Back to school: Tips to maximize your entrance or mudroom

• By Mike Heddle
• Posted Friday, Sep 02, 2022 12:39 pm

Back to school: Tips to maximize your entrance or mudroom

After a long day at school, you can’t blame kids for wanting to drop their gear at the front door. However, an extra couple minutes of their time will mean the chaotic mess of muddy shoes and backpacks won’t become someone else’s problem. Make it easy by design! The right storage solutions and easy flow of a well-designed space will make putting things away (and finding them again) a breeze. No matter the size of your space, use these tips to get the job done.

Think four seasons to determine your needs: Bulky winter boots, coats and snow pants take up space. Plan for the unexpected with additional space and do not overlook seating to make it easy to put on boots and shoes. How will you tackle wet mittens and scarves? There are many drying solutions on the market that are worth checking out.

Maximize space with built-in solutions: Think vertical to get the most out of your space while also being mindful of kids’ reach. Benches are great. Most offer storage or allow for boots to be stored underneath.  

Keep it streamlined with doors: While wet clothing should be hung in a space that allows for air circulation, you can keep your entrance looking great by hiding baskets of mittens and hats behind doors.

Get water savvy: Put a boot scraper outside your door to minimize the amount of snow that gets brought in. Even with durable flooring, use a drip tray to contain melting snow. For rainy days, make sure you have an umbrella stand.

Hooks (and more hooks): To allow for jackets and snow pants to dry quickly, space hooks to avoid...[READ MORE]