By: Jason Kay
Submitted: 2009-12-12 18:05:57 | Word Count: 540
A mudroom bridges the gap between the indoors and the outdoors. Usually the mudroom is not the entrance of the house but it may be connected to a side or read door. In the winter time a mudroom is usually the place where everyone kicks their boots off and if you’re lucky hangs their coats up. Anyone who lives in a northern state knows just how cluttered and unorganized a mudroom can get due to a pile up of winter boots, umbrellas, coats, hats, you name it. So how do you organize your mudroom and knock out the clutter?
There are no scientific methods to organizing a mudroom, but here are some tips that will help you to keep yours ship shape:
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• Utilize your front hall closet: Most front foyers or hallways have a closet where coats can be hung. The problem is that many people leave those closets for guests that might come by. This is silly. Utilize your closet space and stock the closet with hangers so that everyone who walks in the front door can hang their coats up before they have a chance to make it to the mudroom to drop their coats on the floor. Now actually getting your family to do it may be another matter.
• Makeover your mudroom: Most mudrooms have places where you and your family can place their boots and hooks for your coats and even places for your other winter items such as hats and mittens. But do you have enough? You can always take some time and evaluate your current mudroom needs. If you find that your needs are not being met then it is time for a mudroom makeover. You can add hooks if need be and take this opportunity to clear out everything in your mudroom and mudroom closet and go to town on your organization.
• Create extra space: Inside your mudroom closet is all kinds of space that can be utilized. There are shoe organizers and small dresser like pieces that can be purchased so that you can make the most of your space. You will be surprised at how much extra space you can squeeze out of the same closet that was just packed to the brim.
• Remove excess clothing: As you go through your mudroom closet and the mudroom itself you will begin to notice that there may be more than one jacket that belongs to the same person in the household. That person may even be you. Then you may see three hats or a pair of mittens and a pair of gloves. The point is there is almost certainly some excess clothing, or clutter, that can be removed from the mudroom and put in other closets throughout the house. After all, you can only wear one set of winter cloths at a time.
Having a mudroom is a great way to keep the melted snow and of course the mud and other outside elements away from the rest of the house. But having a cluttered mudroom is no fun whatsoever. By utilizing the space you have and maybe executing a mudroom makeover you will once again be able to enjoy the convenience of your mudroom without the stress of the mess.
