Residential Architecture: 5 Ideas for Designing a Mudroom

Elissa Morgante, AIA

Elissa Morgante, AIA
Founding Partner at Award Winning Chicago Architects, Morgante Wilson

Oct 14, 2013 - 5 min read

Residential Architecture: 5 Ideas for Designing a Mudroom

Mudrooms have long been one of our favorite spaces to work on, primarily because they’re one of the most frequently, and heavily, used rooms in a house. It’s a fun challenge for our talented team of Chicago architects to pack good looks, storage, and sometimes even whimsy into a space many people view as a mere necessity.

As residential architects, we know the biggest bonus that comes from a well-planned, highly-functional mudroom is that it keeps the rest of your house tidy. And because it’s typically the point of entry most of our clients will use to walk in and out of their homes, it needs to be a truly efficient space. Here are five of our favorite ways to make the most of any mudroom:

1. Think beyond closets and cubbies. Of course you’ll want a closet or cubbies with doors to stow coats, mittens, and maybe even a broom or mop. But a variety of storage – especially open storage - is the key to making a mudroom truly functional. Borrow some of the depth you may have intended to use just for a closet and build exposed shelves to hold outgoing library books, items you need to return, and birthday gifts waiting to be delivered. Giving stray items like these a dedicated home goes a long way toward de-cluttering your house.

2. If there are stairs leading from your mudroom up to first-floor living space, push into the angled wall beneath the staircase to create an open zone where guests can kick off their shoes without obstructing your entry door.

3. Deep drawers also maximize otherwise-wasted wall space underneath stairs. They’re ideal for housing bulky sports equipment and shoes. Bonus: you won’t have to bend over to retrieve what you need. Just pull the drawer open, grab, and go. Drawers such as these can usually be built quite reasonably by a carpenter.

4.Nothing – and I mean, nothing – beats the convenience of a sink in your mudroom. Large or small, it’s ideal for washing the dog’s muddy paws, and the kids’ dirty hands. That way you eliminate dirt before it even enters your house. Specify a foot pedal in place of hot and cold handles for mess-free, germ-free operation.

5. Allocate space for a family message center that includes a bulletin board, a chalk board, and a mirror. “Back in ten,” “Practice at 5:00,” and “Don’t forget milk!” are handy reminders alongside the door. Tack party invites and receipts for return on a nearby corkboard. Include a mirror, too, so you can make sure there’s no spinach in your teeth before you leave the house.

Plan an efficient, well-organized mudroom and you’ll be amazed by the clutter-busting impact it has on the rest of your house. For more ideas on mudrooms – and ways to make them as beautiful as the rest of your house – give Morgante-Wilson Architects a call!

Elissa Morgante, AIA

Elissa Morgante, AIA

Founding Partner at Award Winning Chicago Architects, Morgante Wilson