A busy life filled with family, work, and interests means a home filled with things…sports equipment, laundry, backpacks, work totes, shoes, coats, umbrellas, electronics, etc.
This has made the mudroom rise in importance in recent years nearly to the level of kitchens as families work to corral the “mess” and establish some sort of organization to make the ins and outs of life and the house easier and less stressful.
Some little tips I’ve learned along the way may help you as you set about creating your own mudroom.
- A bench or chair goes a long way if you want your family to remove their shoes before walking into the house. A basket to hold shoes adjacent to the seat is a great way to contain the mess…so shoes are not strewn about causing a tripping hazard.
- Reinforced hooks are a game changer. Consider screwing a 1 x 4 board into the framing on a wall in your garage entry, then screw in hooks to hold coats and backpacks. The board will be anchored into solid 2 x 4’s and will provide a great support for hooks so that they don’t pull out of the wall with the weight of whatever is hanging.
- A desk area or counter for charging phones and electronics is very helpful. Even a surge protector outlet strip can be used. I have a family whose policy it is to leave all electronics at their charging station to make more room in their home for face to face interaction and uninterrupted study time…and so far, it’s worked well for them.
- A deep laundry sink is great for soaking sports clothing in OxyClean to remove stains before running a load of laundry. Wish I’d know about that hack when my son was in baseball.
- A hanging bar for drip dry laundry items is a game changer…No more searching for spaces to hang things over a tub or shower bar to allow delicate items to dry.
- A drawer for each family member is a great addition. Art supplies, projects, school work, returns, etc. may all be stowed away but remain accessible.
- A small desk area may be a smart addition…a laptop with a quick file system for bills, school paperwork, etc means things you have to remember coming in or out of the house are at your fingertips.
- A garbage can for tossing trash from sports bags, backpacks and purses will keep things nice and tidy.
