How I Added a Mudroom in A Small Laundry Room

Here are the cheap and doable DIY projects I used when I Added a Mudroom in a Small Laundry Room.

DIY Mudroom in A Small Laundry Room

This house was built about 23 years ago, so a bit before Mudrooms became a standard in new construction.

But, now we all know that Mudrooms make life so much easier. And we really needed one. Here’s all the DIY projects I used when I added a Mudroom in a Small Laundry Room.

But first, here’s a quick look at what this Mudroom looked like when we moved in.

This area was in our Laundry Room and next to the garage door we always used. So, it was the ideal spot for a Mudroom.

Building a Mudroom Bench in our Laundry Room

That bench started out as a 3/4″ thick plywood built-in base cabinet. Some cabinets are too flimsy to be cut down into a bench. But if your cabinets are sturdy and thick, this is a great low cost DIY.

I removed the doors and drawers. Then marked a straight line with a pencil across the lower cabinet and upper cabinet where I wanted to cut them.

I used a circular saw to cut everywhere I could. But near the walls and the longer cabinet I had to use a jigsaw and a handsaw to finish the cuts.

After cutting the upper and lower cabinets, the next step to add this Mudroom in a Small Laundry Room was to add a new top and bottom to those cut off spots.

I used lumber, plywood, and trim molding to finish off the cut down cabinets. Since the lower cabinet would be a mudroom bench, I added extra supports, screwed into the surrounding 3/4″ plywood.

I added v-groove paneling along the back wall with coat hooks. Baskets on the upper shelf hold hats, scarves, and gloves.

Making all of this look nice means lots of sanding and knowing where to use caulk and wood filler on wood trim.

I built the Shoe Storage Crates with my Kreg Jig. I love custom crates because you can make them the perfect size for your space. Here are some great shoe storage options, if you don’t want to build.

How I Added Coat Storage to our Laundry Room

That tall cabinet on the left used to be one of those long cabinets that people like to store brooms in. I converted the bottom half to more shoe storage. I lined the inside of that open cabinet with stained plywood for a pretty, finished look.

The white shelf dividing the 2 different boxes lets me add a 3rd wood bin to that area. Having 3 matching boxes ties both areas together. The white wood box on the top looks nice against the wood stain.

It was designed to be a shorter, open box and easy to use. I kinda have one of those husbands that thinks pulling a drawer out is too much effort. So, this was designed to be super easy for him to drop things in. 😉

I love the view of this little Mudroom from our kitchen now. It just seems so cozy and homey. The DIY Over Washer and Dryer Laundry Table I built to fit over the washer and dryer plays a huge part in giving the room some style.

Plus, it’s just a great place to drop the purse and keys, fold laundry, and it hides those big machines. You can find the DIY for that wood slice wall hook here too. I love having a place to hang cute aprons in a kitchen. Cute aprons add so much charm and color.

The woven baskets over the bench have been a great place to store gloves, scarves, and hats. The 4 hooks typically hold the coats we’re grabbing the most for that season and the kids book bags.

I used a v-groove MDF panel to connect the bench to the upper cabinet, like a hall tree. I framed that in with 1×3 pine dimensional lumber. You can see more small laundry room ideas here.

Adding a Closet Rod and Brackets to that open tall, open cabinet gives us lots of extra coat storage. That storage area above the coats typically stores my purse and my husbands laptop bag.

I have to say, this new Mudroom in our small laundry room is well loved and used all day long. I’m so happy that I went for it with this project. Sometimes a big change is the best way to add function to a home. 🙂

This Mudroom was Featured in Better Homes and Garden Magazine!

One last thing! Crazily enough, this little Mudroom Bench and Coat Storage was actually featured in an issue of Better Homes and Gardens. It was a really incredible experience. I’m still pinching myself.

You can read all about the BHG photo shoot and how it happened here.

Looking for more home remodeling ideas? You can find my DIY Home Remodeling videos in this playlist on YouTube. Or check out all the DIY videos on my channel here.

---

Looking for more home design ideas and inspiration? I love this DIY Simple Coffered Ceiling Makeover.

And this DIY Vaulted Ceiling Makeover.

This Master Bathroom Before and After Makeover is full of DIY tips and tutorials.

Make beautiful DIY Wood Overlay Drawer Fronts with this simple tutorial.

Have a look at this Before and After Colorful Living Room Makeover for more home ideas.

Check out the rooms that I’m still working on. They’re already looking pretty good, but not quite ready. Or, see how I add pops of color to a home with Light Walls.

---

Thanks for checking out how I Added a Mudroom in a Small Laundry Room. Please let me know if you have questions. Don’t forget to sign up for the Abbotts At Home email newsletter to get DIY, Remodeling, and Crafty ideas in your inbox.