What is a Mudroom?
A Mudroom is an alternate or informal entrance to a typical American Home. This room is dedicated to managing your transition from the outdoors to indoors (or vice versa). You would usually remove your muddy shoes, raincoats, place your overcoat and accessories before entering the House. It helps in storing the aforesaid items as well as washing and drying in some designs (where equipped with washers and dryers)
Where is a Mudroom Located in a house?
A Mudroom is usually the second entrance of a house. Hence it is located near the main entrance. Sometimes, it can be located at the back, especially if the larger part of the green spaces in the property is at the back. Most of the time, the Mudroom would open at the side of the main entrance inside the house. In more luxurious spaces, it would lead to a larger hallway where along with the main entrance it is connected. While this is the tradition, Some designers are stepping out and designing the Mudrooms in parallel and opening the entrance to a semi-outdoor setting, that runs by the side of the house and directly into the room of the estate owner. This is especially helpful where the estate is managed by staff and the owner wants some more privacy.
How Do you design a great Mudroom?
Usually, your architect or civil engineer would incorporate a Mudroom in the house plans. If not, you could look at getting one added later. You have to consider a few points here. For example, do you need a washing and drying facility? Where would the clothesline be? Is an ironing board required in case you have Domestic Aides employed? Would you want space to keep a shoe polisher? Where would the clothes hangers be, how about caps and hats if you fancy them? Do you keep your dog food here, etc?
Here are some things that you may want to consider while designing a Mudroom or getting one designed by an architect:
- Storage for wet clothes
- Washers and dryers
- Storage after drying
- Iron board location
- Seating and ambient lighting
- Waterline
- 20-25 Amp power line
- Hangers for coats, accessories, etc.
- A sturdy flooring
- Wiping mats
- Tall Storage racks for rubber boots?
- Dehumidifier or heater for the rains and winters
- A place for decorative items to make it look good
- Use of waterproof furniture and shelving
- Additional items like hand dryer, mirrors, etc.
Most architects and civil engineers would not charge for adding one in your house plans, but some would. Most builders would happily accommodate a request for this essential part of the house if it’s not already there. Try to strike a deal if someone wants to charge you because they ideally should not. I would say that a home that is equipped with this little room will also hold better in terms of its appraisal value.
Why do you need a Mudroom in your House?
Because you would usually not be in the right attire and condition to go charging into the house with all those muddy boots, you would need the Mudroom. This is why it’s called what it’s called! So it helps you with the transition from outdoors to indoors and keeps your house sparkling clean. If it were not for this small room’s super convenience, most American homes would not be that great from the inside! Long story short, if you want a sparkline home, this is the first place to consider while making your home plans.
- Mudrooms help keep the Home clean
- To Leave your raincoat, umbrella and wet clothes at the right place
- Make space for washers and dryers.
- Mudrooms usually help with Hygiene in general
So in essence a Mudroom is essential in not only keeping the home clean but is a good place to store those outdoor clothing and accessories which are used daily. Imagine trying to store that wet raincoat in your master bedroom or bathroom? Can you think of that? I thought so! While minimalists would advocate and try to convince people not to go for one, you can already see the logic.
Now it’s getting common and you can see a Mudroom in a lot of countries, not just America. The trend is catching up in Australia again, thanks to the need due to the great Australian outdoors. Not that it was not common back in the days there, but minimalistic designs were starting to do away with it in the house plans. Thanks to good sense, they are back at it and for good.