How to Make Your Own Mudroom Storage

Having a mudroom in your home is priceless. Unfortunately, the cost of building or having someone build custom mudroom storage can be expensive. To keep mudroom organization simple and inexpensive, consider a do-it-yourself project that should only take an afternoon to complete and won't break the bank.

Things You'll Need

• 1-inch by 4-inch piece of wood (length to be determined)
• Unfinished wooden cubbies
• Hooks
• Saw
• Power drill
• Stud finder
• Wood screws
• Paint
• Wicker baskets to fit in the cubes of the cubbies
• Dresser or other storage unit

Instructions

1. Measure your mudroom space. Purchase two unfinished wooden cubbies (either a three-cube unit or five-cube unit) based on how much space there is to work with (if the mudroom has a door, don't forget to leave room for the door to open into the room). These cubbies are typically 15 inches deep and 42 inches tall for the three-cube unit and 57 inches tall for the five-cube unit. Search online or visit your local arts/crafts or unfinished furniture store.

2. Cut the 1-inch by 4-inch piece of wood to the length of the cubby unit you selected for the mudroom storage. Lightly sand the cubbies and 1 by 4. Apply two coats of paint, allowing sufficient dry time in between coats.

3. Place the first cubby on the floor. The cubes will be to keep shoes in place. Put a basket on top of the cubby unit, one basket per cube, to use as a catch-all for everyday clutter (keys, hats, sports uniforms, backpacks, etc.)

4. Measure 53 inches from the floor and use a level to draw a straight line that measures the length of the cubbies. Mark below the line where wall studs are found. Hold the 1 by 4 up to the line so that the bottom of the wood is on the line and drill holes into the studs. Attach the wood to the wall by drilling screws into the holes and studs.

5. Attach the hooks to the 1 by 4, spacing the hooks out so that each cube of the storage cubby has two hooks above it. Use the hooks for coats and backpacks.

6. Attach the second cubby to the wall above the hooks, using the stud finder and securing the unit with screws in the studs. Use at least two screws per cube. Put baskets in the cubes and on top of the cubes to hold school papers, hats, gloves, mittens, etc.

7. If room allows and you have an unused dresser or cabinet at home, use it as additional mudroom storage to keep clutter at bay. Consider sanding and painting it to match the storage area you made. Place a decorative plate or basket on top for car keys and hang a mirror above the dresser for last-minute touch-ups before you walk out the door.