Who has a coat closet that wants to be a mudroom?
There are so many of us that need a mudroom but don’t have one. Don’t fear there is a way to get what you want.
Mudroom for Cold Winter Days
On those cold winter days we’re all bundled up in our coats, scarfs, gloves and boots then you get home and there is no place to put all of your items. Not wanting to carry them wet and muddy through the house. Wanting to keep them handy for the next trip out. Wishing you had a specific place to put them. Like a mudroom! Right.
Maybe A Mudroom for School Items
If you live in a warm climate like me, a mudroom isn’t too necessary. But a storage area for purses, backpack, keys and shoes would be great. Someplace to put our items down right when you come in.
If you are lucky, you have a coat closet at the entryway to your home.
Transforming it into a mudroom is a possibility. It doesn’t matter what size it is. Changing it to a mudroom is possible.
My Coat Closet Turned Mudroom
In Indiana I had a coat closet at the entryway that was at the most 36 inches wide. That didn’t stop me from going from coat closet to mudroom.
When it was just a coat closet we packed it full of coats, piled boots on the floor, stored tools on the top shelf and anything else you might think of.
You’re probably thinking that is what it’s for. You are right but we filled in to the rim and couldn’t find anything. Everything stuffed onto one rack. They were hard to get in and out. Which this led to us just throwing them onto the staircase banister. Not wanting to deal with the hangers and trouble of stuffing them into it.
Well enough was enough. We needed a mudroom before the snow hit again. So we got started and changed it from closet to mudroom.
Unfortunately, I can’t find a picture of the transformation. I thought I took pictures. Must of got distracted by the excitement of having a mudroom.
I’ll try to illustrate by describing what we did so you can imagine it.
Construction of Mudroom
First we emptied out everything. Taking advantage of going through and throwing out what we didn’t need anymore. In addition to finding some lost gloves that were needed soon thereafter.
Read this post on decluttering it will definitely help you get the closet mudroom you want.
We then removed the clothes bar.
The coat closet was in need of a good paint job. When we moved in we emptied our coat box right into it before any painting was done. Deciding to paint the coat closet to mudroom the Sage Green we had painted the rest of the house. That in its self was an improvement.
The closet really started looking good but we weren’t quite to the mudroom stage. There was already a couple of shelves above the coat rod area. We decided to leave those. Spaced perfectly for baskets to hold our gloves, hats, purses etc.
However we wanted to make a bench type shelf where we could sit and put our shoes on if we wanted too.
Measuring 18 inches from the floor we installed the bench and made sure it was held nice and secure with brackets all around and a divider in the middle connecting the bench to the floor. This made for a great space for a couple cubbies for boots.
Finally we added coat hooks around the 3 walls. Spacing them for the coats to have enough room to hang without being to cluttered.
However, we decided to leave the door on it. To close it up since it was right at the entryway. It is just a matter of preference.
Coat Closet To Mudroom Examples
Desiree at Our Cottage On Mary went a step further then what we did. She put beadboard on the back of the wall to add an accent wall. She also removed her door and hardware for a nice clean open look.
Very similar to the above closet to mudroom ZevyJoy already had a closet that was made into a mudroom. Sprucing it up a bit made a huge difference. Something she can be proud off. The hooks are great for holding backpacks and wow 6 cubbies. Great use of space!
Talk about stylish and packed with usable space. Sammy On State has definitely used their space to their advantage. Tammy was in in need of a place for her dog crates. She came up with the idea of a closet makeover. Boy did she ever have a great idea. Look at that back wall. Amazing! No it’s not wallpaper. Tammy made a stencil and used a Sharpie. Talk about genius. Her and Sammy got so many questions about the wall they added the stencil they made to their Etsy shop. Click here for the link. I’m not an affiliate for them just a fan.
Notice she left the closet rod in place and the closet doors. It’s just a preference to what look you are wanting.
What’s your preference?
Over at Shabby Chic House they turned a larger closet. Looks to be about 5 feet into a functional mudroom. Adding 2 shelves on the bottom and more shelving on the sides. Talk about more storage space. In addition to all of that look at the shiplap. They did such a great job. For a bonus Annette and Mike has shared detailed instructions on how they converted their closet to mudroom. The instructions will help you no matter what size of space you have to work with.
If you’re like me I don’t have a coat closet. I guess living in the desert one isn’t needed as much. All the same though I still need a place to put my stuff. As I was browsing Pinterest I saw this picture from White Picket Farmhouse and thought it would be a great addition to the mudroom theme here in the post. Just because there is no closet doesn’t mean no mudroom.
DIY Inspiration
Hopefully with these 5 great closet to mudroom inspirations you have got a good idea on what you would like to do.
I think I will take inspiration from White Picket Farmhouse and add an area to my entryway.
What are you going to do? I can’t wait to see the transformation.
Share some pictures your mudroom please.
Have Fun!
