Putting Some Flair Into the Oft-Neglected Mudroom
A Little Design Attention, Even a Little Whimsy, Can Make The Space More Than Just a Place to Throw the Boots

By Melissa Rayworth
For the Associated Press
Saturday, October 18, 2008

American homes often have lovely front entrances that homeowners never use.

Sure, we greet visitors at the front door. We hang a wreath there and make it look welcoming. But our own daily comings and goings tend to happen through the back door or garage entrance.

In many homes, that back or side entrance leads into a "mudroom" -- a small area where we kick off our boots and stash our umbrellas. These convenient but often sloppy spaces are ones we allow only our nearest and dearest to see.

Even if they're organized, mudrooms tend to be utilitarian spaces with plain, pale walls and tile floors.

But what if the mudroom got a little attention? By reorganizing your mudroom and filling it with colors and objects that lift your spirits, say interior designers, it's possible to improve the start and end of every day.

Efficiency is crucial, but so is style. You can get an infusion of both without spending much money.

Every mudroom is different. In some homes, there isn't even a defined mudroom -- rather, part of the garage or hallway or an alcove near the back door serves as the transition space between indoor and outdoor. Either way, said Atlanta designer Brian Patrick Flynn, that space can be fine-tuned to work for you.

In evaluating a mudroom, "storage is the number one thing you're looking at. Coats, leashes, backpacks, ballerina bags . . . you need a designated spot for each family member," Atlanta designer Mallory Mathison said. Built-in cubby holes are ideal, she said, but that can be expensive. You can get the same effect from other approaches.

If you're worried about the space looking cluttered, New York designer Janine Carendi suggests using a cabinet with closed shelving to hide its contents. Be sure, though, that you'll actually open doors and drawers to put things away.

"Most people won't use it if it's closed," Flynn said. "I tried myself. I had a really cool retro credenza that I had refinished. All I would ever do was leave stuff on top."

He recommends open storage, such as shelves lined with bins or baskets. Use one main basket for dropping basics like your purse, keys and mail as soon as you get home. It beats carrying these items into the house and potentially losing track of them.

Walls often go unused in mudrooms: Spend just a few dollars on hooks or pegs on which to hang keys, jackets and bags. Family members can each have their own hooks, perhaps color-coded, so no one ends up searching the house in the morning for essential gear.

Shoe storage is also important. Flynn suggests keeping your most frequently worn shoes in the mudroom, rather than the bedroom. Kick them off as soon as you enter, he said. You'll always know where to find them, and you'll protect the floors in your home.

Consider adding a bench with storage underneath, Mathison said. Sit on it to remove your shoes, then open it and toss the shoes inside.

The mudroom is also a great place to keep a dry-erase or cork message board for communicating with family or housemates. If everyone uses that entrance, you can be sure they'll see their messages immediately.

Although mudrooms tend to be drab, they're the perfect spot to indulge in bold colors and gutsy design. It's a fairly private space and you don't spend much time there (although some mudrooms do double as laundry rooms), so bright shades of paint or large graphic prints won't get overwhelming.

Decorate with whimsy: Display your children's artwork, Mathison suggested, or let them paint a mural on one wall. Carendi added vintage rackets and umbrellas to one client's entryway for a dash of glamour.

"Raid your garage," Flynn said, to find unique decorative pieces. "I tend to find older, sometimes rustic pieces perfect for the mudroom since this room gets a ton of wear and tear, as do the items that go in it." He located an old manual typewriter in a client's garage and used it to add charm to a tabletop. "Intersperse things that give you warm memories" with the really functional stuff, he says.

And don't forget to add a mirror. It's practical, Carendi said, and will make a small space seem larger.

A mudroom floor has to be durable and easily cleaned, but that doesn't mean tile or linoleum are the only options. These designers recommend using a machine washable rug or carpet remnants to add warmth and color. If the space already has wall-to-wall carpeting, Carendi recommends adding a washable rug on top.

Again, consider prints and bright colors that will lift your mood.

The cost may be lower than you think. "A lot of carpet companies, if you're getting a wool area rug done, they'll bind a couple of remnants for next to nothing," Mathison said. "You just have to ask."