MUDROOM SEASON
Organize your home’s entryway for the messes fall and winter can bring
Preparing your entryway for messes
Boots and shoes that clutter that front area are the biggest issues ...
With our messy, unpredictable weather, having some sort of a mudroom is almost essential an organized place to keep jackets, hats, mitts, umbrellas, footwear, sports gear, and so much more. Quite often, this transitional space becomes a catch-all for a wide range of things, and can quickly turn messy and cluttered, which is unfortunate since it’s often the first room you see when you enter a home. But with the right design and organizational systems in place, a household’s mudroom can be an efficient area that makes coming and going that much easier.
“Mudrooms are often the entryway in a home, which means they’re likely the first room you enter, so making them a functional space that can neatly house all of your outdoor gear is a great way to maximize their potential,” said Julie Cassetina, public relations manager at Wayfair. “Having the right storage pieces will help you stay organized and can also help preserve and protect your home.”
Mudrooms are particularly useful in winter months, when everyone at home has extra gear in keeping with the season.
“You want to have these things be as easy and accessible as possible,” said professional organizer Allison Weigensberg, owner of Everything In Place. “What is really important to do is to think about who is using the space and creating the least amount of work they can do when using the space. The less work there is, the more likely they are to maintain it.”
She suggested integrating things like sturdy coat racks or hooks instead of relying on people to hang their coats in a closet, which can seem like work, especially for the kids. Then, store winter-wear accessories in accessible bins near the front door; keep a few select things out in small containers and store extras elsewhere (making use of that coat closet).
It’s all the footwear, however, that can get the most disorganized in a mudroom.
“Boots and shoes that clutter that front area are the biggest issues people ask about,” Weigensberg said.
She suggested putting down a small mat to create a space or zone so everyone can clearly see where footwear goes, and then each family member can choose one or two pairs to keep out, depending on space. The spares go in that aforementioned closet.
Casset in a recommended shoe-cubby benches, as they can accommodate so much more than your favourite boots and sneakers.
“They’re great for storing pet leashes, toys, gloves, mittens, hats, beach towels and more,” she said. “Hall trees are also a great investment for the mudroom as they can store coats and jackets, as well as footwear and accessories.”
Outdoor rugs are a smart mudroom staple as they typically withstand the elements like snow, dirt and water better than indoor rugs. Plus, most outdoor rugs are made from polypropylene, which can be cleaned easily.
And don’t forget about our furry friends when organizing the mudroom. Cassetina said that a pet bed is another fantastic piece to incorporate in this space so your pooch has a place to dry off after coming in from the rain or snow.
The most important thing to remember when organizing a mudroom is: create a system that works for you and your household.
“Look at (the space) at its messiest and find your bottlenecks,” Weigensberg advised. “If you set up a system, you need to maintain that system. Take five minutes at the end of the day to pick up excess stuff.
“Organizing a mudroom is like exercise — it’s super awesome if you do it once, but you won’t see results unless you do consistently.”