Design a stylish, all-in-one laundry-mudroom space

Learn how to create a neat, stylish laundry and mudroom space all in one.

“A great mudroom and laundry room space needs built-in storage that makes staying organized easy and

fuss free … Rachel divided the space perfectly with the built-ins, which are stocked with storage

but don’t feel too heavy or bulky—that

openness

is important for a small

room like this.”

—Jickie Torres

With the first space in our Project House 2020 officially built,

we can’t wait to give you a tour. If you have been following the story, this labor of love is a collaboration between Cottages & Bungalows, our sister publication American Farmhouse Style, J.J. and Lindsey Morris of Scissortail Homes, and Rachel Shingleton of Pencil Shavings Studio. This joint effort gives you an inside look at building a darling dream home from scratch. This issue, we’re debuting the mudroom/laundry room.

Take a peek online and you’ll instantly find millions of pinned ideas and inspiration for those who dream of a beautiful and organized laundry room. Who wouldn’t want a sanctuary where you can escape from the mundane while folding and hanging up clothes?

Such a space, albeit small, was built into our project home, which is packed with plenty of cottage charm and functionality. This dual mudroom/laundry room is located in the middle of the home, has an exterior door and opens into the hallway connecting to the rest of the house.

With roughly 6 feet by 7 feet to work with, our design team set out to create an efficient, cottagey space. “We needed everything to work really hard for us,” explains Rachel. “It’s tiny, but that’s the fun of these little mudrooms. We built in as much storage as possible.”

WORK WITH YOUR WALL SPACE

When designing a laundry room, use up your vertical or wall space to maximize storage. “Take those cabinets as far up as you can,” Rachel says. “Store things up high you’re not necessarily using all the time.”

This laundry area runs along one wall, which includes cabinets above and beside the washer/dryer to extend the workspace, plus a hanging rod above and a wooden shelf for keeping necessary laundry items at hand.

On the opposite wall, the mudroom area is composed of a mix of enclosed and exposed storage. A bench, deep cabinets, two cubbies below for shoes and four cubbies above create an effective drop zone for a busy family.

“In this particular space it was about creating room to hang things, to air dry clothes and bathing suits, to get the coats and boots put away, and for everyone in the family to have their own cubby above,” Rachel says.

COTTAGE COLOR WITH A MODERN VIBE

For a soothing space, color is of utmost importance. While this color scheme is traditional cottage, the desert hues of cactus and earthy pink have modern appeal.

“The color we used in the laundry room/mudroom area is a classic fresh green, which gives a nod to a country palette and Shaker-style cabinetry, both parts of the roots of cottage style,” says Jickie Torres, brand leader for Cottages & Bungalows. “The cabinet detailing balances well with the more modern pulls.”

A ceramic antique white gloss tile with a pinkish tint from Crossville Inc. and a zigzag stripe bring a subtle tone-on-tone look to the floor. “I loved that it felt like it’s handmade,” Rachel says. “We kept it very simple … It’s an interesting mix and contrast of materials, but all very natural, nothing too contemporary.”

LESS MESS, LESS STRESS

Consider how your laundry room/mudroom will feel during your everyday chores and hustle and bustle. This utilitarian space was designed to be as pretty as it is multifunctional. “A great mudroom and laundry room space needs built-in storage that makes staying organized easy and fuss free,” Jickie says. “Rachel divided the space perfectly with the built-ins, which are stocked with storage but don’t feel too heavy or bulky—that openness is important for a small room like this.”

With readily available cubbies and cabinets, you can stash jackets and contain clutter, while wall hooks allow easy access to everyday things. “We wanted to make it so it’s easy to be tidy,” says Lindsey. “I think about how a family with young kids would want to walk in through the back door and immediately have a place to hang a purse and kids’ book bags as they come in.”

“We needed everything to work really hard for us … It’s tiny, but that’s the fun of these little mudrooms. We built in as much

storage as possible.” —Rachel Shingleton

IOPPOSITE AND BELOWI A mix of enclosed and exposed storage allows for concealed clutter as well as easy access to everyday items. Diamond cutouts in the custom cabinetry add a cozy cottage element. Open cubbies and a custom bench create a convenient way to doff shoes.

The natural wood finishes by Woodgrain blend beautifully with the earthy floor tile pattern from Crossville Inc. “The tile flooring has a very subtle pattern. We fell in love with it and just had to use it,” Rachel says. WEB Go online to get Rachel’s favorite tips and tools for organizing a mudroom and laundry room.