Having a functional and beautiful mudroom can instantly add ease into your family’s routine. But ask yourself: is your current entryway creating cohesion or routinely becoming a messy eyesore? 

Often the home of kicked-off shoes and tossed-aside keys, mudrooms are one space that can make the experience of living in a house less stressful and more pleasant. With the right design team, these spaces can serve as both a launchpad as you get ready to leave and a relaxing haven when you return.

At Bluestem Remodeling, we love creating personalized spaces. Exploring creative mudroom ideas to fit into a new floor plan is a great way to help improve daily living, as well as improve your space’s aesthetic and functionality.

Mudroom Ideas for Minneapolis Homes

In this guide, we reveal our top 5 mudroom ideas for creating a practical, functional, and aesthetically pleasing entryway space. Whether you’re refreshing an existing entryway or adding a mudroom area, these tips from our experts can help you find ease and comfort in your home! 

1. Create a Space For Comfort

One of the easiest ways to add functional comfort to a mudroom is by incorporating a bench area. 

Having a place to sit and take off cold winter boots or set down those heavy grocery bags makes the transition in and out of the home much easier. Plus, by leaving the space under the bench open, you’ve created extra storage space for your shoes, keeping them out of your entryway.

2. Create a Centralized, Designated Spot 

A tabletop or small countertop can serve as a perfect space to hold smaller items that you regularly need on your way out the door. 

A designated spot for your keys, bags, gear, outerwear, AND bike helmets? Yes please! 

Pro-tip: If you want to keep surfaces clear, a drawer or two with dividers can help keep everyone’s belongings organized and out of sight.

3. Embrace Your Aesthetic 

You can have fun with color combinations, textures, and decorations to help incorporate your personal style into the space. In this mudroom remodel, our Bluestem designer took inspiration from the mid-century modern style of the rest of the home and suggested a bright and colorful design the homeowners fell in love with.

Read more about this mudroom remodel.

4. Don’t Forget About Lighting 

Lighting is essential to a functional mudroom. Pendant lights, for example, can add a touch of style while still providing enough illumination. Our designers ensure every corner is illuminated properly.

It’s also a good idea to consider the type of bulb you’ll use, such as energy-efficient LED lights, to save on utility costs.

5. Explore Different Mudroom Storage Ideas (This is a Big One!) 

Storage areas don’t have to be huge—strategic design can allow them to be minimal yet still very effective! There are a couple of different approaches, and it boils down to this question: Will you be looking at the mudroom, or will it be hidden from view? 

• Hidden from view: If your mudroom is in a separate space, consider using pegs to hang up coats and backpacks. You can use varying heights for family members. Closer to the floor is a great place for kids’ backpacks or purses, and taller ones accommodate full-length raincoats. With so many different styles, the hooks can add a personalized element to your mudroom’s design.  
• Out in the open: If the area is going to be visible from other parts of your home, you’ll want to factor aesthetics into the equation. A cupboard or closet works great for hiding coats and boots. Build-in cubbies and bins can provide each member of the household with an individual space for their belongings. Old crates can be repurposed to create storage shelves or cubbies in your mudroom. 

Next, think about what you’ll store there as you’re coming and going. Is this where you’ll drop your briefcase, keys, or outdoor play equipment? Knowing how you want to use your space informs additional elements we often recommend to our clients: 

• A shoe-drying rack or towel warmers help dry shoes, hats, mittens, or wet coats. (Imagine putting on warm boots when you head outside! Or having a designated spot for the kids’ wet gear when they come in from the rain.)
• A designated built-in mail holder can serve as a centralized location for receiving and storing mail, bills, and other important documents. 

Pro-tip: If you have pets, consider adding a pet station with hooks for leashes and a basket for toys. You can also add a little area to rinse off muddy paws or give them a quick bath.

Important Minnesota Mudroom Considerations

Mudroom Materials

Mudrooms are hard-working spaces, which means we want to choose materials that are up for the challenge. A functional mudroom design incorporates flooring that is easy to keep clean and not slippery when wet.

Marmoleum, for example, as well as certain types of tile or stone, can be great choices. Other features in the mudroom, such as doors, benches or cubbies, need to be rugged enough to handle bumps, scraps and grit.

Temperature and Circulation

One of the struggles with living in a colder climate is getting things to dry out. Heating the room helps significantly with that. Underfloor heating is not only a great option for comfort, but will also help keep the floor dry.

Sometimes, however, it can be hard to heat a mudroom. If you can’t heat your main mudroom entrance space, you could provide a small area of storage for wet coats and shoes within the heated part of your home. 

Setting the mudroom one step below the main living area allows it to catch dirt and grit and keeps cold air from flowing across the floor. Adding a door provides a similar function.

Regardless of your layout and heating choices, another key thing to keep in mind is air circulation. You want to have enough air circulation so that wet clothes can dry out.

Our remodeling experts look at what’s possible in your home and make strategic recommendations for what will work best.

Why You Need a Mudroom in Minneapolis

Coming and going from the house is often a messy process, especially here in the Twin Cities. There are all kinds of things you have to bring with you and that invariably come into the house with you—wet boots, grit, salt, etc. 

Some homes have beautiful, impractical mudrooms; some houses don’t have mudrooms at all. If you’re thinking of remodeling or adding a mudroom to your Minneapolis home, it’s important to find a professional that will guide you through your options and think through every detail.

Here in Minneapolis, we often see homes with entrances right to landings in staircases, especially in South Minneapolis Cape Cods in the 20’s and 30’s and in split-level homes from the 60’s and 70’s. Our goal is to help you find a better and safer way to use those entrance spaces. 

Pro-tip:
If your home’s current setup doesn’t offer the space for a functional mudroom, a small bump-out can make a huge difference! It doesn’t take much—even as little as 36” (room to swing open a door) can frequently be enough extra space. 

More Creative Mudroom Ideas for Your Remodel

One of the best opportunities in a mudroom remodel is tailoring it to your household’s needs. 

Whether it’s a place to store hockey equipment, winter boots, or backpacks, this is a simple but small space that can be personalized to have a big impact. Bluestem’s design-build team can work with you to create a customized mudroom for your needs and ease the transition in and out of your home.

As a Minneapolis home remodeling company, we are passionate about creating lasting solutions that support our unique climate and client’s busy routines. 

If you’d like to schedule a consultation to learn more about our past projects and capabilities or to discuss your upcoming project, contact us today!