A Busy Family Mudroom

This client's home was a work-with-what-you-have challenge. They had just moved into a new house, which would be home to three adults and a golden retriever. They were also about to leave town for several weeks, so we were on a tight schedule. The goal was to tidy up, contain the clutter, and get a system in place that would hold until they had more time to think about their long-term goals for the space.

This mudroom area is used as the main entrance and exit for the home, especially when it comes to taking the dog for walks or just letting him in and out for the yard. The client had a lot of stuff in this area when we started - dog toys, leashes, and other care items, grocery bags, hats and gloves, miscellaneous outdoor gear, and many many shoes.

They had used these gray baskets in their previous home, where they fit perfectly into the shelving unit there. Unfortunately, they don't fit as well onto the built-in in the new house, but what's more important is that they still serve the same purpose: containing and eliminating clutter, and keeping everyone's items organized by person or type.

We used the lowest shelves and the space under the bench for shoes. In those baskets, we sorted the shoes by who they belong to, and kept a basket for each person. In the ones on the bench itself, we stored reusable grocery bags (if you're the type of person who goes to the store to stock up or grab a couple ingredients every few days, it's ideal to keep those accessible).

We used the hooks for frequently-used items appropriate for the weather, like mid-weight fleeces, rain jackets, and baseball caps. Anything that doesn't get used as often this time of year, or that doesn't have a loop to go on a hook got stored on a hanger in the closet.

In the other gray baskets, we stored hats and gloves for each person, as well as items for their dog. This area is adjacent to the kitchen, so it also made sense for them to store dog food on the top shelf.

Maybe this mudroom isn't the prettiest, most "instagram-worthy" organizing job, but in the end we accomplished exactly what we needed to: the space was more functional and usable, everyone was able to find their belongings easily, and we reduced visual clutter that can make a space feel overwhelming and messy. If you're looking for quick results, use what's available and make the best of it!

If you're having trouble getting started, just start where you are and focus on getting to the next level. It doesn't need to be perfect right away, it's a process. As you continue to use the storage solutions you've implemented in your space, you'll figure out what works and what you want to change, so you can move forward from there and take it to the next level.