We’re transforming an underused area of our home into a hardworking mud room for our family of four. In this post, I’m sharing our must-haves, custom built-in plans, and all the details behind the design.
As our kids get older and life gets busier, we’ve noticed just how much stuff comes in and out of our home every day. We have backpacks, school bags, sports equipment, and dirty shoes everywhere. We’ve always dreamed of having a functional mudroom, but living in a city home means we don’t have separate rooms to dedicate to one.
So we decided to create our own mudroom space by reimagining an existing room right off our living room—essentially turning it into a buffer zone between the entry door and the rest of the home.
Our Living Room in 2019
When we first bought our house, the living room was actually two separate rooms. You’d walk in the front door and immediately be greeted by a wall. It was not exactly the most welcoming entry.
So we took the wall down and added a steel beam, creating one big open space. This renovation was a major undertaking, but it has made a huge difference in the feel of our home.
The Living Room Now
While we love how open and airy it feels now, the area behind the couch has never really worked as hard as it could. It became a landing spot for our full-length mirror and a chaise for our couch, but it hasn’t functioned very well for us and seems like wasted space.
With two school-aged kids and a busy household, we needed a better system. Our coat closet was doing the most work, housing internet equipment, the vacuum, shoes, coats for the entire family, and trying to squeeze in guest items when needed.
Meanwhile, backpacks and school gear were ending up on the kitchen counters or by the dining table. We knew it was time to invest in a space that worked better for our daily routines.
Mudroom Must-Haves
Before finalizing the design, I asked my Instagram community what they considered must-haves for a well-designed mudroom. The top answers included:
- Closed storage – This was the number one response, and I couldn’t agree more. While open cubbies and hooks look adorable on Pinterest, they just aren’t practical for our family.
- Lots of electrical outlets – A charging spot for every family member is key.
- Hooks for bags, hats, and random extras – Hooks at various heights are great for grabbing things on the go.
- A spot for the vacuum – We still need to store our Dyson and the charging dock.
- Bench seating – A built-in bench makes it easier to take shoes on and off.
- Hidden shoe storage – Shoes are the one thing that always seem to multiply at the door.
All of these details add up to a space that doesn’t just look good, but actually works for our daily life.
Working with AI to Visualize the Plan
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