Decorating and Furnishing a Mudroom with Country Style

A mudroom does not sound like it could be an impressive or stylish part of the home because of the name of the space, but it can be as stylish as it is useful. It is the ideal place to store outdoor apparel, and it is the perfect location to put on and take off footwear while preventing the spread of dirt throughout the home. Decorating and furnishing a large mudroom with country style is really very easy, and it can be a fun experience when starting with an empty room.

A few years ago I helped a client begin decorating and furnishing a large mudroom to match her kitchen. The two rooms were connected, and she wanted the utility space to have the same country look and feel as the kitchen. Since it was a new addition, I had the opportunity to suggest everything from cabinets to flooring and everything in between. The results were phenomenal, and it looked as if it had been a part of the home from the very start.

Add a Bench-Style Storage Unit for a Built-In Look

Before upgrading my client’s mudroom walls, we decided to add a bench-style storage unit. My dad was commissioned to custom design the unit, and since it was quite large he assembled it on-site. It was comprised of two seating areas with cabinets above, drawers below, coat hooks and a full-size closet. Freestanding shelf units or extra closets were not necessary in my client’s large mudroom. This storage unit was large enough to hold dozens of pairs of shoes, several coats and outdoor accessories, and it only used three feet of space from front to back. The country mudroom still appeared quite large, even after the storage unit was added.

Cover Walls with Bead Board

After the storage unit was complete, I suggested the addition of bead board since it was used to complete the storage unit. I showed my client several pictures of finished bead board projects, and she was able to envision it covering the walls. It matched the custom storage unit, and it gave the furnishing an even more convincing built-in appearance with country charm and appeal. Our decorating project was off to a fantastic start.

Install a Dutch Split Door

My client wanted a unique door, but it had to match the country decorating style of the mudroom. I suggested a Dutch split door that could open on the top, bottom or with both sections together. It provided a functional way to add country appeal to the decorating scheme. We painted it a shade of buttery cream to match the walls and the built-in storage unit. It was the ideal country color.

Add a Row of Cabinets with a Countertop

The large mudroom still offered plenty of space for storage since much of it was still empty. We decided on furnishing the area across from the storage unit with a set of matching cabinets and a black walnut countertop. It greatly added to the decorating scheme and the practicality of the space. My client planned on using this furnishing to store small garden supplies. Her garden was just beyond the mudroom, and the cabinets provided the ideal place for storage.

Place a Shelf with Country Style Just Below the Windows

I also suggested decorating and furnishing the mudroom with a long shelf that had unique country style. My dad custom designed the shelf to fit the area just above the black walnut countertop and just below the mudroom windows. My client wanted to use this decorating space to hold her collection of African violets. The amount of lighting that filtered in through the set of windows was ideal for her plants.

My client completed the task of furnishing and decorating her mudroom with the addition of woven baskets and a couple of framed hand-painted country scenes. She was very happy with the decorating scheme and layout of her mudroom. Furnishing the space with extra room for storage enabled her to move coats, shoes and accessories out of the coat closet in her foyer, and it added a considerable amount of value to her home.

Source: Personal and Professional Decorating and Design Experience


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