Interiors

Open vs. Closed Mudroom Storage: What Works Best?

Laura Medicus Interiors

My work brings me into close contact with families in a way that’s different than the folks who regularly work with families like teachers and healthcare providers. I’m in people’s homes, I’m staring at their laundry rooms, I’m standing in their kitchens and asking things like “Who does the cooking around here?” and “Where do the kids put their backpacks when they come home?” I’m opening up their cabinets and drawers and while I always ask permission before, in retrospect, are they going to feel comfortable saying NO! DO NOT OPEN THAT DRAWER!! I doubt it. What you need to know about me is I don’t notice your mess unless it’s extreme and I’m talking extreme. I assume your house will be somewhat of a mess because you wouldn’t have reached out to me if it wasn’t. Also, I assume you’re a normal human being just trying to live your life which means there will be some clutter and there will be laundry.

I’ve been working on a lot of mudrooms lately and in older homes, you usually either need to add an addition, cobble space away from somewhere else, or just accept you’re going to have a coat rack somewhere that’s not ideal and go for it. A lot of my conversations about mudrooms with clients center on two things: 1. closed vs. open storage and 2. outlets for leaving devices in mudroom before entering rest of the home and how practical is that. I love closed storage but I think when you add a door to something it can disappear for a child. In my experience open storage, if you can stand the sight of it, seems the most practical for kids and adults with ADHD.

Let’s take a look at a few different styles of mudrooms! A combination of the two options – open and closed is probably optimal. BUT, most useful and maybe least attractive (in most cases) is open.

A great example of open storage. If you have a room where you can keep it closed off from the rest of the house, I think that open is the easiest for people to keep track of what they have. I love the look of this one, it’s very much “I just came in for tea from wandering the moors”. (Source)
A beautiful, put together closed storage mudroom. The small drawers are interesting and must be a specific client directed need. Love those cute vent holes. (Photo Source)
A lot of my clients don’t have a mudroom and need to utilize their entry. If you have the space, a setup like above is ideal. A combination of open and closed. Very fun colors used here! (Source)
f you don’t have any room, hooks and a freestanding bench work really well. A lot of my clients think they need to have a built-in, but furniture is more flexible and usually less expensive than a built-in. (Photo Source)
Here’s another, more shabby chic entry. that works just as well. Just to repeat – everyone thinks they need a built-in. You don’t. Sometimes furniture will work just as well, if not better, because it’s moveable.(Photo Source)
I love the mix of painted and wood. The bench cut-out is really unique. (Photo Source)
Simple with a nice combination of open for shoes and closed for the other mess. I might be coming around to a combination of the two. (Photo Source)

Books I’ve Loved Recently:

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. Funny and moving. The premise is: police don’t usually look at these two suspects: Old women and little girls. So good.

Listening to:

The Prizefighter by Mumford and Sons. Fantastic album with a current favorite line: “Isn’t normality a dream?” We’re seeing them on Saturday at Folsom Field and I am excited.

Watching:

This is a getting ready to watch for me. This show is all-consuming and also slightly embarrassing. Love Island debut’s tomorrow. I say all-consuming because they air a new one almost every night of the week during the summer. It can get impossible to catch up on and it can also feel like homework that I need to do. It’s almost stressful, which I realize is completely ridiculous for something I enjoy. I’m watching it with a friend tomorrow night and then if the rest of the summer is like normal summers the two of us will be shouting back and forth all July “Did you see…?” “NO! Don’t tell me!” The world needs more cheerful, energetic and companionable shouting.

I’m your queen and I’m your worst nightmare

But sometimes I’m a dream” – I’ll Tell you Everything by Marcus Mumford

Unknown's avatar

Published by Laura Medicus Interiors

Laura is a Denver Interior Designer who runs an Interior Design Studio based in sunny Colorado with a strong commitment to livable and interesting interiors. She also runs The Colorado Nest, a Denver blog about Design, Art and Life in the Mountain West and co-hosts the book podcast "The Inside Flap" on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play.

Leave a comment