When we talk to homeowners about designing their dream home, whether through a custom build or a renovation, we talk about every little detail. Our clients usually have strong ideas about what they’re looking for in a kitchen, master bathroom, etc., but there’s one area of the home that some people tend to overlook: the mudroom. 

However, when incorporated thoughtfully into your home’s design, a mudroom can become much more than an afterthought. You might even find that it feels like a special space for your family to regroup before leaving for the day or a welcoming spot when you arrive back home. 

History of Mudrooms

As their name suggests, mudrooms were originally used as a space in rural homes where muddy shoes could be left to dry. Over time, American families began to incorporate this idea in their homes so they could have an aesthetically pleasing – yet still functional – space to help their household transition when coming in from the outdoors. 

With the evolution of home design inspiration sources like Pinterest and countless HGTV programs, mudrooms have become a place to help you stay organized, store outdoor gear, and more. They’ve truly started to become integral to a functional living space. 

Ways to Modernize Your Mudroom

One of the many perks of including a mudroom in your home is that it’s the perfect space to customize for your family’s unique needs. Here are just a few examples of the ways you might want to modernize your mudroom. 

Incorporate Changing Stations

If you have kids that play sports, you can designate a place in your mudroom for each child where they can keep their uniforms, shoes, and supplies. This will make it easy for them to grab what they need before running out the door for practice. 

Utilize It as a Craft Space

Do you love creating? Make a craft space in your mudroom for all of your supplies! Or, consider using it as a gift wrapping station where you keep wrapping paper, tape, scissors, and ribbon so you’re prepared for birthdays and holidays. 

Create an Organization Hub for your Family

If you find it hard to keep up with your family’s busy schedules, your mudroom can serve as a central hub that includes everyone’s calendar, a place to add to a communal grocery list, and more. Include a spot for your keys, a bin to collect mail, and a few USB outlets to charge your devices and you’ll feel more organized than ever before. 

Install a Pet Shower

Is it a chore to wash your dog in the bathtub? Consider adding a pet washing station to your mudroom instead! Then, you can easily bring your dirty pup inside and get him bathed without having to worry about him tracking dirt all over the rest of the house. Add in a drain and a storage spot for soap and you’ll be all set. 

Create a Dreamy Reading Nook

Your mudroom can become your place to escape into the world of your current read by adding a small bench seat and some built-in bookshelves. Add some soft lighting to complete the space and we bet you’ll find yourself reaching for a book more often. 

Ways to Maximize the Space in Your Mudroom

If you’re wanting to incorporate a mudroom into a smaller space, consider these creative ways to make your mudroom work for you. 

Combine Your Mudroom and Laundry Room

This has become a fairly common practice, but if your home isn’t already set up like this, you might want to build a mudroom space in your laundry room. Especially if your kids have dirty uniforms and shoes, they can put them right in the hamper when they get home.

Include a Small Desk

Do you need a small place to keep your laptop or a spot to work from home occasionally? Instead of designating a whole room as an office, you can add a small desk and a few drawers to your mudroom to serve as a workspace. 

Increase Storage Space

A mudroom is a perfect place to store random shoes, accessories, and other knick-knacks, but without storage solutions, it can quickly become a messy “drop zone” for everything. Instead, install hooks for scarves, jackets, or keys and shelves for other miscellaneous items. You might also want to include cubbies and baskets for a chic way to hide away little things that would otherwise not have a spot. 

What To Do If Your Home Lacks a Traditional Space for a Mudroom

If you don’t think you have space for a mudroom, think again! A little creativity is all you need to incorporate a mudroom in your home. 

For example, consider “moving” your mudroom into your garage. You can install cabinets, hooks, baskets, and shelves along a wall and stop dirt and grime from ever getting inside your home. 

Or, you might turn an unused coat closet into a makeshift mudroom. Depending on your space, you might be able to fit a small bench and add hooks and shelves to the wall or even add hooks to the back of the door. The only limit is your imagination!

Get Inspired

Look through some of the recent mudrooms we've put together for our clients below or click through our full photo gallery and start dreaming up ideas for your own home!

When you’re ready to start planning your custom home or renovation project, we’d love to talk to you about it.

We're excited to announce that Wake Living's 2020 Readers Choice Awards voting is officially open! It's time to vote for your local favorites across the Triangle. We'd love your vote in the category of "Best New Homebuilder Over $500k".

Use the link below before April 10th to cast your vote for Rufty Homes, and make sure to fill out nine more favorites for a chance to win prizes from Wake Living.

Vote Now

Need help voting?

1. Click the link and fill out your name and email at the top.
2. Scroll down to the "Everyday Living" Section.
3. Go to "Best New Homebuilder >$500k" and type our name.

Or, watch the quick video below!

