How to Maintain a Neat and Tidy Mudroom All Year Round

Your mudroom or entryway is a major drop zone where everyone in the family likely puts their stuff when they enter your house—and they expect it to be there to pick up when they leave again. From coats, rain boots and umbrellas to tennis rackets, lacrosse sticks and baseball gloves, your family’s frequently-used belongings need their own storage spot in your mudroom so everything is easy to find when you need it.

But just because your mudroom has the necessary storage to hold everything your family needs to tackle work, school and sports day in and day out doesn’t mean it’s going to look perfect all year round.

Here are a few tips to keep your mudroom space organized through each season.

Assign spaces and do periodic sweeps

If you’ve got kids, you know how difficult it is to keep anything neat and organized. What can help? Assigning each person a spot in your mudroom. Create a spot for each person in your mudroom to hang his or her coat and school bag, store a few pairs of shoes, keep any other sports or outdoor equipment, as well as odds and ends. A shelf, a hook or two and some cubbies or below-bench shoe storage should accomplish this task. All you need is a bit of wall space!

Even if you’ve assigned spots for everyone to store their things, you may still need to conduct a weekly or bi-weekly mudroom sweep to remove things and place them in long-term storage. This might apply to jackets, coats, shoes and boots that are out of season, and sports equipment that’s no longer being used (off to the garage it can go!).

Combine open and hidden storage in your entryway

Sometimes it’s hard to make something look tidy even if it’s got its own space. Using a mix of open and hidden storage can easily solve this problem. For example, corralling loads of scarves, hats and gloves for each member of your family can be a challenge. Instead of storing them on a shelf or a hook, try a custom chest, drawers or cabinets to conceal this type of gear. This will help you keep the mudroom looking neat for your family—and any guests that enter your house through the mudroom.

Use indoor/outdoor fabrics

Your mudroom is the place for wet shoes, dirt, leaves, snow and whatever else anyone tracks into the house. It’s going to take a beating. But using sturdy fabrics, turning to high-quality custom mudroom materials that come with a lifetime limited warranty, and keeping some key cleaning supplies nearby can help you keep the space looking presentable.

If you’ve got tile or hardwood floors, turn to an indoor/outdoor rug that can handle traffic and will dry quickly. The same goes for cushions or pillows on your mudroom bench—stick with outdoor-friendly materials that can be cleaned easily.

Another tip for keeping your mudroom tidy: two welcome mats. Add a second mat inside the mudroom door to collect dirt the first one missed.

Storing a broom or brush and dustpan nearby can help you quickly and easily spruce up the space in any season.

Do a deep clean each season

Finally, you’ll need to mop floors, wipe down benches, cabinets and shelves and give the mudroom a deep clean a few times a year—ideally when seasons change or at other key times of year, such as at the beginning and end of the school year.

If you’re looking for ways to organize your mudroom or entryway, we can help! Reach out to us for a free, in-home consultation