Style-Boosting Mudroom Upgrades That Won't Take Up Space

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The mudroom might be the welcoming entryway to your home. Or maybe, it's just a spot to shed raincoats, dry off the dog, and store shoes. Either way, you can bring style to this often-overlooked area. It's possible to make your mudroom both stylish and functional without sacrificing precious space. So, we've rounded up some upgrades that are big on aesthetic value, but won't clutter up the room. 

These additions are stylish and space-saving, and quite a few will make your mudroom more functional while adding to its design. The ideas use very little (or sometimes none at all) of your square footage, and many of them are easy to DIY for beginners, too. Whether you're working with a full room or a narrow entryway area, these little changes can have a major impact. Here are some ways to upgrade your mudroom without sacrificing space.

Swapping out your hardware is one of the easiest ways to change up the look of a mudroom. It's an affordable and DIY-friendly upgrade that can make a significant impact. Plus, it doesn't use any floor space. So, take a look at new wall hooks, and if you don't have any, consider adding them. The right options can add a lot of character.

Simple, sleek wood and metal hooks are widely available for contemporary mudrooms. There are also more imaginative and fun products out there to suit traditional, boho, and eclectic decor styles. For example, the floral Dwellington Coat Hook adds a touch of detail, while the animal-shaped Brass Wildlife Wall Hooks make a unique statement. If the hooks can't hold all of your outerwear, try this clever coat storage solution for small spaces.

If you have built-in cabinetry, you have the option to change knobs and pulls, which come in even more design options than hooks. Consider unique cabinet hardware options to make a statement. You can find knobs in finer materials like glass and ceramic if you want to stray from the usual wood and metal options. Or browse distinctive designs, like these Flying Swallow Cabinet Pulls, a good option if you want to add a sculptural touch that won't take up any space.

A floating bench can make a mudroom look more modern. These tend to have a minimalist design and look like they're hovering, keeping the space below it open and doing away with bulky traditional legs. Installing one also adds useful seating and a potential storage area. You can add storage bins or baskets to hide clutter both on top and underneath it. 

This idea works beautifully for contemporary, industrial, and Scandinavian-style mudrooms. To make a statement, choose a contrasting color compared to the background to make it stand out. It doesn't need to be a bold hue, but pale wood can play well off a dark background, and a charcoal bench can provide contrast with light walls. If installing a floating bench isn't possible for your home (it requires wall-mounting, which isn't exactly renter-friendly), here are more bench ideas for a practical and stylish mudroom.

Wood paneling is a great way to elevate a mudroom and bring texture and warmth into the space. The material is easy to paint, you can cover part of or the entirety of the walls, and you can opt for different trims and designs. It also provides a stylish base for hooks. Plus, as a wall addition, it doesn't take up any floor space.

It's possible to modernize wood paneling, too. For example, smaller wood panels that just cover parts of the wall add a lot of warmth while keeping the space open. Color can also affect how mudroom wood paneling looks. White and light shades will appear airy, while darker hues will lean cozier. 

If you want to add more storage space as well as style, you can find options that include built-in hooks and nooks, like the Article Kouva 47" Wall Panel. This one comes complete with hanging knobs and a couple of shelves, which you can use as-intended for storage, or for decorating with plants, knick-knacks, and hanging decorations.

Designed for entryways and mudrooms, a hall tree is a piece of furniture that helps organize the usual mudroom fare, like coats, hats, and shoes. They can include hooks, shelves, drawers, and a built-in seating bench. If you get a tall and narrow option, it won't take up much floor space. Plus, its minimal footprint will be worth the aesthetic and functionality. This idea is also renter-friendly if you choose an option that doesn't attach to the wall.

An ornate hall tree is nice if you want a more traditional touch in an otherwise plain mudroom. Many options like the Anton Locker, are made of wood, which adds some character and warmth. They come at a wide range of price points, too. For example, IKEA's PANGET coat rack costs about $350. A metal hall tree could be a better choice for modern and contemporary rooms. The IKEA PINNIG coat rack is entirely made of steel to suit these spaces.  

If you choose the right one, a rug can go in almost any room, including high-traffic ones like the mudroom. Adding a rug in this space brings all the usual benefits. It boosts the style, adds texture, and incorporates a color or pattern. And, if you make sure to get an outdoor rug, it's also easy to keep clean. Designed for patios and porches, outdoor rugs are made of dirt-repellent material and can often be hosed off. Now, in the aptly-named mud room, dirt is inevitable. So, it's also helpful to choose a busier pattern and darker color to help conceal marks between cleanings.

