Entryway Makeover: Small Mudroom Ideas
Create a clutter-free entry zone.
No matter what size mudroom or entryway you have, furnishing and designing your mudroom or entryway can maximize the space. The first step is to determine what tasks you want to be able to accomplish in your mudroom/entryway. At a minimum, you'll want a small space and organization ideas to drop off muddy shoes and boots, cubbies for raincoats and umbrellas, and built-in hooks for backpacks and other clutter family members bring into the house and drop by the entryway. At the maximum, you'll want to have your laundry room in the space as the laundry room will be the perfect place to put clothes that have just come from outside. Our sample homeowners’ home didn’t have a laundry room or large entry off the back door, so they had an idea to spruce up their landing area to allow for some basic mudroom or entryway necessities without sacrificing style. A few simple ideas, and this mudroom looks amazing!
Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
Painting a mudroom is one of the most affordable ideas to make a dramatic difference in a space. This back mudroom had old panels painted a yellow color. These homeowners were able to transform the mudroom with a fresh coat of white paint. As part of a bigger renovation in the breakfast room, they also had the bright idea to remove the mudroom's tongue-and-groove ceiling to make the ceiling level from the back of the house through the breakfast and kitchen area. The mudroom's faux brick that was on the lower half of the wall got primed and painted the same color as the walls to fit a seamless idea. The wood floor and stairs in the mudroom also got a fresh coat of paint using a special floor paint. Painting is one of the much more affordable mudroom ideas when compared to reflooring the entire mudroom.
Stair railings can really date a mudroom. The stair railing in this back entry was not secure and featured a traditional style. The homeowners used a great DIY mudroom idea and painted to update the railing for a more minimalist mudroom idea and streamlined look that still matched their front staircase. They applied the same mudroom idea to the wood floor and stairs which also got a fresh coat of paint!
Now with a fresh coat of paint and new stair railings, it was time to focus on the functionality of the space. There was no shelves or cubbies for storage and nowhere to hang coats or put their shoes when the homeowners entered the home. When the exterior renovations were done on this house, the window on the left wall was eliminated. This left a hole in the paneling that needed to be covered, so this became their new built-in mudroom idea for storage with plenty of hooks, shelves, and cubbies for each member of their family to hang clutter like coats and keep gloves in the winter months.
To finish off this space, a new back door and light fixture were installed to create a beautiful back entry. The homeowners painted the door black for a little contrast to the all-white space, which balanced out the black cabinets in the kitchen. And they hung a gold light fixture to match the breakfast room lighting and provide a little contrast in mixed metals.
Overall, this space went from a boring, mixed/matched, and completely nonfunctional space to a beautiful, compact mudroom that provides the homeowners with the space they need to enter and exit their home more comfortably.
Ashley is the voice behind the Design & DIY Blog Cherished Bliss. She has been blogging for over 10 years where she loves to inspire people to turn their house into a home with realistic DIY Projects and affordable design ideas. She has been recognized by multiple media outlets including Better Homes and Gardens, Country Woman, and Good Housekeeping. Follow along with her designs on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
