6 New Mudrooms With Great Storage Ideas

1. Cozy and Curated

Designer: Marylou Fraser Interiors
Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
Size: 108 square feet (10 square meters); 9 by 12 feet

Homeowners’ request. “As part of an addition, we doubled the existing space to include a built-in bench,” designer Marylou Fraser says. “Then we designed a custom cabinet to house my client’s treasured purses.

Storage features. “An abundant wall of tall cabinet storage also includes a counter for mail and keys and has a phone-charging station,” Fraser says. “The cozy dog bed is tucked under to accommodate their new puppy. The mirrored interior doors open to a flood of warm light. Perfect for a last-minute glance before leaving home.”

Other special features. Grasscloth wallpaper. Patterned Roman shade. Green cushion. Lantern-style pendant light.

Designer tip. “Add color and texture to a space to create an inviting atmosphere,” Fraser says.

Wallcovering: Fuji Weave in Treehouse, Phillip Jeffries; shade fabric: Cala Figuera, Gaston y Daniela

Designer: Haiku Durden of HDS Design
Location: Wilton, Connecticut
Size: 54 square feet (5 square meters); 3½ by 15½ feet

Homeowners’ request. “There was no storage save for two small closets with doors,” designer Haiku Durden says. “They had taken the doors off of the closets and hung mirrors and some hooks on the wall, but for a family of four they were outgrowing that space. Plus there was no place to sit to put the shoes on.”

Storage features. Relocating an HVAC vent allowed Durden to create four storage bays painted in Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. “The left has an upper storage cabinet, a large pin board for the family calendar, with ample countertop space for all the mail, keys and packages,” Durden says. “Below are two drawers for sunglasses, a charging dock for iPads and storage for gloves, hats, etc. The bottom drawer has four sections so each family member has their own. The cabinet on the bottom is for Dad’s briefcase and Mom’s many bags.

“The second bay is not as deep as others due to the vent, but the upper cabinet has storage for hand sanitizers, sun and bug screens, tissues, etc. Below are six hooks for kids’ coats. The third bay has an upper cabinet, hooks on the wall, a bench to sit on and underneath shelves for shoe storage. The fourth bay has an upper cabinet and coat storage with room for boots.”

Other special features. The custom cabinets are maple with MDF panels. The walls are vinyl grasscloth wallpaper. “It’s entirely wipeable,” Durden says. The cabinet hardware is knurled, which “doesn’t show fingerprints,” Durden says.

Designer tip. “Always think about who uses this room and how,” Durden says. “Grouping like items together saves time and helps keep the room tidy. You don’t see handbag storage in mudroom designs very often, yet most women have several they use at one time. Giving kids their designated space makes things more streamlined. Ditto for keeping all sunscreen, bug spray and other items together.”

Custom cabinetry: TT Woodworking

3. Fresh With a Nod to France

Designers: Sallie Elliott and Taylor Hummel of Nathan Homes
Builder: Nathan Bumgardner of Nathan Homes
Location: Elkhorn, Nebraska
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters); 10 by 10 feet

Homeowners’ request. “This is a model home featured in the Omaha area Street of Dreams 2024, a multisite luxury tour of homes,” designer Sallie Elliott says. “French-inspired by the region of Normandy, each space of the house has its own special moment weaving the story of a cozy French villa.”

Storage features. “We decided on open cubbies rather than closed lockers,” Elliott says. “Since this style of home would be for a discerning client rather than a hardworking area, we wanted the space to feel pretty yet functional. The cabinetry is painted Great Barrington Green by Benjamin Moore, which has an olive hue that coordinates with the back wallpaper. The top bench seat is natural birch.”

Other special features. “Since we have snow in Omaha, we wanted to create a durable floor surface as you enter from the garage,” Elliott says. “We used brick-look ceramic tile laid in a basketweave pattern for interest. The gorgeous wallpaper is Hague Fleurs Olive Bespoke Mural (Graham & Brown), which adds to the character of the space. Additionally, we used two brass towel bars hung upside down and added S hooks instead of a typical coat hook. The trim through the villa is Sherwin-Williams’ Light French Gray.”

