Although not a term widely used yet – ‘MUDROOM’ is becoming more and more familiar in Australia, as befitting our outdoor lifestyle and as a brilliant segue between our indoors and the great outdoors.
Homeowners in Melbourne will certainly benefit from the practicality of a mudroom. As long as it isn’t hastily constructed or treated as an afterthought, a mudroom is a great addition to any home. There are a number of approaches to building a mudroom with features that will add value to your home.
A mudroom is an ideal solution for managing that transition between inside and outside, especially when it comes to kids. Practical benefits should be your first consideration in designing such a space. You want a room that meets a specific need but if you have the budget, you can design a mudroom that is multipurpose, like a ‘m-office’ – a mudroom and office combo – offering practicality and dual functionality in one. Add some storage and you have really efficient use of space. The following suggestions will give you an idea of what’s involved in building a mudroom to add thatkerbappeal. Don’t know why we didn’t think of these before!
Design & Planning
You don’t want a mudroom that looks like it was just tacked onto the side or rear of your property. Choose a design and color scheme that matches your home. Utilize the largest space possible, making sure to account for the ability to traverse from the mudroom into your home without walking through mud or dirt.
If you are familiar with the original design of your home, check if there is roughed-in plumbing you can use. We will get to this shortly but, first, let’s talk about basic design elements. There are some things that are an absolute must in a mudroom if you want the project to add value to your home.
Adequate Seating
Seating is one of the most basic features you can add to a mudroom. Kids can take off dirty shoes, socks and sports gear. If the space is large enough and you can afford it, extra seating and a desk for doing homework is useful. If there are seats in your mudroom, kids are more likely to use it as a place they can go to study or relax. Make sure to define separate areas in the mudroom so that keen students aren’t sitting on dirty gym gear.
Hooks & storage
Speaking about separate areas in your mudroom, dedicated space for hooks is a must. This is where the family can hang coats, bags, work and gym gear to free up space in your home. One of the potential features of a mudroom that doesn’t get enough is storage space. Go all out when it comes to storage. Closed cupboards and cabinetry is great for storing toys, maintenance or gardening tools, school books and equipment.
Mud Room Shower
Now, back to that roughed-in plumbing mentioned earlier. If you have the space; a big enough budget, and suitable roughed-in plumbing, you should install shower facilities or even a dog-wash! You could add this feature if you don’t have existing plumbing but it will cost considerably more to install new plumbing. A shower is ideal for washing off dirt from outdoor work or sporting activities, keeping your home as clean as possible.
Multipurpose Mud Room
You can design a mudroom that serves multiple purposes to add even more value to your home. A place to do homework or catch up on home office work is just one of the ways to make a mudroom multipurpose. You can also double up the space as an outdoor bar for entertaining. Or why not install a sauna where you can relax after a hard day at work? Some homeowners even double their mudroom as a games room. You are only restricted available space and financial constraints. As long as the room is functional, it will provide an important stop-gap (and stopping the dirt) between the outside and your home – as well as improving kerb appeal.
