Mock up a mudroom or a drop zone

Does the wet winter have you dreaming of a zone near your home’s entry where you can dump wet, muddy items without making a mess? We thought so.

The space goes by many names. In places with four distinct seasons and the related weather, people call it a mudroom. In more temperate climates with little variation, they call it a drop zone. Some homes may also use the space as a laundry room.

No matter what you call it, there’s nothing like a rainy start to the year to refresh the need for the mudroom or the drop zone or, perhaps, the mud zone.

All this wetness is certainly good for California. The Bay Area’s and much of Northern California’s generally mild climate doesn’t lend itself to year-round concerns over water, snow and mud on the floors.

Historically, therefore, new-home builders here might not have wanted to dedicate valuable living space to a mudroom. But the mudroom is about much more than mud.

Alternative entryway designs, storage solutions and garage arrangements may do the trick. We all know that architectural trends and preferences change. And nowadays more buyers are interested in functional spaces like these in their new homes.

New-home builders to the rescue. It’s much easier to build a mudroom when you’re starting from scratch, rather than trying to convert an existing space into an alternate entry or rearrange parts of the garage.

While there are similarities between a drop zone and a mudroom, a few factors distinguish one from the other. Learn which is right for you and ask builders what their home plans can accommodate.

For starters, a drop zone is not a room. It’s an area or part of a hallway and usually positioned near an entrance — either the front, the back, the side or coming in from the garage.

It may have room for people to leave shoes before walking through the house and may even have wall space for hooks to hold coats or bags. It might even include laundry equipment.

Before construction, view the preplanned space on the builder’s home plans to decide if you may want to customize it. If not already included, you may be able to add cabinets or a built-in bench seat during construction.

If you feel you’ll want more space than what comes standard in the drop zone area, ask before construction about carving space from adjoining rooms or the garage. Also look into flooring for the space that will withstand heavy use and dirt and that will transition nicely to the main-level flooring.

Does your builder’s home plan show what looks to be an entire room? If so, congratulations, you’ve got yourself a mudroom.

The mudroom may have as many as four doors in it — from the garage, from a bathroom, into an adjoining bedroom and/or into the rest of the house. If wall space allows, be sure to include a cabinet or ask the builder about carving out a coat closet.

The room may also include the washing machine, dryer and a surface for sorting, treating, folding and ironing. Given the plumbing needs for the washer, ask the builder about including a utility sink or a two-sided wash tub — a great spot to wash muddy shoes and pets.

Whether a drop zone or a mudroom, add personality to this space. Include framed art with whimsical sayings. Add a whiteboard or a chalkboard for notes to family members. Add a cute key rack or phonecharging station.

If there’s space for a bench, ask the builder to include at least one extra power outlet under or next to where the bench would go. You can install a cordless handheld vacuum cleaner there for easy cleanings.

Durable, colorful rugs and matching towels can liven up the space, too, and go right in the washer when they’re soiled. And remember some shoe racks, a nice laundry hamper and a stylish trash can to finish out the look and functionality.

How will you style and use your mudroom or drop zone?