How to Get Your Mudroom Ready for Back to School

 Entry #2744, August 13, 2013

It’s hard to believe but it’s that time of year again – Back to School time!  Just like the famous office supply commercial says, “…it’s the most wonderful time of the year…” No, not Christmas – back to school! As parents rush to and from one store to the next gathering backpacks, books, and binders, we are filled with a bittersweet mixture of happiness (for some much-needed peace and quiet) and sadness to see our children growing so quickly before our eyes; another year older and grade-level higher.

Is your mudroom ready for back to school time?

Image via: LDa Architecture & Interiors

As the school days commence, our mudrooms seem to quickly implode with papers, shoes, back packs, and sporting goods. Suddenly it seems we need a mudroom/entryway overhaul, so here are some tips to quickly organize your mudroom and find a place to stash everything.

De-clutter:

The first step for any room overhaul is to purge the room. If possible, take everything out of the room.  Assess all the items and put them in piles of “keep”, “donate”, “keep but belongs elsewhere”, and “trash”.

Back to school mudroom ideas

Image via: Two Ellie

Shelves, Baskets, and Hooks:

Now that you have de-cluttered, it’s time to bring in some great organizing tools such as baskets, trays, hooks, and shelves. One neat idea is to find an old set of metal lockers. These lockers look great with a new coat of paint – maybe chalkboard paint to write children’s names on the outside – and they are VERY functional for hiding backpacks, shoes , sporting equipment, and coats.

Vintage lockers can be dressed for success!

Image via: Pinterest

Hooks also come in handy. A visit to your local hardware store will reveal a plethora of hook styles. They can be a great way to organize hat collections, antique baskets, scarves, and coats.

If your mudroom also holds your laundry room (like mine) considers hiding your washer and dryer by hanging floor to ceiling curtain panels.  Grommet curtain panels hung by a heavy duty tension rod work great and can easily be closed to hide your unsightly laundry mess.

Essentially, decorate your mudroom like you would the rest of your home; making it a pretty and welcoming place to enter after a long day at work or school.

For more mudroom ideas on Stagetecture, click here.