Designers Swear by These Makeshift Mudroom Ideas
No mudroom? No problem, thanks to these clever designer-led ideas.
For many of us, a mudroom constitutes the family “drop zone,” a space that’s entered from the garage or the front door that’s separate from the entryway, where keys, bags, mail, and shoes (especially muddy ones—hence the name) can instantly land. It keeps these items organized without a lot of extra thought.
But some people live in homes without mudrooms. “Historic or in-town homes simply weren’t designed with mudrooms in mind, and the main floor footprint is usually limited,” says Burcu Ercetin, founder and principal designer of Design & Curations.
Mudrooms are more common in new construction homes with ample space. But what do you do when space is limited and you lack a mudroom? Ercetin suggests maximizing underutilized areas, such as corners, wall pockets, and under-stair zones. “Then turn them into functional ‘hot spots,’” she says. “It’s all about making everyday living feel a little easier, and a lot more intentional, and calmer.”
To find out how you can carve out some drop zones in your home, sans mudroom, read on.
Rethink your laundry room.
“We love turning a main-floor laundry room into a combined laundry and drop zone, especially one off the garage,” Ercetin says. “That’s the ideal scenario because it creates a multi-functional space without needing additional square footage.”
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Utilize closed storage.
If you have a small entryway and no mudroom, you can keep your coats and shoes looking neat and tidy, thanks to “closed storage,” as Alexa Kingery of Alexa Kingery Interiors calls it. She says that if you have the room, you can include some lockers (bonus if they’re vintage!), an entry cabinet, or you can add in a coat closet, if your entryway doesn’t already have one.
Treat a small corner as a drop zone.
Ercetin says that in one project, she and her team turned to a small three-foot corner to create a “mom command station,” which can act perfectly as a drop zone for mail, notes, and other everyday essentials.
Make the most of a built-in bench.
Perhaps your home has a built-in bench in the entryway (or maybe it’s time to put one in!). If you’re working with a bench and no table, Kingery recommends placing a bowl at one end of the bench for all your small drop-zone items and include hooks above for coats or anything else that needs to be hung. You can also put on your shoes as you sit on the bench.
Hang wall hooks.
“Adding wall hooks is my first priority when designing a home,” Kingery says. “You can use them for coats, hats, keys, or you can even hang a cute wicker basket from the hook and toss in your mail or some umbrellas.” What’s nice about wall hooks is that they can go virtually anywhere—it’s a drop zone that doesn’t take up any floor space.
Utilize space under the stairs.
Ercetin says that another great trick is utilizing under-stair storage, where shoe storage can easily be hidden away. She says that it can lie under the stairs without disrupting the visual flow.
Tuck a console table into a small entryway.
In a small entryway, you can create a drop zone with the help of a console table, as Kingery observes. “It gives you plenty of space for drop-zone items, plus you can add a beautiful vintage mirror or art, and then top it off with a plant to bring in some life to the space,” she says. “Bonus points if the console has drawers and/or doors for added storage.” You can even consider placing ottomans or storage baskets underneath the table.
Include the right accessories.
“It’s really about layering function in a thoughtful way,” Ercetin says. “A bench with baskets, a few hooks, and some hidden storage can go a long way. We also love incorporating bowls or small trays for keys and mail. They are simple solutions, but they make everyday routines feel effortless and organized.”
RELATED: Why Designers Say “Refined Layering” Is the Must-Try Home Trend of 2026
Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer who frequently covers home design and decor for national publications. She has worked as a full-time freelance writer for over a decade, and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, writing home tours, interviewing top designers, and beautifying her own home. She holds a master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and when she's not writing, you can find her at thrift stores and flea markets, running, or exploring local trails in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and corgi, Dolly.
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