Adding Doors to Your Mudroom Closet
Tired of the cluttered mess that accumulates in your mudroom the moment you and your family walk through the door? Do coats, shoes, gloves, hats, bags, and other items end up strewn across benches, hooks, and the floor, no matter how often you tidy up? The solution may be as simple as adding doors to your existing mudroom closet or storage area. Read on to learn the benefits of incorporating doors into your space and tips for choosing, installing, and decorating closet doors to create a functional, organized mudroom your whole household will love.
Benefits of Adding Doors to Your Mudroom Closet
Adding doors to your mudroom closet or built-ins provides both visual and practical perks. An enclosed storage space immediately gives your mudroom a tidier, more pulled-together look as soon as you walk in the door. Doors also help hide mess and clutter from view in a discrete, integrated way.
On a functional level, doors keep dust and dirt from settling directly on coats, hats, bags, shoes, and other items you store in your mudroom between uses. Enclosed storage is also safer if you have young kids or pets, keeping stored belongings out of reach of tiny hands or scratching paws.
Increased Storage Space
Installing doors on your mudroom closet builds in more storage vertically along the wall, increasing capacity. You can add shelves, racks, and bins inside the new closet to corral hats and gloves, house shoes and boots neatly, or sort scarves and other seasonal accessories.
Extra Protection for Belongings
Shutting shoes, bags, jackets, sports equipment, and other frequently used items behind a solid door protects them from wear, dirt, moisture, and damage better than open cubbies, shelves, or hooks can. Keeping belongings dust-free in between uses extends their lifespan.
Flexibility to Reconfigure
Doors allow you to adapt your mudroom's storage setup easily as your family's needs change. Add lower shelves for little kids, then adjust to higher storage once they grow. Customize interiors each season to access what you need most often.
Choosing the Right Doors for Your Mudroom Closet
Once you decide to add doors to your mudroom closet, choosing the door style and material takes some consideration. Assess your space, storage needs, style of home, and household use to select long-lasting doors that both look good and function well.
Door Types for Mudroom Closets
Standard hinged single or double doors work for many mudroom closets, but alternative door styles like these offer unique benefits:
- Solid Wood Doors: Attractive, durable, available in styles from rustic to modern
- Mirrored Doors: Reflect light to brighten; easy to wipe clean
- Glass Doors: Allow light into closet; stylish accent
- Bifold Doors: Space-saving option for narrow openings
Door Style and Material Considerations
Look and Feel: Choose a style aligned with your homes' aesthetics--farmhouse, modern, traditional, etc. Stain or paint to coordinate.
Durability: Opt for thick solid wood, steel, or glass doors in high-traffic households. Kids and pets can ding up less durable materials.
Moisture Resistance: In wet, muddy climates, moisture-proof doors prevent swelling and damage over time. PVC and metal doors resist moisture well.
How to Install Doors on your Mudroom Closet
Installing new doors builds custom storage and completes your DIY mudroom project. Follow these key steps:
Measure and Mark Door Opening
Use a tape measure to size the width and height of your closet accurately. Account for trim depth if doors will be inset. Use a level and pencil to mark straight lines for clean cuts.
Cut Door to Fit
Clamp a straightedge guide to your saw for precise cuts. Cut height first, then width. Save cut pieces to use as spacers when fitting the door during install.
Install Hinges
Use shims under the door as needed to adjust the fit. Mark hinge locations on both door and jamb, then install hinges with included screws.
Add Door Hardware
Bore holes for the lockset and handleset into the door edge. Install hardware fittings, test the swing, then seal and finish the door edges with trim or sealant.
Decluttering Your Mudroom Closet with Doors
Once your new doors are hung, it's time to overhaul the interior storage to capitalize on the increased space and better organization possible. Declutter first.
Sort Through Existing Items
Take everything out of current mudroom storage, and sort item by item. Toss trash, donate unused stuff, and mend anything damaged. Assign frequently used things to accessible areas or bins.
Organize Remaining Items
Group like items together that can share storage. Install shelves, hanging rods, and bins suited to each category of items. Keep kids' school bags and sports gear separate from parent work totes and briefcases, for example.
Add Extra Storage Solutions
Hooks, standing valet rods, and wall racks mounted inside the closet maximize vertical storage. Baskets and durable bins corral smaller items. Charging stations keep devices powered. Mirrors visually expand the space.
Decorating Your New Mudroom Closet with Doors
The finishing touches pull your whole mudroom zone together. Tie your new storage into the look of your entryway with cohesive decorative details:
Paint/Stain to Match Decor
Fresh paint or stain on the new doors makes them blend with existing millwork. Coordinate with wall colors too. Neutrals suit traditional schemes; deep hues or brights work in modern spaces.
Add Accent Lighting
Install shelf lighting inside the closet or hang pendants alongside the doors to illuminate stored items and your full mudroom area. Dimmers help set the right mood.
Woven baskets or fabric bins add natural texture while organizing inside the closet. Pretty storage looks as good as it functions.
By taking a former wasted space and transforming it with enclosed storage, doors enable you to hide away the inevitable mudroom mess that comes from everyday life. Keeping everything tidy, protected, and in its place lets you enjoy this high-traffic area instead of constantly struggling to clean it. Adding doors is a DIY upgrade that pays everyday organizational dividends for your whole household.