You know those “if you give a mouse a cookie” projects that lead to many more? That’s exactly how this mudroom refresh began. It sparked a full main-floor renovation, a new kitchen, and eventually a dedicated makeover of this little room.
It might sound a bit excessive, but I’m so glad we followed the chain of ideas. I’ll link the full renovation at the end, but this post focuses on the mudroom makeover itself—why it started here, what we changed (and what we didn’t), and the practical choices we made.
Although some cosmetic updates were part of the plan, we also made a point to reuse and repurpose what we already had whenever possible.
Our renovation journey actually began two years ago, and elements like this light were only added a few months ago—renovations take time. I have more ideas for this space, but for now we love how it feels.
I also struggle with what to call this room. Mudroom? Pantry? Dog feeding station? Hallway? It does a little of everything. I’d love a more charming name if you have ideas. For now, I’m grateful for the functionality it provides.
Note: a few photos were previously shown in our Christmas tour—rest assured the decorations are not permanent.
Mudroom Makeover Projects
Removing the exterior door
This wall once contained a door to the backyard, but we closed it up to make room for the Tiny Cottage, which now houses my parents. I missed the natural light from that door, but it was a necessary trade-off.
Removing the door was the catalyst for our entire main-floor renovation: if one entry point changed, we needed a new route to the backyard—so we added French doors in the kitchen as part of a larger plan. It all sounds like a snowball of projects, but the outcome has been worth it.
Mudroom Layout
Although the door removal triggered a larger renovation, we chose not to change the mudroom layout. We patched and repaired the wall where the door had been but kept the room’s footprint intact. This space sits just off the kitchen and connects to the garage, the Tiny Cottage, and the nearby powder room—it’s essentially a small hub or hallway.
I had plenty of renovation ideas (as I always do), but after considering functionality we kept the existing arrangement because it serves our needs. That’s why I recommend living in a space first before doing major changes—you’ll know how it really functions.
The mudroom is the only place on the main floor where we can tuck things out of sight, so the closet and open floor space are valuable. We didn’t want it to become a drop zone for clutter, so we made it attractive and purposeful to encourage everyday use and avoid permanent mess.
Flooring
We installed the same White Oak engineered hardwood throughout the main floor and extended it into the mudroom and pantry closet. Carrying consistent flooring through a small area helps it feel larger and cleaner. In other homes, switching to tile at a logical threshold can also be a charming choice.
Paint
We painted the entire main floor, so it made sense to paint the repaired mudroom as well. We reversed the trim color here: the woodwork is a muted blue (Smoke, Benjamin Moore) and the walls are a warm creamy white (Classic Light Buff, Sherwin-Williams). It brightens the space and gives it a cheerful, finished feel.
Pantry Closet
The pantry closet already had solid shelving, so we left the layout and shelves intact and simply refreshed the paint. It’s flexible for pantry items or storage, and the shelves remain practical for future adjustments. A few Lazy Susans we owned from the previous kitchen fit perfectly and make accessing items much easier.
I’m considering baskets for the closet floor to keep things tidy, but I also like keeping the floor clear for temporary storage when hosting or moving things to the garage.
Use-What-You-Have Dog Feeding Station
The primary function of this room is as the dogs’ feeding area. While you may see elaborate built-in dog stations online, we made the most of an existing bench with under-seat storage and adapted it for food, bowls, and supplies.
Glass jars
To keep food fresh and accessible, I stored kibble in airtight glass jars. We use two sizes to accommodate different formulas for our senior dog and our puppy. The jars sit on the bench and the storage below holds less-frequently used items. Placing food here makes it quick and convenient for the person who feeds the dogs most often.
Baskets
We set the jars inside woven baskets to prevent them from sliding and to store the bowls neatly. The baskets add texture and keep everything in place, which was especially useful when introducing a curious puppy who wanted to investigate every new thing.
Hooks
Hooks are indispensable in a small multipurpose room. We swapped in a set of whale-tail hooks from our previous home for a playful coastal nod that ties to the adjoining powder room wallpaper. Day to day we hang cutting boards, small baskets with treats or supplements, tote bags, and the occasional guest coat here.
Hooks keep things off the floor and make the room practical without feeling cluttered.
Decorative Updates
Botanical artwork
Two large framed botanical prints add color and scale to the wall. They introduce green tones that complement the blue trim and tie the room together visually.
Light Fixture
The last piece we added was a semi-flush mount light in a soft green (rosemary). Swapping light fixtures is a simple way to add personality and finish a room.
Round Rug
A small round rug in Legacy Blue makes the room cozy and helps the colors feel cohesive. Round rugs work well in tight or oddly shaped areas and are versatile enough to move between rooms if needed.
Corkboard
A large corkboard we already owned provides practical organization. Using items you already have saves time and gives you space to decide on future updates.
We’re also making small updates to the neighboring powder room; the whale wallpaper will stay for now while we continue working on a few simple refreshes. I’ll share more about that soon.
So that’s the little room that started it all. No regrets—this is our forever home, and in a smaller house every space must work hard. We aimed for function, a place for everything, and a look we enjoy.
A place for everything and everything in its place has been my guiding phrase through this renovation, and it’s served us well.
Whale Tail Hooks
Lazy Susans
Semi Flush Mount Light in Gloss Rosemary
Round Braided Rug in Legacy Blue
Botanical Art (similar)
Airtight Glass Jars
Large Baskets
Similar Large Wood Board