40 Genius Design Ideas for Your Mudroom
Whether you have a dedicated room to store your everyday essentials or a simple nook with a bench and hooks, a mudroom can transform the functionality of your home. It's a place to drop your keys and wallet (and easily find them on your way out the door), sort your mail, and store your coats and shoes. It's also a place to welcome guests and set the tone for your home. We've rounded up the 40 best mudroom design ideas that perfectly balance organization and style. Get ready to be inspired.
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Mix and Match Textures
A boho jute mirror, earthy two-tone planter, braided baskets, and an abstract woven rug all add depth to this California-cool entry. The muted tones of the bench cushion and throw pillows round out the mini mudroom's laid-back vibe and serve as a place to slip shoes on and off.
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Think of the Whole Family
This large mudroom , designed by Kristina Crestin, has something for everyone including the family's lovable pup. There's a cubby outfitted with hooks and baskets for each human and a spacious kennel for fido, where he can bask in the natural light. Slate floors make cleaning up any messes a breeze.
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If You Can’t Buy It, DIY It
Designer Jo Gick wanted a bright wallpaper to transform her mudroom into a space that's both colorful and functional. When she couldn't find the right pattern, she decided to commission her own. "A watercolor artist I found on Etsy designed this pattern, then I had it made by Spoonflower," she told HGTV Magazine. A vintage fixture lights up the space, while a 10-lite pocket door painted navy (Parisian Night by Dunn-Edwards) offers a view into the cute pantry. Blue, gray and white cement tiles come together to create a fun gingham pattern.
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Have a Variety of Storage
This once useless side entry was converted into a welcoming mudroom by TerraCotta Properties with the addition of a mix of storage solutions. Deep drawers are good for tossing in shoes and double as a bench, hooks are convenient for hanging bags and hats, and floating open cubbies above are a nice place to stash towels and picnic blankets.
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Photo: Katie Fielder
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Sometimes Less Is More
Mudrooms don't need to be large or outfitted with custom built-ins to be useful. All this hallway needed to turn it into a practical space while heading in and out the door, were some hooks and a bench. The warm, raw wood nicely contrasts the cool tones of the room, and the colorful hardware on the hooks adds a playful touch. Add a basket with a lid to stash items you don't want guests to see.
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Photo: JOSEPH BRADSHAW
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Color Drench Your Space
Designer Brian Patrick Flynn doused the mudroom in the HGTV Urban Oasis 2022 in a rich terracotta hue that's just as spicy as the home's Nashville locale. A bold color used on the molding, walls, and built-ins helps define the pass-through space. “We decided to play with the pipeline popularity of terracotta and use it in really small spaces that otherwise wouldn’t have much of an identity,” said Brian.
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Photo: Nick Glimenakis
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Get Creative
Though often overlooked, mudrooms give homeowners, "the opportunity to show personality in a creative way," says designer Ana Claudia Schultz, adding that they also act as a great first impression for guests. Here, Ana paired vintage mid-century Eames tandem chairs with sculptural Reality Hand hooks from Areaware. She then softened the whole look with a jute rug and South American vintage prints.
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Make the Most of Your Small Square Footage
Although this family didn't have a lot of square footage to work with in their 101-year-old home's entry, they made the most of the space with a floating console. The narrow table is just big enough to drop keys and display art. Slim stools from Serena & Lily are practical for tying your shoes before running out the door without taking up too much space.
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Be Playful
A mudroom is a room where the design can be playful. Take this mudroom for example, the wall paneling and light fixture adds textural interest, while the bold yellow banner provides an eye-catching and energetic visual display.
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Set the Tone
Your mudroom is often the first space that guests see when they walk into your home, so it's important to immediately establish your style and create a welcoming atmosphere. Here, the cheerful yellow front door, patterned wallpaper, and charming decor are the perfect first impression to the rest of this fun and feminine townhouse.
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Photo: Dale Blumberg Interiors
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Compartmentalize
Jess Blumberg of Dale Blumberg Interiors focuses on organization and customization when she's designing mudrooms. "We like individual cubbies with a couple of hooks in each for the easy-to-grab stuff, as well as closed storage," says Jess. "An easy, organized, clean aesthetic."
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Spruce Things Up With Wallpaper
A basic mudroom layout is made infinitely cuter with a themed wallpaper. The white bench and hooks bring in functionality, while the tennis ball print wallpaper brings in the whimsy. Since mudrooms are typically a separate space, they're a chance to have fun with the design, so go for a funky wallpaper that you wouldn't typically use in one of the primary rooms of your home.
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Photo: Courtesy of Emily Fisher of Rock Paper Hammer; Photo by Andrew Hyslop
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Combine Your Laundry and Mudroom
Active families often require more storage space than just a few shelves. That's why architect Emily Fisher of Rock Paper Hammer turned an 8 by 20 square foot space into a multifunctional laundry room/mudroom for her busy clients. Vertical cubbies are perfect for hanging coats and the nearby washer and dryer make it easy to toss in dirty uniforms or towels as soon as you walk in the door.
