristen Peck of Knight Construction Design, Inc., MN
For families with children, a mudroom is essential in keeping things organized. Especially during the work week (or school week) when children are heading out the door to school and the adults are heading to work. Having backpacks, shoes, sports equipment, soccer gear, keys, and phones in one organized area saves a lot of frustration in the mornings. It also keeps dirt and snow from being tracked through the house and it gives each child a place to organize and store personal belongings.
Top 10 Tips for Organizing a Mudroom
Tip #1: Create Custom Boot-Bench and Locker Cabinetry Personalized for You
Dura Supreme offers an excellent mudroom locker and boot bench program. Customize deep drawers to hold shoes along with open cubbies or lockers for hanging coats and organizing backpacks and sports equipment. Dura Supreme also makes a boot bench with a short drawer and an open area below. Shoes can be conveniently tucked under the drawer, and the drawer organizes keys, cell phones, tablets, mittens, hats, etc.
Dura Supreme boot bench and locker cabinetry.
Tip #2: Dedicate a Cubby or Locker for Each Family Member
For our family, each child has their own cubby and locker space with a hook and they are expected to keep their stuff off the floor and in their locker. Having their own designated storage space makes this much easier.
Dura Supreme mudroom design by Shelley Lober, CKD of Kitchens of Diablo, California.
Dura Supreme Mudroom Lockers and Boot Bench
Dura Supreme mudroom design by Pinnacle Design, Saginaw, Michigan. Photography by Dan Denardo.
Tip #3: A Space to Sit
Including seated storage like a boot bench in a mudroom provides a comfortable space to sit while putting on and taking off shoes and store them at the same time.
Dura Supreme boot bench cabinetry design by Mingle, Plymouth, MN. Photo by Spacecrafting Photography
Dura Supreme Cabinetry design by Michels Homes, Minnesota. Photography by Landmark Photography.
Dura Supreme Boot Bench with Deep Drawers for Optimal Entryway Storage.
Tip #4: Label it!
If you are using baskets or plastic bins, clearly label them so you know what is inside at a glance. Label locker compartments and hooks too. There are so many great “labeling” ideas online to help make this space personal, give your child ownership, or make storage organization easier and playful. Here are a couple of my personal favorites as an example.
Photo from www.simplynaturaldecor.blogspot.com.
Photo by Teresa Dinneen of Lifestyled. Find her work at @its.lifestyled on Instagram.
Photo by Teresa Dinneen of Lifestyled. Find her work at @its.lifestyled on Instagram.
Tip #5: Lots of Hooks!
Can you ever have enough hooks? Multiple hooks can help give you storage space for coats, snow pants, backpacks, purses, gym bags, and more.
Photo from Skona Hem magazine via www.highstreetmarket.blogspot.com
A close up of a Dura Supreme Locker with a Coat Hook.
Dura Supreme boot bench and mirrored hall tree
Tip #6: Create a Drop Zone
Locate an area close to your point of entry where it’ll be easy to create an organized drop zone. This will help prevent daily used and collected items from cluttering the rest of the home and keep them easy to locate. Drop zones are a perfect area to store items like keys, mail, sunglasses, and more. Creating a drop zone can be as simple as a small countertop space near the door or an open cabinet with a small basket.
Dura Supreme design by Lang’s Kitchen & Bath, Inc., Newtown, Pennsylvania. Photography by Linda McManus.
Dura Supreme design by Gwen Adair of Cabinet Supreme by Adair, Wisconsin. Photography by Ryan Hainey.
Tip #7: Keep Electronics Ready to Go
Everyday electronics like cell phones, tablets, and laptops can find a home in a drawer or roll-out with an integrated Charging Station or Power Station.
Dura Supreme Power Station Drawer
Dura Supreme Charging Station Drawer
Tip #8: Include Features for Your Furry Friends
Mudrooms are a fantastic space to include additional features for dogs and cats alike. Food stations, dog/cat beds, bathing stations, and kennels are all popular features that work well in mudrooms.
Incorporating a large sink or tub can serve for bathing your pets or washing up mudding boots and gear helping to have more control over messes and prevent them from tracking through your entire home.
Dura Supreme cabinetry design by Revival House, Plymouth, Minnesota.
Dura Supreme cabinetry design by Mans Lumber & Millwork, Canton, Michigan. Photography by A&T Photography
Dura Supreme cabinetry design by Mans Lumber & Millwork, Canton, Michigan. Photography by A&T Photography
A Dura Supreme Toe-Kick Drawer can be used to store small single-serve pet dishes, toys, and treats in the mudroom.
Dura Supreme design by McKenzie Architectural Kitchens, Arizona. Photography by Scott Sandler.
Traditional Dura Supreme Cabinetry entry design by Dreamstructure Design Build, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Tip #9: Create a Display with Open Shelves
Use open shelves to create a beautiful display for decor, rest a hat, or house a decorative basket for easy-to-see and access storage.
Dura Supreme Cabinetry is shown here with a Gunmetal Aluminum Framed door and “Cast Iron” painted finish.
Dura Supreme mudroom entry way designed by Kristin Donnelly of Reynolds Design Remodeling, Nebraska. Photography by Jessica Norton of J Norton Photo Design
Tip #10: Make it Convenient
Most of all, make your entryway storage convenient. If everything is within easy reach, labeled, and organized, the space becomes more convenient and almost helps to organize itself. If it’s easy to put away or hang up, it gets done.
Dura Supreme Cabinetry design by Lang’s Kitchen & Bath, Inc., Newtown, Pennsylvania. Photography by Linda McManus.
Discover Inspiration for Your Mudroom
Dura Supreme Cabinetry has endless ideas and cabinetry options for organizing and styling a mudroom that is personalized for your home. Below are several examples of Dura Supreme Cabinetry used to create beautifully organized mudroom spaces!
Dura Supreme Weathered cabinetry design by Revival House, Plymouth, Minnesota. Photography by Spacecrafting Photography.
Gray and White Dura Supreme kitchen design by Gwen Adair of Cabinet Supreme by Adair, Wisconsin.
Kitchen entryway with Dura Supreme cabinetry designed by Gwen Adair of Cabinet Supreme by Adair, Wisconsin.
Dura Supreme Cabinetry design by McCormick Kitchens, Massachusetts. Photography by Cape Ann Photography.
Dura Supreme mudroom design by Lori Leistico of Bella Domicile, Wisconsin. Photography by S. Photography.
Dura Supreme craftsman styled boot bench and coat rack design by Knight Construction Design, Inc., Minnesota.
Dura Supreme mudroom design by Ispiri Design Build Remodel, Minnesota.
Dura Supreme Cabinetry design by Chris Chidester of The Cabinet Center, California. Photography by John Welsh.
Dura Supreme mudroom design by Ispiri Design Build Remodel, Minnesota.
Dura Supreme kitchen design by Pine Street Carpenters Inc., West Chester, PA. Dark green painted and stained entryway lockers and boot benches with lots of storage.
How will you organize your mudroom?
Start the conversation today, by contacting or stopping by your local Dura Supreme Showroom and talking to one of our expert cabinetry designers.
