Our new home doesn’t have a traditional room coming in our back door, but it does have a hallway leading from the garage into the kitchen, and there was a large coat closet just inside the back door. With three kids, dogs, backpacks etc. etc. we need all the storage space we could get, so we decided while the closet was nice {closed doors and all that} we wanted to use the space more as a functional mini-mudroom.
We’ve had constant ice and snow here in Virginia, and the light has been dreadful. So, I’ll be back with better photos, plus a step-by-step post about how we did this. Today I am just sharing the finished product (that’s the most fun, anyway!) but you can see all the details on how we did it HERE.
The door on the left opened into the garage door and the one on the right into the laundry room, which made no sense and they blocked traffic in and out of both the garage and the laundry room. In addition to being practical, taking them off made the space feel so much larger and more useful.
A few days of construction later, this is the space we came up with.
While it’s a bit of a challenge to keep it neat since this closet is now ‘door-less’, especially with all the winter coats piling up, I find my kids have a higher success rate hanging their jacket and backpack on a hook then a hanger, so that’s a win.
They each have their own section for their belongings and my husband and I share one. Five sections would have been ideal, but then they each would have been too narrow so we settled for four.
I had to order several rounds of baskets before I found ones that fit the way I wanted them to. These are from The Container Store. It was the whole Goldilocks thing–too big, too small, these were pretty much just right {well, I’d have loved them to be a little taller but by the time these came in I just wanted it done!}. In the top of this picture you can see we also had a second higher shelf built. You can’t see it unless you are standing directly under the closet, but it works perfectly to store extra stuff–dog food, plastic bags, etc. that I don’t have space for in my pantry and don’t want to see.
I took pictures during the construction, so I’ll post a second post about how it was done. The space is so much more functional now. I can’t even remember what it used to be like with the doors on the closet so I obviously don’t miss them too much.
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To see the updated “how we did it” post click HERE.
XO,
That looks so great! Well done! I miss having a mudroom.
Amy it looks fantastic. I so wish we had a mudroom area, even with the kiddos be gone! And, I love both of your new profile pictures. Gorgeous ladies!!
Thank you so much! You are too sweet 🙂 Have a great day!
XO,
Amy
very cool !
We have a super small entry way now with four small (18 inch) shelves. I have some hooks hung for coats and back packs, but I want to create a more useable mudroom. We have backpacks, shoes and jackets in the kitchen all the time!
Looks wonderful! Great job on the design and storage. I would love to have more room!
xo
Pat
P.S. Love both of your photos ~ beautiful ladies!
Thanks Pat, we’re still tinkering with our photos but we appreciate the kind words. Have a wonderful weekend!
XO,
Amy
I am currently researching doing this project. ? – what did you do once you took the doors & hardware off with the trim?
Specifically with the holes it leaces in the trim? take trim off? or is there something else to be done?
Good job- thanks
Hi Jill,
I am going to follow-up with a very detailed post in the next few weeks, I wanted to wait till I could get some better pictures. We just filled in the holes in the trim with spackle. I still have touch-up painting to do, in fact! It worked great, you can’t even really tell. Good luck with the project, we’ll be sharing the whole “how-to” soon!
Thanks,
Amy
What a terrific idea…I so wish I had a mudroom….This is such a fantastic and pretty solution…I can totally relate to the very gloomy days!…
Thanks Shirley! Yes, hoping spring is in sight. Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
I love it!!! The space & most of all functionality of this space is amazing! I love the baskets !!! Happy weekend ladies!
Paige.Rose
Thanks Paige! Have a lovely weekend as well 🙂
LOVE IT!!!! Perfect
Grazie! {I googled that!} 🙂 Miss you!
Shared your great post on my blog, adventuresofarealmom.wordpress.com Thanks for your inspiring posts!