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Marvelous Mudrooms

Many American homes have a mudroom, usually located just inside a secondary entryway such as the kitchen or garage door. The mudroom is essentially an outdoor-to-indoor transition area designed to keep dirt, mud and debris from finding their way into the rest of your home. It’s a practical space where you can shed your shoes and boots and hang up or store your outerwear, bags and keys – an organizational and space-saving bonus. They are also perfect if you have a dog, providing you with a convenient place to get a wet and muddy Fido indoor-ready again after his walks. If you don’t already have one, the process of creating a mudroom is relatively easy with a little careful planning and inspiration. Note that you don’t actually need a separate room in order to enjoy the benefits of this highly practical home area. You can combine the essentials – flooring, organization and seating – in a small space adjacent to your entryway, and the results will still be terrific. Here are a few tips to help you get started, whether you’re designing an entire room or a small stretch of wall.

    • What type of flooring do you need?

Mudrooms are typically high-traffic areas subject to the wear-and-tear of daily life, so it’s important to choose durable, resilient and easy to clean flooring. There are other choices when creating a mudroom– wood, stone, or brick, for example — but ceramic tile and vinyl fit the bill nicely. Ceramic tile is an affordable, robust option that comes in a wide variety of colors and shapes, making it easy to create the floor you want without worrying about time-consuming maintenance. Vinyl flooring is also great for those who want an inexpensive, low-maintenance floor for their mudroom. It may not last forever – it’s not quite as durable as some of the other mudroom floor materials, but it stands up to scuffs and scratches like no other, and requires very little in the way of upkeep.

    • How will you organize your mudroom?

In addition to stopping outdoor dirt and grime from spreading indoors, mudrooms are there to help you get organized and store your outdoor clothing, footwear and accessories in an orderly fashion. Designated storage space makes it much easier to find and keep track of easy–to–lose items, as well as creates a space that’s attractive to visitors. Have you ever been late because you couldn’t find your keys or were missing a certain scarf that you had planned to wear that day? Add a shelf with a key bowl and think about installing some cubbies and hangers for your clothing and other items just inside your entryway. A separate locker-type area complete with personal hooks, shelves, drawers and cubbies for each member of the household is a popular and effective set-up.

Household members and guests need a sturdy perch where they can put on or remove footwear and outdoor clothing. If you live in an area with frequent rainy or snowy weather, adequate seating is a must. Seating will make removing wet or muddy boots, snow pants and rain gear much easier, not to mention safer. A bench with a padded or cushioned seat is a great option that can help you save space. Many benches are constructed to double as storage spots, with either built-in open cubbies or a bin underneath. No room? No problem. One or two sturdy chairs will work just as well.

Get started creating a mudroom today with a free consultation from The Grout Medic tile and grout experts. We would be happy to help you add polish, value and functionality to any space by installing or repairing your tile floor. Don’t settle for less – contact us today!

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