Closet to Mudroom Makeover
Ok, so I can’t even tell you how amazing this has been! Having this hall coat closet turned into a ”mudroom” has already been so helpful in keeping my sanity with 4 kids.
WHY I LOVE THIS MUDROOM:
The kids actually keep their shoes out of the floor
My husbands size 13 shoes finally fit somewhere
The baskets make it easy to carry shoes back upstairs to put away
My kids aren’t sitting on the stairs or in front of the door when we are trying to get out of the house fast
It just makes me feel fancy lol
BEFORE YOU START! DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID! I decided after the shelves were in that I thought wallpaper would look nice. I had some extra peel and stick left over from my laundry room makeover, so I used it, but I had to wallpaper around the shelf supports. This was such a headache, but wasn’t the end of the world. Luckily I had a very forgiving wallpaper pattern.
There are a number of ways to do this, but here is what I did:
Remove all old shelving and patch with drywall patch
Wallpaper or paint where desired (my wallpaper was a last minute decision but I recommend it here)
Build bench inside closet. Because I wasn’t widening my doorway, I had to build the bench inside the closet. Make sure your wood is thick enough to support adult weight for the length of the bench. You can add a middle support, but I preferred to have it completely open. I also primed and painted mine because I used less than preferable wood for mine just because it was free.
Add shelves: I was able to add 3 (11 inch deep) shelves to maximize storage. I wanted a lot of raw wood in this design, so my shelves are made from leftover cedar. I only put supports on the side walls since I don’t plan on anything heavy being on these shelves. I can always add more later if needed. TEST HEAD HEIGHT FROM BENCH. I had my husband sit down to make sure the bottom shelf was at a comfortable height.
Add tongue and groove Shiplap. I added shiplap from the bench to the bottom shelf. Cut shiplap to desired length. Used liquid nails in a zig zag formation on the back. Once the piece is in place, shoot a nail into each end to keep it in place while the glue dries. Fill nail holes with wood filler. I had to cut out 2”x2” notches in my top piece to fit in the shelf supports.
Final Touches: I added few small pieces of wood where the shiplap and the first shelf meet to bridge any gaps. I also added rechargeable magnetic lights that are motion sensor. Then I added all the fluff! See my products below. I signed up for the Amazon Associate program, so if you buy from my link then I get a small percentage from the sale. The cost to you is the same. I am not sponsored by Amazon (I wish lol).
What I used:
Faux fur Throw (on bench, but I use it on front
Hanging Baskets (I use for toddler socks and mittens)
XXXL Floor Baskets (love love love these!)
Spackle I always get this kind because it is color changing to let you know when it is dry
Feel free to ask questions and please let me know what you think!