The following is a guest post from regular contributor, Yuni at Love Your Abode.
Happy New Year! Today, I’m sharing my mini mud area makeover. Since our home doesn’t have a mudroom, we utilize a narrow wall next to the garage door that leads right into the kitchen. We use this door the majority of the time so when we first moved in three years ago, this area used to be a major drop zone for book bags, coats, purses, and anything else you could think of.
Even though we created a mud area, we still had this problem: we had two rows of hooks that were bunched together and, the holes you see on the top of the photo, were from a black floating shelf. When the shelf seemed to be falling apart, we decided it was time to reassess this area and improve the design and function for this intended space.
Since the hooks were all too close together, the kids had a difficult time hanging their bookbags on the lower hooks. The top hooks were too close to the bottom hooks so the coats and jackets were always getting in the way. First, we decided to get rid of the shelf all together. Second, we removed the hooks along with the molding to which it was attached.
After my husband removed all the hooks, we were left a very messy wall with holes. Once the holes were patched with spackle, we applied beadboard wallpaper to the area. It was my first time using it and I have to say I love it. It goes on easily and it looks pretty good too. It covered up all the holes on the wall and now serves as a protective layer. When it gets dirty, I plan on painting it black. There’s nothing like a late night project on New Year’s Eve! That’s how we roll around here.
We added another hook for the top so that each family member would have their own coat hook. Removing the shelf gave us more space to work with and my husband made sure to space the hooks out more on both levels. We thought about cutting trim for the sides of the wall paper but realized you can’t really notice it when all the stuff is up there.
This works so much better for our family! Now, the kids can actually hang up their bookbags easily even when the top hooks are in use.
The black trunk holds extra wipes, a ballet bag, basket for the kids’ winter accessories, and rolled up scarves.
I realize it’s important to reassess spots in the home to make sure it’s working for your family. If you don’t have a mudroom, this is a great and inexpensive alternative. My husband drilled hooks onto trim that was cut from Home Depot. If you don’t have DIY skills, you could easily use hooks that are already drilled onto some wood. I’ve seen these at home retail and hardware stores. We’ve been using this improved area since the new year and I no longer have to get onto the kids about their bookbags. Everyone has their own hooks and it keeps our things organized way better than before. This is especially great for the cold months when a plethora of coats and winter accessories are all out. Do you have a mud area and what tips do you have to keep this area tidy?
Yuni is married to her high school sweetheart and is a stay at home mom to three precious miracles. She is passionate about Jesus and loves creating a home with purpose. You can find her at Love Your Abode where she shares her love for DIY, organizing, cooking, and interior design. She loves gathering, feeding, and celebrating people.
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