The Mudroom That Earns Its Keep

It's Holly here.

If I could organize only one room in a Michigan home, it would be the mudroom. We have real seasons here. We have wet boots, sports bags, and a dog. A pretty entry that cannot take a Tuesday in September is just a hallway.

A hook is not a system

Everyone in the house needs two hooks: one for the daily coat, one for the bag. A bench with baskets underneath for shoes. A tray for sunglasses and keys. That is the skeleton.

Name the baskets

“Holly’s shoes.” “Library.” “Sports.” Labels are not cute extras. They are how other people (and future-you) put things back.

Leave a little empty

The most generous thing you can do for an entry is leave a square of floor. That is where the wet umbrella lives for ten minutes. If every inch is styled, life has nowhere to land.

We love a beautiful mudroom. We love a working one more.