Adobe Stock | Photo by Joe Hendrickson
With the rainy months of spring ahead, Poughkeepsie-based architect Daniel Contelmo shares his tips for creating an effective mudroom.
What does every mudroom need?
“Organized storage and a place to sit down.”
What is the ideal size?
“It needs to be a minimum of seven feet wide and as long as you can make it. I prefer corridor mudrooms with a 2’-0” space along one wall for coats, a 3’-6” aisle and at least 1’-6” of storage on the opposite wall.”
Where should it ideally be located in the home?
“Considerations for a mudroom should include location (proximity to the garage and kitchen), and access. They can have from one to four doors. We are designing a space currently that exists as a breezeway. It requires access from the front, rear, garage, and kitchen.”
What kind of storage is necessary to make it as useful as possible?
“We use a lot of hooks. It creates a variety of ways to hang and store one’s belongings. There should [also] be plenty of general storage, but to create organization, each person needs their own cubby, shelves, or cabinets. To make the space flow, everything needs to be off the floor and on a designated shelf or hook. Kids are more likely to put their belongings away if they have their own space.”
What is one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make with this space?
“Not taking advantage of the space you have. Lay out shelves for shoes to fit the height of the shoe or boot and not more. Build your storage to the ceiling and over doorways and leave room for a stepladder [to reach everything].”
What are some clever solutions for a mudroom?
“We have installed mudrooms under a stair leading to a second floor, with a seat on the lower end. We will also use space in oversized garages or use a garage bay as the mudroom, and then build an additional bay if necessary.”
