mudroom magic - NW Mom Magazine

home life
mudroom
magic
by Sarah Miracle
?
Does mud stop at the door into your home? Or do you find traces of dirt making their way
throughout the house? What about raincoats? Are they on hangers in a closet, or do you find
your dining room chairs shrouded in waterproof cloaks? Backpacks? Hanging neatly or piled
by the stairs? If the latter circumstances sound like your home, an effective mudroom could
be just what you need!
When considering
the best type of
organization for your
family, it is important
to take an honest
look at how you live.
interior
by fluid design studio
52 N Wdesign
M O M M a g a zin e . c om
April / May 2015
T h e m u d r o o m i s the threshold to your
family’s lives. It is the entry and exit point of
your home. It is a place of activity! Often, the
mudroom houses possessions vital to daily
life: coats, shoes, purses, backpacks. Your
mudroom serves to filter both the literal and
metaphorical mud and muck of the outside
world from the tranquility in the rest of your
home. If you take a minute to consider the
importance of this small space, you likely will
come to the conclusion that a mudroom should
be a priority, not an afterthought, a place
carefully planned out with attention to how
your family functions.
the doorknob instead. Hooks are a better solution
for us. We use a series of hooks in different sizes
for coats, keys, bags, and backpacks. Since a
quick drape over the hook is a one-step process,
items wind up in their proper place nine times
out of ten.
Form Follows Function
The adage “form follows function” should be the
motto for your mudroom. The most attractive
configuration will only look disarranged if it is
not designed to function how your family lives. In
addition to considering the habits of your family,
take an inventory of what comes in and out of
your home. Organization for sports gear will be
a very different solution than organization for
gardening tools.
When considering the best type of organization
for your family, it is important to take an
honest look at how you live. For instance, I
personally love neatly organized drawers and
closed cabinets; however, my family achieves
organization only if it is a one-step process. If
putting away a coat involves opening a door,
placing the coat on a hanger and then closing the
door, it is likely the coat will wind up hanging on
For the sporty family, bins are a great way to
capture equipment. Use a variety of sturdy bins
or metal baskets for different types of equipment.
Wide mouthed bins can be the goal for soccer
and basketballs. Narrow bins hold hockey sticks
upright. Be certain that sporty shoes have a home
too. Shoes for inside sports can also find a home
in a bin; however, muddy cleats may fare better
on a boot tray.
April / May 2015
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interior design by fluid design studio
baskets required. A well designed hamper can
up or filling vases full of cut flowers. Shelves
with grow lights allow you to cultivate seeds in
a convenient location. Keep a variety of gear
on hand for different types of weather such as
hats, rain boots, light jackets, or sunscreen for
the summer months. The mudroom should be
thoughtfully stocked so that you will not traipse
dirty garden clothes through the house in search
of small items like scissors or lip balm.
like part of the laundry room. Try out a sturdy
design like a wood or bamboo hamper.
The gardener ’s mudroom can serve as a prep
station before heading outside. In a basic
setting, a chest of drawers can organize seeds,
hand tools, and gloves while also providing
a surface to set plants on while preparing to
head outdoors. If a larger space is at your
disposal, consider installing a sink for washing
Combine functions for all ages in a single room
by providing personal cubbies for each family
member. Not only will this enforce responsibility
to care for one’s own space, it will also help
protect dad’s briefcase from glittery crafts that
have made their way home from school. Provide
each family member a seat with a bin or tray
below for shoes; hooks for coats and bags; and
divided storage above for papers, mail, and
other small items.
If muddy kids are a common commodity in
your home, consider containing the mess
before it reaches the rest of your home. Locate
a small laundry basket in your mudroom for
dirty clothes, and keep clean towels or robes
on hand so that soiled clothes can be removed
before coming further into the house. Choose
a hamper with dividers to limit the number of
subtly blend into your décor without looking
Provide a place to
remove damp or dirty
outerwear and stow
transitory items, your
home will thank you!
interior design by fluid design studio
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N W M O M M a g a zin e . c om
April / May 2015
interior design by Design Harmony
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interior design by GARRISON HULLINGER
How to Use Small Spaces
Importance of Aesthetics
Even if you do not have an actual mudroom, you
can still achieve organization with a few well
The dichotomy between a picture perfect front
entry for guests and a forgotten back entry for
considered products. Two basics can give any space family can send the wrong impression to your
mudroom functionality: seating and storage. As
kids. Rather than asking your family to journey
long you provide a place to remove damp or dirty
home through a forgotten wasteland of laundry
outerwear and stow transitory items, your home
baskets, scattered shoes, and piled backpacks,
will thank you!
welcome them into a well ordered space that
Rather than asking your
family to journey home
through a forgotten
wasteland of laundry
baskets, scattered shoes,
and piled backpacks,
welcome them into a well
ordered space that sets
the tone for the rest of
your home.
interior
by GARRISON HULLINGER
56 N W design
M
O M Mby
a gTurnbull
a z i n e . c Griffin
om
A
p r i l / M a yArchitects
2015
interior
design
Haesloop
Do you have a bit of blank wall near your entry?
This space can serve a new purpose with a coat
tree, a simple shelf, and a bench. Even a console
table paired with a footstool can be repurposed to
serve as a mini mudroom. Use dividers to separate
mail, keys, and other small items. Place a boot tray
below the table for muddy shoes. Install hooks
above the table for small items such as scarves.
Locate additional hooks offset from the table to
hang larger items such as coats.
sets the tone for the rest of your home. Giving
attention to how your home functions instead of
only how it appears to outsiders will teach your
kids to value more than superficial appearances.
Treat your family with an importance equal to
guests you hope to impress. The truth is, family
holds far more importance! nwm
Sarah Miracle is a registered interior designer with
experience in both commercial and residential design.
She has a B.S. in Interior Design and a minor in Art
History from the University of Texas in Austin.
April / May 2015
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57
home life
Quick For sprucing up
Tricks your mudroom
Alre ady have a functioning mudroom
that needs a little refresh? Dress it up
with a few simple tricks!
Replacing basic lighting with a fixture that
has personality will take your space from 0
to 60 in no time at all.
Try adding a patterned rug for a spot of
color and texture. If you have an existing
bench, toss in a few throw pillows for a
dash of color or invest in an upholstered
seat pad. Freshen up your look by
updating hooks and handles: Replace
silver hooks and handles with on-trend
brass hardware or add a whimsical
element through playful hardware.
Make your mudroom into a space that
shows your family you value their day-today activities. Display art or achievements
on a bulletin board. Personalize elements
like storage bins to remind your family that
this space is designed just for them! No
matter what type of organization will best
serve your family, a well ordered mudroom
sets your home on the right track.
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April / May 2015
Peg coat rack
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shelving
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April / May 2015
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