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Shelves and Benches for Mudrooms
Since a mudroom is a transitional space, it makes sense to create a room that is user friendly. Shelves and benches allow you to keep all the mudroom essentials organized and within easy reach.
Here are tips on how to utilize shelving and benches in your mudroom.
38 Mudroom Storage and Decorating Ideas
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Shelving Systems
Giving you access to the items you use most often, shelves are a great way to keep everything organized and off the floor.
"They allow you to grab items quickly and let you see what you have," says designer Ili Nilsson, founding partner of TerraCotta Properties. "You can store little items like gloves, hats or scarves in baskets on shelves, or use them for rolled beach towels in the summer. Just avoid placing the shelves too low, because that encourages people to use them as a 'ladder' to grab things above."
Shelves that are very shallow limit your mudroom storage options, while deep shelving can result in items lost or forgotten in the back of the shelf. Also consider the weight of the items you want to store. Floating shelves can be beautiful but not useful for items that weigh a lot. Always use good-quality brackets and mounting hardware.
Must-Have Benches
When you need to remove dirty boots or put down grocery bags as you unload the car, a mudroom bench can be just the answer. You can include a built-in bench or buy a ready-made bench you can mix and match with other mudroom accessories.
"If you're going to do a built-in bench, you should definitely include built-in storage drawers or a flip-up top with cabinet space below if you can," says designer Lisa Benbow, owner of Garnish Home Decor. "I think a bench gives a center point for the mudroom. I usually like to do storage cabinets and shelves to the left and right of the bench."
Benches can be very basic or a great way to add style to your mudroom.
"You can use a vintage church pew, a farmhouse-style bench, an old schoolhouse bench or even an old bench from a train depot,” says Nilsson. "Just think about who the users of that bench will be. Don't have a precious cushion on your bench if you have three sons who play soccer and come inside muddy."