If you're thumbing through the latest Southern Home Magazine, keep an eye out for "Creating Contrast" by Lauren Gentry Walker. This feature puts a spotlight on a Rufty Home that was decorated by the ever-talented interior designer and co-founder of Roux MacNeill Studio, Robert MacNeill. His vision came to life, enhancing the home's beauty through an artful use of space and color palates.

Make sure you pick up a copy of this March/April issue to read more!

It's time to catch up on what's been happening at Rufty Homes! Check out our February email newsletter to see a recent French-inspired remodel, hear Jon Rufty's take on bringing a luxurious touch to each room in your home, and find out which local company awarded us with the 2019 Innovative Builder of the Year.

Read the latest here.>>

When Tony and Cathy Moraco first saw the French-inspired, Chateaux-like house that would eventually be their home, they looked past the ornate design to see the potential within the walls.

Cathy remembers, “The original style of the home didn’t match our taste, but Tony instantly recognized the quality of the build and the floor plan so we thought about how we could make it work for us. We liked the layout and it quickly became easy for us to envision what it would take to turn it into our dream home.”

The house was originally built by Rufty Homes, so although the Moracos spoke with other vendors about their remodel, they ultimately chose the Rufty team to take on the renovation project. Cathy says, “As the builder, they had a unique insight about how to match our new ideas up with some of the original features. For example, they worked to make sure our new hardwood flooring would marry well with existing wood and tile in other parts of the home.”

Tony and Cathy were living out of state during some of the renovation process, but knowing the Rufty team was working on their home gave them peace of mind. “As soon as I met our Project Manager, Chris Bridgewater, I felt completely at ease that we were in good hands,” says Cathy. 

Chris agrees saying, “I met Cathy before construction began, but I didn’t get to meet Tony until we were about halfway through the project. We relied on open communication to ensure that they were always in the loop about what was happening and how things were moving along. We ended up developing a friendship and I still keep in touch with them today.”

While Chris helped keep the project on track and worked on the technical parts of the project – like turning a former exercise studio into a four-refrigerator wine room – the Moracos worked with Southern Studio Interior Design's Founder, Vicky Serany, and Senior Designer, Elizabeth O’Neal, to develop a plan to transform the space to fit their aesthetic preferences. 

Vicky remembers, “The original home was beautiful, but it was much more ornate and formal than what Tony and Cathy wanted. We removed a painted mural in the dining room and replaced it with a soft, neutral paint color and we simplified the master bathroom by replacing the original columns and tub with a sleek, freestanding tub. And, since entertaining is important to them, we spent a lot of time focused on the kitchen, which is truly the heart of their home. We replaced the cabinets and took out the two kitchen islands so we could replace it with one large one instead that better fit their needs.”

Of course, almost no renovation project is complete without some unexpected twists and turns along the way. In the middle of the project, the cabinet supplier that was chosen for the kitchen cabinets suddenly went out of business.

Chris and his team got all hands on deck to find another supplier as quickly as possible that could make the same, high-quality cabinets the Moracos wanted to complete their kitchen. In all, the project was delayed for about two months, but Tony and Cathy are thrilled with the final result. 

In fact, the kitchen is one of their favorite places to spend time in their new home. Tony says, “The Rufty team worked hard on the little details in the kitchen, like developing a crown molding solution that matches up perfectly with the ceiling and cabinets. We love so much about this home, but the kitchen is probably my favorite room.”

While the Moracos plan to make this their forever home, if they ever decided to build or renovate again in the future, they wouldn’t hesitate to turn to Rufty Homes for their next project. Cathy says, “They were proactive and worked meticulously on every aspect of our home. Chris treated it almost as if he was working on his own home, which we really appreciated. But, best of all, they really listened to us throughout this journey. As a result, we now have the home of our dreams.”

See the full project photo gallery here

We are honored to have received the 2019 Innovative Builder of the Year Award from our friends at ROCKin’teriors! After working on multiple projects together, we can say that it’s always a pleasure partnering with this local certified natural stone fabricator to provide our clients with jaw-dropping designs for their custom homes. 

ROCKin’teriors Principal, Laura Grandlienard, presented the award, saying "Rufty Homes truly builds custom homes. With Rufty Homes, we've never seen a repeat of another build.”

Thank you again to Laura and the entire ROCKin’ team! Cheers to another year of beautiful builds!

2019 Innovative Builder of the Year

2019 Innovative Builder of the Year

2019 Innovative Builder of the Year

If you haven't seen the February/March issue of Triangle Home Design & Decor, you haven't read Jon Rufty's article! Learn about how we make sure every room in our custom homes are designed with touches of true luxury, even laundry and mudrooms. Check out "Whistle While You Work" on Triangle Home Design & Decor's website or by reading the downloadable PDF.

Triangle Home Design and Decor February March 2020

Click the image to read the article on Triangle Home Design and Decor's website.

© 2024 Rufty Homes Inc. All rights reserved
© 2024 Rufty Homes Inc. All rights reserved
chevron-up