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Even if your home has a beautiful formal entryway, it's unlikely that you use that entrance on a daily basis. That was certainly the case for the lucky family Brooke Christen of Nesting With Grace selected for a room makeover. The Lovig family of Connecticut, who have three young children and one on the way, used the mudroom off of their garage more than their actual front door.
They stored their coats, shoes, bags, and backpacks in the room, but as an everyday space, it was outdated and not all that functional. So before embarking on a design overhaul with Lowe's Home Improvement, Brooke assessed the families needs and how they were currently using the mudroom. "They wanted a nice, organized space to greet them when they come in," says Brooke.
Brooke's immediate thoughts were that the floors needed an update; the walls needed fresh paint; and the furniture was too small for room. She saw an opportunity to maximize storage after assessing how the family was using their Ikea storage unit and closet.
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Brooke had a makeover budget of roughly $4,000. Here's how she created the room's cozy and calm look:
Flooring: The family's inspiration Pinterest board revealed that they really liked slate flooring, which can be expensive, so Brooke found affordable tile with a similar look and installed it in a sophisticated herringbone pattern.
Ceiling: Volunteers from Lowe's wood planking to cover up popcorn ceiling. Having volunteers, friends, and family chip in kept labor costs at a minimum.
Walls: Brooke wanted light walls but thought a statement papered wall would make for a nice contrast and focal point. "The wallpaper is one of my favorite elements," says Brooke. "It really adds charm and character. You're not able to use fabric in a mudroom usually so adding wallpaper was a good starting point for the room."
Closet: A dark coat of navy paint hid the scuff-marks on the closet's walls, Brooke explains. They painted the wooden rod, too, giving the interior the cohesion of a custom closet. The resulting look "feels like you wouldn't mind leaving the doors open," she says.
The outcome
Before, there wasn't a place for the family to sit and put their shoes on; now they have a cushy storage bench and ottoman for that purpose. The buffet-style table with marble top functions in the same way a built-in would, but is much less expensive. "You don't have to do a built-in with a mudroom," Brooke advises. The family loves there cozy new room. "They keep saying we're going to have parties in the room," says Brooke. The Lovig kids have even been known to take a book into room for quiet reading time.
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