What is a Mudroom?
What is the purpose of a mudroom in a house? The entryway to your home is your guest’s first impression and the threshold before truly entering your home. The entryway or mudroom should act as a barrier between your clean home and the rest of the world, so it needs to be able to store shoes, jackets, bags, umbrellas, and more, without looking disorganized or cluttered.
Whereas an entryway is a door to the outside with accouterments around it to accommodate folks entering through that door, a mudroom is an actual mini room that does the same—but with more opportunity for storage.
You might wonder how to create and decorate an entryway. So how does one go about this seemingly daunting task? It comes down to merging your style, your home’s color scheme, and your storage needs. The first place to start is decluttering and paring down what you store in the mudroom.
We will answer all your entryway and mudroom questions, from how to style an entryway table to what size rug for an entryway, how big should entryway mirror be, and more. We’ve got the mudroom ideas and entryway storage inspirations for an entryway where you will be pleased to greet guests.
How to Decorate an Entryway or Mudroom
How do I style my entryway? We have a few entryway mudroom ideas that will help you make the most of your mudroom or entryway. When decorating, keep within a color scheme to keep the room from looking too busy; stick with neutral tones with pops of color here and there, such as decorative entryway rugs that add interest and excitement. What size rug for an entryway? Too big of a rug will overwhelm the room, while too small will look dinky. You want the rug to be sized with space around it to show the natural flooring.
How do you stage a mudroom? When staging for a home showing, it’s important to store all personal clutter out of sight, as this will make the room look so much neater and put together. Every item in this space, from hooks to tables, should have a purpose. From there, it’s a matter of having all the entryway essentials.
How to Make Your Entryway Welcoming
How do I make my entryway welcoming? You’ll want a counter or table space. So how to decorate your entryway table? Candles, flowers in decorative vases, or art will make for perfect table decorations. A colorful rug makes the space feel more welcoming, providing warm, hopeful vibes. Proper lighting is another huge asset to your entryway or mudroom; it will illuminate the space and provide depth. If you don’t have good overhead lighting, add a statement lamp that will provide both style and light.
Adding a personal touch with a few strategically placed family portraits can be advantageous for making the space feel more welcoming. Seating is another opportunity to give guests a warm reception. Providing a spot to get off their feet while removing their shoes is considerate and invites them to feel at home from the get-go.
How do I decorate a small entryway? A mirror is a great way to make a space look larger, as the reflection helps the space look more expansive. Hooks in the wall and a small bench with underfoot storage for shoes and baskets are great ways to get around limited space. With small entryways, it’s all the more critical to declutter regularly and keep personal items to a minimum.
Entryway Must-Haves
What is usually in a mud room or entryway? Keep it simple while meeting essential storage, style, and organization needs. The climate you live in will impact the needs of your mudroom; areas subject to a lot of rain or snow will need lipped plastic mats to prevent wet shoes from leaking onto your floors. We find that the best entryways and mudrooms feature the following accouterments.
What to put in the entryway:
- Entryway tables for setting down keys and other personal items when you first walk in
- A bench for sitting down to put on shoes
- Storage for shoes, jackets, and bags
- A rug to keep the floor from being slippery when it gets wet, and/or waterproof mats to prevent wet shoes from damaging your floor
What do you hang on the wall in a mudroom?
- Hooks for jackets, umbrellas, and miscellaneous items
- A mirror for that last makeup check before dashing out the door
- Wall decor, such as art or framed hopeful sayings (think “There’s No Place Like Home”)
How big should the entryway mirror be? If it is above a table or bench, you want the mirror to be 2/3-3/4 the width of the furniture piece. Wondering how high to hang that entryway mirror? You want the average person to be at eye level with it; the bottom of the mirror should be approximately 5 feet from the floor and the top around 6 feet above.
Mudroom Storage & Organization Ideas
Mudrooms are essential for storing and keeping personal items hidden so your home presents in its most put-together form. Mudroom ideas should stem from your desire for the vibe of the entryway. Do you want an exciting entrance with many colors and detailed art, or a serene, calming space to gently welcome visitors into your home? Either way, the less visible clutter, the better, which is why storage units are so awesome.
Wondering how to hide shoes in an entryway? If you don’t have space for a full storage closet, entryway benches often provide a storage area underneath the seat for shoes or baskets to store essential cold-weather items like hats and gloves or summer items like bug spray and sunscreen.
Wondering how to organize the entryway? If you have a multi-person household, it’s a good idea to have separate, labeled partitions among the storage to denote who puts their items where. A storage unit with cubbies for hanging coats, storing shoes, and keeping other to-go items is best.
Your home is your sanctuary, your heart. Clutter is the main enemy that will muddle the crisp, neat look you are going for. Entryways and mudrooms act as a barrier between the dust, dirt, and stress of the outside world and the clean oasis of your home. Keeping your entryway or mudroom simple and sleek is vital when decorating your entryway or mudroom.