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Try Closed Storage
If you know you tend to be messy or prefer cabinets over hooks and cubbies, then consider installing closed storage. You won't need to worry about what's going on behind the doors and will be able to have more storage. These royal blue cabinets even have a secret spot for Fido to cozy up.
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Photo: Flynnside Out
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Control the Chaos
What could quickly become a pile of random sneakers and boots is a neat display of shoes thanks to stackable cubbies. Designer Carmeon Hamilton smartly placed the cubbies along the steps leading into the main part of the HGTV Urban Oasis 2024 to maximize storage space and discourage people from piling their shoes inside.
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Photo: Sean Litchfield
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Create a Durable Design
Becky Shea of Becky Shea Design believes that because mudrooms are utility spaces, the elements used to design them should be durable and able to withstand wet boots, soccer cleats, paw prints and day-to-day foot traffic. For mudrooms in particular, Becky loves using porcelain floors that mimic slate and hidden storage, like this Port Washington, NY mudroom. "With hidden storage, [clutter] remains out of sight and your mudroom can still sustain a little bit of glamour while serving a necessary purpose," she said.
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Rethink a Corner
What was once an awkward space with an unusable fireplace is now a quaint mudroom thanks to one DIY—bent spoon hooks! This crafty homeowner thrifted old silver spoons, then bent them and attached them to the mantle to create a convenient drop zone for backpacks, hats, and scarves. The half wall helps designate the area and maintains the home's historic charm.
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Photo: Brittany Ambridge
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Make It Multifunctional
According to Caroline Grant and Dolores Suarez of Dekar Design, a mudroom doesn’t always have to be an area of your home closed off from guests. Instead, you can have it serve double duty, like this office/mudroom combo. "We chose a versatile desk that disguises as a console table when not in use," Caroline and Dolores said. Reclaimed wooden shelves and dark brackets above the desk add warmth, while colorful wallpaper makes the space feel inviting.
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Work With the Space You Have
Working with the space you have often applies to smaller areas, but in the HGTV Dream Home 2020 it was all about maximizing the functionality of the oversized mudroom. The large room called for multiple "stations." There's a table to drop and sort through mail, a sink for cleaning off gardening tools, a kennel for the dog and a full pet washing station.
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Pick a Pop of Color
Crisp white walls and built-in cubbies keep this mudroom feeling fresh, while black and white hexagonal tile floors add a modern touch. Bold yellow artwork and a sunny flush mount light bring a spunky pop of color to the otherwise neutral space. The stained-glass window is a reproduction of one of the Victorian home's originals.
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Photo: Robert Peterson; Rustic White Photography.
From:
Tiffany Brooks
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Keep It Simple
For the hallway between the garage and the rest of the HGTV Smart Home 2018, designer Tiffany Brooks hung a couple of hooks and placed a bench to turn the space into a micro mudroom. The hooks make it easy to shed raincoats and shoes before entering the rest of the house. A vintage cabinet on the opposite end of the bench holds baskets for smaller items like keys and phone chargers.
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Photo: Gloribell LeBron
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Or Make It Elevated
A few easy additions to this once boring mudroom immediately elevated it. Abstract gray and white wallpaper and a modern glass ball pendant bring a contemporary vibe. A simple gray cabinet ties into the hues of the wallpaper and is extra-deep to fit everything from coats to cleaning supplies. The tufted leather bench and brass mirror come together to create a stylish vignette. “It gets the most use and it has become a selfie station!” says designer Nicole White Quinn.
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Consider Your Surroundings
This bright and punchy mudroom leads out to a pool, so designer and owner Heather Fox made sure to include enough storage space for her family and swimming guests. Two-tier lockers painted a happy coral — Rojo Dust by Sherwin-Williams — are big enough to stow towels, pool gear, and a change of clothes. Graphic black-and-white tile screams fun in the sun.
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Photo: Joseph Bradshaw
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Turn Equipment Into Decor
Hooks on the wall store surf skateboards and allow them to double as art in the HGTV Dream Home 2024 located on Anastasia Island, FL. A hanging basket filled with tennis balls and wooden rackets nod to the home's outdoor-friendly locale. You can also try hanging your bike on the wall for storage that doubles as decor. Bonus points if the bike is colorful or vintage!
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Photo: Curated Nest
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Keep Kids in Mind
If you want the whole family to participate in keeping the mudroom clean, then make sure to install storage hooks and cabinets that are low enough for little ones to reach. “We’re against mudroom hooks that are high and drilled in the wall above the bench,” says Erin Coren, co-founder and designer of Curated Nest Interiors. “As pretty as they look upon install, kids are unable to reach them. The end result is a pile of jackets and bags.”
