A mudroom is a slang term for a secondary entrance to a home. It is a dedicated space where family members can remove muddy boots, coats, and wet clothing before entering the main part of the house. The primary aim of a mudroom is to ensure that the living areas of the house stay clean and tidy.
Mudrooms tend to be situated in the back or side of the house. Whenever family members have been out in the rain or some other outdoor venture involving dirt and mud, they do not use the main door foyer but the mudroom to enter the house. The mudroom serves as a repository for the daily detritus of smelly boots, book bags, and wet umbrellas.
There is a great deal of debate about what should be included in a mudroom. The dividing line is between benches and hooks and cubbies. Both types of fixtures have their advantages. However, my preference is for benches and hooks. They are simpler, cleaner, and more functional than cubbies.
If you are thinking of building a mudroom, you should have all the facts about both types of fixtures. Here is some insight into them.
Benches and hooks vs. cubbies for a mudroom? What’s best?
What every mudroom should feature
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A seating area
You want your family members and visitors to your home to have somewhere to sit while they remove their shoes. You should not force people to take off their shoes while standing. It is very uncomfortable.
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Furniture
No matter what you choose to put in your mudroom, it must contain furniture of some kind. Benches, hooks, cubbies, lockers, and shoe cabinets are just a few of your many choices. People must have somewhere to put their coats, shoes, and bags.
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Storage
It is best to put both in-season and out-of-season outerwear in the mudroom. Providing this central space will make it easier to manage the clothing. It will help keep dirty and smelly items out of the main part of your house and will give you the means to manage the cleaning and washing of them.
Benefits of hooks and benches
Just because you deposit dirty clothing in your mudroom does not mean it should be a mess. Every part of your home should be tidy and pleasing to the eye. Installing hooks and benches in your mudroom will give it the clean, inviting atmosphere that you desire. Here are some further advantages:
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Shoe storage
Your little ones will be tempted to pile their shoes into a corner of the mudroom. A hall bench can help prevent this. Each member of your family will be able to put their shoes underneath the bench to keep them out of the way and make the space tidy.
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Comfortable seating
A bench is a perfect way to provide comfortable seating for your family and visitors when they leave and enter your home. It will allow people to sit down as they put on and take off their shoes. The right bench can even at a dash of stylishness and fashion to your home. There is no reason why you cannot have a sturdy and elegant bench installed in your mudroom.
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Coat racks
Mounted hooks make for the perfect coat racks. This is where people can hang their coats, jackets, and other outdoor wear. Clothes dry best when they hang. Having hooks installed essentially gives each member of your family their own locker in which to keep their coat.
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Shelves and drawers
You can also put in extra shelves and drawers for the storage of other footwear and the things you need to grab before heading out for the day. You can have small drawers installed in which you keep scarves, gloves, and car keys.
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Low maintenance
One of the great things about benches and hooks is that they require a minimum amount of maintenance. If you buy high-quality mudroom furniture, it will withstand the wear and tear of a large and busy family. A strong and sturdy bench is unlikely to dent or be scuffed, which will make it easier to care for.
Benefits of cubbies
A cubby is another slang term for a small closet-like space in a mudroom. Although I prefer benches and hooks, cubbies are not without advantages. Here are a few of them:
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They let you hide clutter
Even with benches and hooks, mudrooms can still seem filled up with stuff. If you are someone who cannot stand the sight of a great deal of clothing packed into a small space, no matter how well organized, then a cubby will allow you to hide the clutter. Substantial and stylish cabinets are the perfect solution for implementing a sort of separation in a formerly open space.
You should also, as one designer advises, “Opt for a bench with drawers underneath for a little extra storage and a perch for putting on your shoes before heading out the door.” -
More space for shoes
Cubbies tend to have much more space for shoes. They will allow everyone to place their shoes in one spot. The one downside is that a closed-off shoe space can lead to a stench. Unless you have an open cubby, the air will become stifled and you will stink up your mudroom.
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Open shelving
A mudroom cubby allows you to install a great many shelves. If you go with an open plan, it can make for great display space. It will also allow you to keep your most reached-for items tucked away tidily and well-organized.
Conclusion
While there are some advantages to using cubbies in a mudroom, I find benches and hooks a much better way to go. They make it easier to organize and manage things, and it takes much less work to have them installed.