Just like their indoor counterparts, outdoor rugs come in all sorts of designs. You can find traditional Persian and ornate floral patterns, like the Ruggable Ranier Dark Wood Vintage Rug, lovely for traditional and boho mudrooms. Geometric patterns and stripes, like on the Safavieh Courtyard Collection Accent Rug, offer dirt-concealing patterns for modern and contemporary spaces. If you really want something plain, you can opt for a L.L.Bean Waterhog Runner, which is essentially like a runner-sized doormat, designed to sop up water and mud from shoes.

Add some visually-appealing accessories to the walls to both store them and add a stylish touch. Hanging your hat collection is an easy way to put this idea into practice, and it just involves using small wall-mounted hooks. Another idea is to hang up your bags and turn your purse collection into a stunning accent wall. Stylish scarves can also look nice hanging from the wall. Even better, this setup frees up storage space, and you can easily grab these items as you run out the door.

This idea is ideal for extra storage, but it can also be purely decorative. You can source vintage items, like old-fashioned skis, to use exclusively as wall decor. Mounting snowshoes to the wall is another rustic-looking choice that will suit mudrooms with cabin-style decor. 

A large mirror is another accessory that can bring both style and function to your mudroom. There are lots of designs and sizes to choose from. A frameless, wall-mounted mirror is sleek enough to suit modern rooms. On the other hand, you can find mirrors with ornate wood, glass, or metal frames to suit other aesthetics, like traditional, glam, and industrial. Freestanding mirrors are ideal for renters (or if you don't want to mount anything to your walls).

Besides adding style, a large mirror will make your mudroom feel brighter and more open. This is particularly useful in small rooms, and it does it all without taking much or any floor space at all, if it's wall-mounted. Plus, it's useful too, offering a full-length spot to check your appearance before leaving the house.

An accent wall is a beautiful choice for living rooms and bedrooms, but it can make just as much of a visual impact in a mudroom, too. If your mudroom is the entryway to your home, it's one way to boost style and make the area more inviting. An accent wall also looks extra nice in a nook created by cabinets that frame the pattern.

You can use paint or wallpaper for this project. Wallpaper allows you to opt for more intricate patterns as well as renter-friendly options, like peel-and-stick products. Painting is ideal if you're just looking for a pop of color and gives you the most flexibility when it comes to the specific shade. You can also add stripes, simple shapes, or stenciled designs to a painted wall. For a bolder accent wall, choose a paint or wallpaper that contrasts with the rest of the room. For a subtler effect, choose a similar shade.

New lighting can transform the look of a mud room. Even something as simple as changing out the light bulb can offer a different look. For example, if you want a brighter mudroom, opt for cooler, bright lighting. For a cozier feel, go for warmer, dimmable lights. Changing fixtures will make even more of an impact. However, this requires installation and occasionally hiring an electrician if the area isn't set up for your chosen lighting.

Overhead lighting illuminates a mudroom well and is useful for cleaning the area and checking your appearance as you leave. Other lighting types are better for aesthetics. For example, sconces are a distinctive pick that lend a bit of a traditional feel. If you place them along mudroom seating, they can focus light on the area. Hanging pendants, or even chandeliers if you're feeling extra glamorous, can add lots of character. If you have an eclectic or maximalist mudroom, consider adding a stylish vintage lamp as a distinctive choice that infuses coziness into the space.

New cushions are among the easiest upgrades and a must-have item to update your mudroom. Plus, there's no installation involved! If you have a bench, update the seating cushion for a new look. Or even easier, add a couple of throw cushions to the space. They'll take up a little space in the seating area and are simple to toss aside when you need to sit down.

If you don't have cushions already, they go a long way in creating a cozier mudroom. They visually anchor the seating area and add softness in a utilitarian space that might be full of hard textures. You can find them in vivid colors and neutral hues for modern and contemporary mudrooms. For example, this Miulee's Pack of 2 Throw Pillows comes in everything from a sunny yellow to a versatile beige. Or, opt for bold patterns, like the ones that Moslion's 18-by-18-inch Pillow Covers come in, that draw the eye for eclectic and traditional mudrooms.

It's a bigger project, but of course, new paint or wallpaper can have a huge impact on how a mudroom looks. This renovation also won't reduce the space at all: it's completely aesthetic. A color-washed room can give it a custom look. It's such an intentional style choice, and if you choose a color or pattern you love, it's hard to go wrong with covering the entire room.

Extending the wallpaper across the ceiling or painting the door and trim can make a bold statement. Choose a shade that complements your flooring for a polished look. Then, add a complementary accent rug to tie it all together. Renters can take advantage of peel-and-stick wallpaper to accomplish this project. If you go this route, just make sure to choose a product that's suitable for high-traffic areas and is easy to clean.