Mudrooms have been a trending home renovation over the past decade. Historically, mudrooms were viewed as functional spaces with little thought of fashion and design. A typical mudroom would be seen as a secondary entrance to the home where boots, coats, wet clothes, sporting equipment, and dog accessories live. In recent years, homes have grown to embrace the mudroom as a highly functional, fashionable, and welcoming space.
Are you looking to add a mudroom to your back entry or secondary entry? Does your current mudroom need to be renovated? This article discussed what to expect when adding or renovating a mudroom.
Mudroom - Things to Consider
The most important consideration when adding a mudroom is the location and size. Most mudrooms are found immediately after an entry, and most commonly at a secondary door that is not your primary entrance. Make sure that the location makes sense for the functionality of the room. The room will likely be used for storage and keeping dirt out of your home, so choose wisely when deciding on a home location.
Another consideration when adding a mudroom is the materials. Your mudroom is going to get dirty and likely take a little abuse, so it is important to pick materials that are durable and reliable. Moisture and dirt will be common issues in our mudroom. Picking surfaces that are easy to dry and clean will help with mudroom cleanliness and longevity.
A third consideration is storage. Think about what your family will be using the mudroom for and plan accordingly. Will you be storing shoes and coats? Ensure proper shoe and coatracks are installed. Will you be keeping toys and sports equipment for the kids? Install bins for convenient storage.
Lastly, will wet clothes or laundry be left in the mudroom? If so, you should consider adding a hamper for convenience. If you really want to have a functional mudroom, consider increasing the size and adding your laundry units to the space. This is a common dual-use space.
Expected Project Cost
The cost of a mudroom is going to come down to size, materials, and features. Renovating an existing room compared to a mudroom addition will tend to be cheaper. On average, $50-$150 per square foot will be the cost of a mudroom. Mudrooms that require additional structural work may cost as much as $450 per square foot.
Mudroom Features
Here are some common features of mudrooms that you can consider for your own home:
Cabinets
Cabinets are one of the most common features of a mudroom. They allow for the storage of all kinds of things and offer a decorative look. Multi-storage options often include hooks and shelves for additional storage. Mudroom cabinets are usually made of wood or steel, depending on the intended use.
Lockers
Mudroom lockers are similar to cabinets if you are looking to add storage to your space. The addition of a cabinet is great for sectioning our specific storage areas for members of a household. If you plan on having guests use the mudroom or children who aren’t keen on sharing, a locker system is a fantastic feature!
Benches
No matter what size mudroom you envision, a bench is a staple feature of a good mudroom. A bench allows for comfort when putting on or taking off your shoes, and additional storage units can be added below for convenience.
Flooring
Mudrooms were originally designed to minimize dirt and debris from entering the home, but have in recent times added emphasis on the fashion of the room. One great way to make a mudroom stand out is by adding great flooring.
It is important to remember that your mudroom will get dirty, so it is important to choose a flooring option that is both aesthetic and functional. Here are two attributes to look for in good mudroom flooring:
- Durability – Muddy boots, dripping raincoats, and messy kids will all be taking a toll on your flooring. Choose a flooring that can take abuse and last for many years.
- Moisture-Resistant – Your mudroom will get wet. Choose a moisture-resistant flooring material that will be easy to clean and not weather your mudroom. After all, “mud” is in the name of the room.
Here are flooring options for your mudroom:
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is a versatile flooring material that comes in many sizes, shapes, and colors. This flooring option will cost between $0.75 to $25 per square foot. It is the most common mudroom flooring option because it is easy to clean, affordable, and durable. Ceramic tile is designed to look like stone, marble, wood, and textured patterns. This option is great for tying the look of the room together.
Vinyl Sheet
Vinyl sheets are waterproof and highly customizable for your mudroom. They are purchased in rolls and are a cheap flooring option. While they look great, they are prone to scuffs and dents. A major advantage to this option is that it can be installed tightly to your baseboards, unlike tile options. This will help create a watertight seal to the room and offers a cleaner look than tile.
Vinyl Tiles
Vinyl tiles are synthetic material tiles that are waterproof and come in a variety of styles. This option can be made to resemble most natural materials. Vinyl is a low-cost flooring option and is easy to install. It can even be installed on top of existing flooring.