Bringing Order to Our Lives . . . Through the Mudroom

If you have a front hall closet in your home, I want you to take a minute and think of it fondly.  No matter its current condition.  No matter how over-stuffed or packed or messy it is.  Just think of all it holds and how it serves you.  Perhaps consider doing something nice for it today . . . a lovely doorknob adornment, a scented sachet, maybe just a little nod of appreciation in its general direction. 

We live in a colonial home that looks much like this.

If you've never lived in this kind of home, you might not know that closets are an issue with some of these homes.  It depends upon the layout, but it is not uncommon for these homes to have no front hall closet.  That is, no place to hang coats for front door entrants.  No place for their shoes, or schoolbags, or hats, or mittens, or umbrellas, or anything else.

In fact, it is a startling fact that our entire first floor contains exactly no closets.  None.  Really.  There are kitchen cabinets.  A shelved pantry.  An under-the-sink vanity in the powder room.  And that's it.

But we do have a mudroom.  So think about this:  a mudroom and no other closets.  Get the picture?  This poor little aisle of a room serves as surrogate front hall closet, utility closet, and more.  Its duties include:


1.  Keeper of all coats, jackets, and miscellaneous outerwear
2.  Storer of all shoes and boots, sandals, and rain gear.
3.  Keeper of all telephone directories, maps, atlases, etc.
4.  Storer of craft supplies and all extra paper.
5.  Faithful keeper of school supplies and overflow coloring books.
6.  Home of both vacuum cleaners and all mops and brooms
7.  Overflow pantry
9.  Veritable catch-all for things that should be in a closet somewhere.
AND
10. Laundry room.  That's right, all laundry is delivered, sorted, cleaned, dried, ironed (if needed), folded, and packed for return to the user, in this room as well.

Therefore, the project for this winter is the mudroom.  I would show you a picture of its current condition, but then none of you would ever return.  I will show "before" pictures only once I have the "after" pictures to resurrect myself. 

Being that this room measures only 8 ft by 15 ft and includes three doors and a washer and dryer, this room is beyond challenging.  However, my husband and I both believe it to be the key to all the organizational challenges, shortcomings, and woes of, not only the first floor, but our entire lives as well.  Therefore, the mudroom must be made more efficient and functional.  Immediately.

We have begun by discussing flooring options.  He has his ideas.  I have mine.  Let me put it this way, there is a lot to discuss.

I'll keep you posted.

(Should I suddenly become unaccounted for, please check my mudroom first, then make a few calls to the nearest flooring stores, and then, well, stay calm and call for help.)