THE MUDROOM “The Kitchen’s Right Arm”
I am a columnist for Duluth Superior Magazine, a monthly publication dedicated to the finer attributes of life in our Northland. My column appears in the Style section and is titled ‘Living by Design’. The following column was published: June, 2011.
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THE MUDROOM “The Kitchen’s Right Arm”
Strategically placed between your family’s primary entrance and the kitchen, often adjacent to the garage, is an unglamorous room that works overtime to help keep your home in order. At least it would… if it existed. Unfortunately, this extremely functional space is missing from the majority of homes. And when it does exist, it is often undersized and poorly designed. If you have a nice one in your home, consider yourself lucky! I’m speaking of the mudroom. It has always baffled me why any home would be designed, let alone built, without this important space.
The mudroom is a cross between a walk-in closet and a utility room, and should be a standard feature of every home, especially in northern Minnesota! Kitchens and mudrooms are interactive… if the kitchen is the ‘heart’ of the home… the mudroom is definitely the kitchen’s ‘right arm’. Well-designed mudrooms relieve the kitchen of unwanted clutter and muddy traffic. Sometimes they provide overflow storage.
A mudroom’s primary function is to contain dirt as it comes in from outside, before it can be tracked through the home. Additionally, a well-designed mudroom will provide storage for the myriad of items that come into the home with each family member, including the family dog.
There are six essential elements that make a mudroom work well. The first is adequate size. At least 40 square feet of space is needed to accommodate most families, and it’s best if a door can close the space off from adjacent rooms.
Second, choose durable, non-slip flooring. A good choice is porcelain tile with a non-slip finish. Today’s broad selection of beautiful porcelain tiles produce floors that are both functional and attractive, with designs that emulate natural stone or even hardwood. Avoid concrete which tends to be slippery when wet. Vinyl, laminate and natural hardwood will not hold up to grit. Carpeting has the advantage of trapping dirt which is easily vacuumed, but of course may be more difficult to keep clean.
Third, choose a durable paint for your walls and don’t be afraid to use color. Entering one’s home should be a pleasant experience!
Comfortable bench seating is the fourth element and is paramount to a functional mud room. The more bench seating the better, as it will ease the removal of shoes and boots which can then be stored beneath the bench or on shelves.
Fifth on the list is storage. Hooks are user friendly, hangers are not. Provide plenty and make sure they are reachable by all family members. Besides jackets, hooks accommodate purses, umbrellas, backpacks and miscellaneous gear. Install units of flexible shelving to accommodate baskets for everything from hats and mittens to baseball gloves and soccer balls.
And last but not least… good lighting is always important! Nobody wants to spend time in a dark space, even if it’s just to take your coat off. And a window would be nice! You know … to let the sun shine on your newly organized space! I say, “hurrah” for the unglamorous mudroom!
