HHello Inspired Room readers — Cassie here for my first post of the year. January always feels like a mix of slow, post-holiday days and fresh starts. It’s the month we take stock, make lists of projects, and try to bring order back into our home after the holidays. This year we tackled one of those nagging trouble spots: our mudroom.
Our mudroom after adding a bench, installing board-and-batten trim, new hooks, and a fresh coat of white paint.
When we started, the space barely functioned as a mudroom — coats, shoes, baby gear, and random clutter had taken over. One weekend we finally decided enough was enough: we cleared everything out, sorted what we needed to keep, and sketched a practical plan.
Before: this mudroom was a mess.
After removing all the coats, shoes, and baby items, we created a list of must-haves for the redesign. The first priority was a bench with storage cubbies so shoes could be contained instead of scattered across the floor.
All cleaned out and ready for a plan.
We built a simple wooden bench that fit the space and added cubbies underneath for baskets. The goal was functional storage that still looked tidy. Once the bench was in place, we added trim and a shelf above to visually frame the area and provide a spot for coat hooks. Before painting, we caulked seams and filled nail holes so the finish would look clean and built-in.
Left: bench installed; Right: bench with molding and caulked seams.
We opted for the board-and-batten look without covering the entire back wall in wood paneling. Since this is a tucked-away area, the trim and shelf give the impression of wainscoting without the extra expense or effort of full paneling. If this had been a more visible space, we might have added the full treatment.
Shelf trimmed and caulked to create a finished look.
We painted the bench, trim, and walls the same soft white — Dover White from Sherwin-Williams —matching it to the rest of our trim to make the new elements read as built-in. After the first coat, the space already felt brighter and more cohesive.
After the first coat of paint — much brighter.
Most of the work happened in evenings after the kids were asleep, and the whole project wrapped up in less than a week. I’m thrilled with the result: the mudroom is lighter, more welcoming, and far more practical for our family’s daily routine.
The entrance to the mudroom after the makeover.
Baskets in the cubbies keep shoes contained and help limit how many pairs stay downstairs. When a basket fills up, we take that as our cue to return shoes upstairs. Because we also have a coat closet, the hooks are reserved for the coats and bags we use most often. The bench is perfect for helping my toddler put shoes on and for setting the baby car seat while I load the car.
This small refresh brings me joy every time I come and go. It functions better and looks cleaner, which makes everyday routines smoother. If you’re facing a cluttered corner in your home, a few focused changes — storage, trim, and a fresh coat of paint — can make a big difference.
Until next time!
More posts by Cassie:
Ikea Play Kitchen “Renovation”
Toddler Girl’s Room Tour
“Outer Space Meets Robots” Nursery Tour
Small Backyard Renovation