Every New England home needs a mudroom – an informal entry area where you can shed your wet or dirty clothing and footwear instead of tracking mud and water into the rest of the living space.

Recently, this functional space that served as a transition area from outdoors to indoors has been transformed into a thing of beauty. New England sees its fair share of snow. And the time between the last real snow of the winter and the final thaw is known to be exceptionally wet and muddy. It’s during this period, as the ground begins to thaw and rain replaces snowflakes, that you genuinely appreciate a well-designed mudroom.

Today’s mudroom offers more than just a place to store shoes caked with mud and a hook to hang your wet raincoat, winter coat, scarf, and gloves – it’s a place of organized chaos.

Typically accessed through the back or side door, mudroom designs run the gamut from small and fundamental to a luxurious and welcoming space. When designing your mudroom, whether for a new custom built home or if you’re renovating an existing home, be sure to include space for a bench that includes storage under the cushion for shoes; an umbrella stand; hooks for coats and hats, and a hamper for dirty clothing.

If you really want to go hog wild, add cubbies for each family member where they can stow backpacks and sports gear, and a sink so you can wash up. Don’t forget to include a special cubby for the family pet where you can keep Fido’s leash, collar, baggies for feces pick up, and maybe even treats for a job well done.

A well-designed mudroom will help everyone leave their dirt at the door and reduce cleanup in the rest of the house. Harbor Classic Homes can help with your mudroom needs.