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Treat It Like a Kitchen
Mudrooms must hold up to muddy shoes, dirty sports equipment, and rain-soaked jackets, so do yourself a favor and treat it like the most hardworking space in your home—the kitchen. Quartz countertops hold up to stains and a big farmhouse sink is convenient for rinsing off tools and cleaning supplies. Brick pavers add storybook charm and are low maintenance.
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Photo: Christy Kosnic
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Go Classic With Black and White
This mudroom features built-in storage cubbies — painted Benjamin Moore Temptation —while the walls are clad in a crisp white. This classic color combo will never go out of style and the dark hue bring just enough drama into the space.
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Don't Forget the Small Details
While the functionality and storage space in a mudroom are always important, you can't forget about the small details that can make or break your mudroom space. Mini accessories, like the two half-dipped stools, striped small glass pendant, and petite paintings are what give this farmhouse mudroom designed by Kristina Crestin its charm.
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Install a Barn Door
If you ever find yourself wanting to close off your mudroom from the rest of your home, try installing a barn door. It takes up a minimal amount of space plus provides a canvas to add a pop of color to your space, like in this sunny room featured in HGTV Magazine. Bonus points for a cool handle!
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Go Bold With a Checkered Floor
Kristen Holmstedt designed this slim mudroom to make it feel bigger with large-scale checked black-and-white tile. Beadboard paneling in the cubbies and decorative fretwork on the cabinet doors add to the room's European charm. If you don't have a lot of natural light in your space, try adding directional sconces above your storage system.
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Lean Into Originality
If bubblegum pink and robin's egg blue are your favorite colors, then hey, why not lean into them. This home's candy-colored entry designed by Copper Sky Design + Remodel makes an immediate statement. A narrow, yet tall cabinet in the corner is made for housing shoes and dropping mail, while a row of hooks is perfect for hanging jackets or, in this case, displaying a collection of aprons.
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Bring on the Drama With Lighting
A large fabric pendant light gives this mudroom a moody Victorian vibe. Striped wallpaper is highlighted by the soft glow of the light and pairs well with the deep gray tone of the beadboard and built ins. To give your cabinets a little extra personality, install pleated cabinet curtains.
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Photo: Robert Peterson, Rustic White
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Add a Big Rug
For the HGTV Dream Home 2022, designer Brian Patrick Flynn layered a cool gray rug over warm wood floors. The rug helps ground the space and warms your toes after coming inside to escape the chilly Vermont weather. Make sure to pick a rug that's marked "performance" so it will be easy to clean out dirt and mud stains.
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Photo: Alex Lukey; Design by Lisa Lev Design.
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HGTV Magazine
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Coordinate Baskets
A rainbow of baskets in this mudroom, featured in HGTV Magazine, draws the eye up to the ceiling and creates the sense of organized chaos. Since the baskets are out of reach for some of the smaller members of the family, they're good for housing out of season items like gloves and scarves. A wood top bench makes the built-ins feel more like a piece of furniture.
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Transform a Closet
What was once an underutilized closet tucked beneath the stairs is now an adorably handy mudroom. Funky wallpaper combined with custom built-ins highlight the slanted shape of the ceiling, while a mix of baskets keep everyday essentials organized. The homeowner decided to leave the back of the cubbies open to let the wallpaper peek through.
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Photo: Rusty Williams
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Get Clever With Seating
Even though there wasn't room for a traditional bench in the HGTV Smart Home 2025, designer Poonam Moore came up with a clever solution that saved on space. Iron and wood fold down seats that attach to the wall can be opened to put down your bag or pop on your shoes and then closed back up when you're down to keep the side entry clear.
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Personalize Lockers
Laura Umansky gave this playful mudroom a youthful spin with grayish-blue lockers, that give nod back to grade school days, with bright orange magnets that spell out the names of each locker's owner. A leather bench and stained wood cabinets above, elevate the space.
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Rethink What You Store in Drawers
This mudroom space, tucked into the corner of the kitchen, proves that personalized storage is always a good idea. Dog bowls can often get in the way when left out on the floor, so a deep drawer that houses the family pup's food bowl was the perfect solution here. It can easily be pulled out for mealtime and closed away when not in use. Cane front cabinets are also useful for airing out sports equipment or rain jackets without having them on display.
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Create a Focal Point With Tile
With a Dutch door, pew turned entry bench and lattice cabinet doors, this home oozes historic charm. But the crème de la crème of the design is the penny tile mosaic floor. The retro pattern creates a playful focal point and is easy to mop up on rainy days.
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Highlight Rustic Charm
To feel at home with the hardwood floors and wood paneled walls in this modern farmhouse, the designer created a mudroom storage system that has equal amounts of country charm. Wide wood planks are perfect for displaying old-school metal baskets and iron pipes double as a spot to hang coats. The peaked, beamed ceiling provides an open and airy feel.
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