Make The Most Of Your Mudroom Storage

Make The Most Of Your Mudroom Storage
By Kathleen Elias, Fri Dec 9th

Since most of us spend our busy lives entering and exiting thehouse through the garage, it is beneficial to keep the mudroomstorage area organized and functional. This high-traffic zone isusually the space between the garage door and the kitchen,consisting of a hall closet and laundry room. But, just becausethe mudroom storage area is the Grand Central Station of yourhouse, doesn’t mean that it has to look that way by lacking inthe aesthetic department. This is a great area to be creativewith your organizing skills and decorating skills.

Because there may be muddy shoes, snow-covered boots, and wetdogs trotting through, you will want to invest in all-weatherflooring. You also want to place convenient storage optionswithin reach so your family does not need to travel far toundress from their outerwear. Observe how this mudroom storagearea is currently used by your family. Then, try to accommodatetheir habits, in an organized matter.

Keep the 3 Mudroom Storage Areas Organized:

1.Entry Hall Closet – One of the biggest mistakes people makewith their entry hall closets is jamming them so tight thatthere is never enough room for guests’ coats. Try to leaveenough room for at least four extra guest coats. If yougenerally have more than four visitors over at a time, youshould increase the amount of space.

Useful closet storage ideas: •Shoe or boot racks placed eitherinside or right outside of the closet will keep them organizedand prevent them from turning into one big bottomless pile.•Plastic drawers are a clever way to store hats, gloves, keys,etc. If you have the room, giving each person their own draweris a fun way for everyone to keep organized. •Plastic containersstored up on the shelf are an ideal way to keep out-of-season ornot frequently used sports equipment out of the way. •Hooks onthe inside of the door are great for hanging umbrellas, scarves,hats, or bags.

2.Laundry Room – For many homes, the laundry room has evolvedinto a multi-purpose room for not only doing laundry, but forironing, kenneling the pet, storing pet supplies, keepinghousehold cleaning supplies, etc. Spend some time organizing andgain control of your laundry room.

Useful laundry room ideas: •Shelves or cupboards are a wiseinvestment to add above the washing machine and dryer. Beingconveniently located near the laundry facilities will ease thechore by holding supplies such as detergent, bleach, dryersheets, and spot removers. If there happens to be a window orsome other item above the machines, find another wall to add theshelves or cupboard. If you have a pet, designate one cupboardfor his supplies. Really, the more cupboards you can add, thebetter. •Wire racks placed in cupboards can maximize your space.•A drying rack that attaches to the wall will save you floorspace. •A fold-out ironing board is a great option if you don’twant to bother with a big bulky board. •Dog gate or baby gate isa good item to have if you keep your pet inside the laundry roomwhen you leave. With a gate, you can leave the door open so hecan see out and get better air circulation. •A broom holder isnice to mount on the wall and keep brooms and mops off thefloor. •A hand-held vacuum that mounts on the wall is anexcellent item for those mudroom area messes.

3.Hallway Space Between the Closet and the Laundry Room – Thisspace is very valuable and should not go unutilized.

Useful hallway ideas: •Lockers or cubbies have become a popularitem for this area. This, of course, is only a good idea if youhave a nice wide entry way. But giving each person their ownlocker is an easy way for everyone to keep their individualitems organized. •Wall hooks on the outside wall is anotherconvenient way to just grab a jacket and go. This is also agreat option for hanging extra coats when guests are over.Additionally, this is a well-situated spot for hanging a dogleash. •Wicker baskets or plastic containers are useful items tostore sports equipment or pet toys. The kinds with lids work thebest (otherwise your pooch will be tempted to empty thecontainers himself!) •A Bench or chair is a nice addition fortaking a seat when tying up the shoe laces.

Who would’ve thought that there could be so many organizingopportunities in this small space? You and your family willreally appreciate this new and improved organized mudroomstorage area.

Copyright 2005 by Kathleen Elias - Editors are welcome to usethis article for content as long as the article and authorbiography are reprinted in their entirety and an active weblinkremains intact.

About the author:Kathleen Elias is the editor of www.Home-Organizing-Ideas.com, awebsite focused on organizing your home room by room. It offersoriginal ideas, expert advice, and a monthly newsletter to helpyou reach your organizing goals. To contact the editor or findmore information on organizing your home and life visit www.Home-Organizing-Ideas.com.