Designer tip. “You don’t realize how much time you spend in a mudroom, so make it memorable,” Elliott says. “Find one thing you love and play off the theme. For us it was the wallpaper.”

Flooring: London ceramic tile in Brown, Ceramic Tileworks

Designer: Jessica Blue Interiors
Location: Chicago
Size: 50 square feet (4.7 square meters)

Homeowners’ request. “The clients are a busy family with two small kids,” designer Jessica Blue says. “They needed a functional landing space off of the garage entry to house shoes, coats and bags. We worked with a custom cabinetry business to create a built-in to stylishly help with all those concerns. The clients are big Francophiles and wanted to incorporate Parisian elements into the overall aesthetics.”

Storage features. “We designed overhead storage space to keep winter items such as gloves and scarves,” Blue says. “Hooks for open coat storage, a custom tufted bench seat for comfortable seating when putting on or taking off shoes and open storage below for shoes. We used Sherwin-Williams’ Creamy.”

Other special features. “Since the space was an overall creamy white, we decided incorporating warm accents like the gold hardware and tan-colored leather would help create interesting pops, especially off of the checkerboard marble flooring,” Blue says.

Designer tip. “I suggest painting the walls, millwork and ceiling the same color so everything is continuous and smooth,” Blue says.

Designer: Kelly Lord Designs (interior designer) and Megan Glenn Architecture
Location: Nolensville, Tennessee
Size: 108 square feet (10 square meters); 9 by 12 feet

Homeowners’ request. “This space needed to be multifunctional, as it would be the main family entrance into the home,” designer Kelly Lord says. “There needed to be a touchdown area for mail, keys, etc., as well as a spot for kids’ schoolbags, sports bags and shoes. This would also be the place for doing all family laundry and housing cleaning supplies and the kitty litter box.”

Storage features. “We designed custom cabinetry to maximize function,” Lord says. “The paint color is Benjamin Moore Flora. The cubbies under the bench do not have a base — that way shoes can easily be kicked under the bench (when the baskets are placed elsewhere). This is also great for cleaning. We have a tall cabinet with an outlet inside to house the cordless vacuum, where it can also be charged when not in use. On the laundry room side, we have pullout drying racks and a clever cutout in the cabinet for the kitty litter box to be hidden in.”

Designer tip. “We really customized this space to the family’s needs and habits,” Lord says. “I always ask detailed questions about whether or not you fold clothes in your laundry room, how much you hang-dry. Finding clever ways to conceal the litter box. Think about your habits and how you function when putting things away. Do you want everything behind closed doors so it’s tidy, or if it’s behind closed doors are you less likely to put things away because there is more effort involved — usually we’re thinking more about the kids here.”

Designers: Mitch Votolato (architectural designer) of Sweenor Builders and Kristen Martone (interior designer) of Graceke Design
Location: Charlestown, Rhode Island
Size: 82 square feet (7.6 square meters)

Homeowners’ request. “This mudroom had to function for this family of four and their large-breed dog,” designer Mitch Votolato says. “The paneling was designed to align with the top of the door frames and to disguise a hidden door for storage of gym and sports equipment bags. Additionally, a bench was desired to be able to comfortably sit and take shoes on and off.”

Storage features. Hooks, shelf and open boot storage. “There is also a hidden storage door underneath a set of steps (not shown) that is large enough to fit sports equipment bags, towels and toiletries for the two outdoor showers that are directly outside this space,” Votolato says.

Other special features. “This space is constructed out of Azek (an outdoor building material) since this area is located in a flood zone,” Votolato says. “This space needed to be designed as a front entry for the family, as this is their main access point from the garage.”

“Uh-oh” moment. “The most challenging part of the design was deciding at what height to begin the board-and-batten panels in relation to the stairs, and door heights,” Votolato says. “We constructed a few mockups to help make the decision, as well as used a 3D modeling software to easily share ideas with the homeowners.”

Wall, trim and door paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore

Having a hardworking entry is perhaps the best way to keep a home tidy. The right storage components can help organize coats, shoes, sports equipment and other items before they clutter up other areas of the house. Here, designers share the cabinet details, paint colors and material choices they selected to create stylish and functional mudrooms. (cited)