Mudroom design can add storage and serve different functions at entry

Somewhere to hang wet garments and a place to sit while removing wet shoes or boots pretty much sums up the function of a mudroom.

But this entry space can also add storage or house other activities, and still be an attractive room that greets those who enter by the back or side door.

MyNiceThoughts.com recommends using containers, shelving and a cupboard in mudrooms that have tight quarters. Where there is more room, cabinets can be installed along a wall or around a washer-dryer combo when the laundry is part of the mudroom.

A freestanding table or a small desk can do double-duty as a folding area for the laundry or as a workplace when home and school projects require space to spread out.

A mirror also is a welcome touch for those who routinely leave the home through the mudroom. "Add a reflection to [view] yourself just before leaving the home," states the website.

For a mudroom window, honeycomb cellular shades are a good choice to maintain temperature control in a room where the door is opened frequently. Cell shades trap air to conserve heat in winter and cool down hot rooms in summer.