Clear as mud

How to make a mudroom anytime, anywhere

- Caroline Moratti

With winter looming, a mudroom has become an important place to counter outdoor clutter creeping into your living space. From wet umbrellas and dirty shoes to sandy towels, a mudroom isn’t only a place to contain mess, it’s a place to put order into a household just as much as an entryway can. Sometimes though, you really need a dumping room where you can put things until you’re ready to deal with them, or at the very least, boiled the kettle for a calming cup of tea. Here’s how to make a mudroom in your home or incorporate one to your pre-existing laundry space.

The basics

A bench is a must for any savvy mudroom, bonus points if it's got built-in storage. A place to sit down to put shoes on and off, check your phone, take a breather from the day. Add a squab in a nice colour or pattern for that all-important interior design touch.

Don't skimp on storage. You've heard the expression save it for a rainy day, well, that day has come. You'll want enough cupboards to make room for gumboots, raincoats, and umbrellas, all your wet-weather gear. These cupboards should be big enough to give these items proper room to air out. There's nothing worse than a scrunched-up, damp raincoat left to fester. Long, vertical cupboards with a built-in rack are what to have here, utilise them well. If you lack the space for cupboards, go for wall hooks as a cheap, easy alternative.