{"id":134051,"date":"2022-02-02T11:51:06","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T16:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/?p=134051"},"modified":"2024-12-30T13:19:12","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T18:19:12","slug":"home-organization-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/home-organization-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Organization Tips for Small Mudrooms"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you love the idea of <\/span>organizing <\/span>your space so that your <\/span>home <\/span>can have a functional mudroom? You are not alone. People are constantly searching for <\/span>tips <\/span>on turning even the smallest spaces into useful mudrooms so that they can finally corral everything from muddy boots to extra masks, keys, and phone chargers. If you find yourself wishing for a tidy mudroom, read on as we offer <\/span>home organization tips <\/span>that will help you craft the ideal mudroom in any space.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Install Hooks<\/b><\/p>\n

The very first thing you can do, no matter how big or small the proposed mudroom space, is put up hooks for coats, scarves, and masks. Hooks are one of the best <\/span>organizational<\/span> tools you\u2019ll find because they are relatively easy to install and affordable. You can go for a standard set of hooks, ones that are welded to other wood or metal platforms, or hooks that are part of a mirror and shelf system. And depending on the size of the hooks, you can also hang up easily misplaced items like keys or pet leashes rather than creating an additional drop station.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you stumped about positioning? Designer Jade McNeil offers this <\/span>tip <\/span>to <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> readers: \u201c\u2018Hooks [should be] at arm-height to hang coats easily,\u2019\u201d while also keeping them clean and off the floor.\u00a0With this in mind, you may want two tiers of hooks to make everything accessible to the entire family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Does your <\/span>home <\/span>have zero free wall space to set up a hook\/drop station? The experts at <\/span>Better <\/span><\/i>Homes<\/span><\/i> & Gardens<\/span><\/i><\/a> offer this terrific <\/span>home organization tip<\/span>: \u201cSolid doors offer plenty of vertical space for hooks, while doors with windows up top can be outfitted with hanging items on the bottom.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Choose Sturdy Seating<\/b><\/p>\n

While you do not need a lot of furniture to make your mudroom useful, design experts agree that having sturdy seating can be a big plus. <\/span>Southern Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> is a fan of adding benches to mudrooms. Not only does a bench allow you to take off your muddy shoes or snowy boots more easily, but it becomes a terrific <\/span>home organization <\/span>tool. <\/span>Southern Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> raves: \u201cBenches offer ways for even more storage, whether under the bench with drawers or inside the bench with a flip-top.\u201d\u00a0Even simple benches offer enough space below them to store shoes, snowboards, and other seasonal gear that would otherwise take up valuable closet space.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DIY Boot and Shoe Trays<\/b><\/p>\n

If you have beautiful floors near your main entryway that you fear for every time someone comes in from the outside with sandy, wet, or muddy shoes, a durable tray may be the most affordable way to protect your flooring and allow for easy cleaning. <\/span>Southern Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> recommends trying this DIY <\/span>tip<\/span>: \u201cBuy a plastic boot tray and fill with pebbles (at your local craft store) for an effortless, DIY boot-drying area that will go with any d\u00e9cor style.\u201d\u00a0The shoe tray can also double as a repository for dripping umbrellas, eliminating the need for a separate umbrella stand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Select Durable Flooring<\/b><\/p>\n

If you are planning a more extensive remodel for your mudroom, take the opportunity to select durable flooring. Your mudroom will be the spot in your <\/span>home <\/span>that sees the most traffic. It needs to handle the usual wear and tear and the elements that may come with it. <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> offers this flooring <\/span>tip<\/span>: \u201cIf you\u2019re in the process of adding a mudroom to your <\/span>home<\/span>, opt for solid flooring, such as ceramic tile, luxury vinyl, or even stone; these options are more durable than hardwood or carpeting when it comes to wet weather.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Add Shelving, Corkboards, or PegBoards<\/b><\/p>\n

Are you short on time but long on the need for <\/span>home organization <\/span>solutions? The pros at <\/span>Better Homes & Gardens<\/span><\/i><\/a> offer this <\/span>tip <\/span>for creating an affordable mudroom: \u201cTake an afternoon to convert chaos into calm. Corkboard, S-hooks, drawers, and bars transform a sliver of blank wall into a by-the-door command center for outerwear, bags, and keys.\u201d\u00a0PegBoards are also terrific for garage or laundry mudrooms as they make hanging up small tools, gardening gloves, dustpans, and brooms a snap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Building small shelves in and around doors and windows can also provide your <\/span>home <\/span>with <\/span>organized <\/span>storage space for occasional use items. <\/span>Better <\/span><\/i>Homes<\/span><\/i> & Gardens<\/span><\/i><\/a> applauds: \u201cNarrow shelves can be good spots for long-term storage of seasonal items like winter gloves and summertime hats.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have an unused or underused bookcase that could fit beside the door leading into your <\/span>home <\/span>from the garage, inside the laundry room, or by your main entrance? A terrific, zero-cost <\/span>tip <\/span>from the experts at <\/span>Better <\/span><\/i>Homes<\/span><\/i> & Gardens<\/span><\/i><\/a> is to repurpose it as an <\/span>organized <\/span>storage solution that is ready to go as part of your new mudroom. The <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a> explains: \u201cShift shelves in a big bookcase to make larger areas for coats and boots and tighter spaces for flats and accessories. Assign a number to each family member and purchase decorative items with preprinted numbers, such as hooks, mugs, boxes, and bags, to bring order to your <\/span>home<\/span> — no additional labeling required.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Build a Drop Station<\/b><\/p>\n

If you have the space to create a larger drop station, you will love the promise of <\/span>organization <\/span>it brings to your daily life. If you are doing a significant build and have the budget, it\u2019s time to create a space that addresses all of your storage and charging needs. Phoebe Schuh, the founder and creative director of PS & Daughters, tells <\/span>Martha Stewart Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> that people designing from scratch should \u201c[build] drawers with charging docks to eliminate countertop areas covered in wires as a smart way to streamline the space.\u201d And if you have the room, Schuh goes even further by recommending to the <\/span>Magazine<\/span><\/a> that people can create a mudroom that is actually an \u201c<\/span>organized<\/span> \u2018command center\u2019\u201d when they install a small desk or countertop area in the mudroom for things like \u201c\u2018car keys, calendars, schedules, incoming mail, and outbound envelopes (don\u2019t forget the stamps).\u2019\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Create a Chalkboard Wall<\/b><\/p>\n

If your entryway has a long narrow hallway and a front closet, removing the doors to the closet can create an ideal mudroom. But while it\u2019s perfect for adding hooks, bins, and benches, it may not be the command center you may desire yet. <\/span>Real Simple<\/span><\/i><\/a> has a <\/span>home organization tip <\/span>that you may enjoy: On the wall opposite your new mudroom, create \u201ca giant chalkboard wall calendar [to keep] everyone on top of schedules and to-do lists.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Hang a \u201cLast Looks\u201d Mirror<\/b><\/p>\n

When finishing your <\/span>home<\/span>\u2019s new mudroom, add one final element next to the space, on the back of the door, or within the mudroom itself: A mirror. <\/span>Southern Living<\/span><\/i><\/a> agrees: When days are stressful and rushed, you\u2019ll appreciate having a \u201clast looks\u201d mirror \u201cfor that last hair, makeup, and outfit check on your way out the door.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"