Because of its informality, the mudroom is a great area where animal lovers can decorate with a pets theme. A mudroom is typically a back entry where kids can remove their boots after playing outside and you can give pets a bath without worrying about them tracking mud through the rest of the house. It is also a great place to store pet food, leashes and even dog crates, as well as coats, mittens and other ‘people’ things. Want to accommodate your pets, as well as the kids, in your home’s mudroom? Use these ideas to decorate the mudroom with a pets theme.
Welcome sign
We have all seen those ‘Beware of Dog’ signs in retail stores. There are hundreds of pet-inspired welcome (or caution) wall hangings available. You will even find breed-specific signs that say ‘Welcome’ with a picture of a particular dog breed. Find your favorite pet-related wall hanging and hang it in your mudroom. The door and the wall above a door are great places for these signs, particularly if it is the door that enters the rest of the house.
Pet-friendly materials and finishes
Animals shed, and they have claws that can scratch flooring. They can also get very dirty when they are coming in from outside. Wood may not be pet-friendly flooring, as it can get scratched. Carpet is not advisable for a mudroom; although, a rug works well because it catches mud and can be easily washed or replaced. Fabrics on doggy beds or benches should be heavy, durable, and they should have closely-woven fibers.
Paw prints and more
Of course, any room with a pets theme should have fabrics with animal prints, cabinet pulls in the shape of a bone and so on. Amazon.com has a cabinet knob that is stamped with a paw print, which comes in black and several other colors. Think pet-themed throw pillows, wall borders and other wall hangings.
Favorite pet photos
If you have pets of your own — which is likely if you plan to decorate with a Pets theme — then you surely have some favorite photos of them. I bought two cheap, black photo frames for hanging pictures of my cat and dog. For a mudroom, it doesn’t have to be anything fancy, and it definitely doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Once you have framed some favorite photos of your pets, hang them somewhere in the mudroom.
Built-in accommodations for pets
If there is space, consider installing cabinetry into the mudroom. It is not only a great way to store loose winter gear, but it can also be used as a place to conceal pet beds, dishes and various other supplies. There are many ways to accommodate your pets in the mudroom, from pull-out beds and food dishes to a concealed cat litter box. Visit with a custom cabinet salesperson to discuss your options.
Large wash tub
You will find all kinds of neat sinks and tubs that would work well for a mudroom application. Look for a large tub — and a hand-held sprayer — that the human family members can use for washing hands or muddy feet, as well as bathing the pets. It might even double as a laundry sink, if your washing machines and dryer are located in this room.
Doggy door
The mudroom is the perfect place for installing a pet door. If you have a fenced-in backyard, you might consider putting a doggy flap on the exterior door. Install a cat flap on the interior door, so Kitty can visit her litter box, even when the door is closed.
Live pets
You can even use your real, live pets to ‘decorate’ the mudroom. Do you have a small animal, a caged bird or a pet fish? The mudroom is a great place to house these little critters. You can store all their supplies there, and it doesn’t matter if they get the mudroom a little messy with their feathers and wood shavings. A pet-friendly mudroom makes for an easy cleanup. Plus, live animals will help enhance the Pets theme in your back entryway.
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