We moved over the summer and our new house has a large mudroom, but as we approach fall I realize it is seriously lacking in hooks we can use for coats and jackets, especially for the kids. There is a closet we could use with hangers but that doesn’t seem like it’ll be convenient enough. My gut is to put hooks along the empty wall where kids (7, 4, 1) can reach but it makes me sad to clutter that side. Does anyone have any other ideas?
nectarine / 2641 posts
Others may have better ideas, but I think you are right about hooks on the opposite wall. I think hooks are the most useful thing for kids. Maybe do heavy duty command hooks for a season and see how you like it/the placement?
apricot / 399 posts
I can see why you wouldn't want to clutter up the blank wall, even though I do like hooks for kids sutff. Those cubbies on the bottom are pretty big. What about putting big bins in 3 of them for coats/mittens/hats/etc., and then putting all of the shoes/boots in the 4th cubby?
nectarine / 2460 posts
@Jess1483: they really are, and we do have some extra that aren't being used yet.
@hitchhiker: I was also thinking backpacks might fit in those big spaces for now too... coats had me worried just because it seems like a mess
So my MIL just had an interesting idea, of building some additional trim on part of the wall so it doesn't feel so much like I'm cluttering blank space but just adding another section. Imagine something like this but where the beadboard continues without the vertical trim for the majority of the wall
cherry / 160 posts
@JennyPenny: I like how that additional trim looks! However, I bet if you put hooks in a line along your existing wide trim you could easily get the same effect with a lot less work. It would give that same intentional placement vibe. That is assuming it's low enough for at least the 4 and 7 year olds to reach, hard to tell in the pic.
nectarine / 2242 posts
We have hooks on the wall in a similarly laid out mud room - there’s a bench with cubbies and hooks for adult coats on one side and the opposite side is tight to the door just like yours. We have 3 hooks in a row at eye level for them, and they’re the kind that have one big hook and two smaller ones connected. Each kid gets one where they can put their backpack, coat, and a hat. Having all their stuff in one spot is key to our sanity ha. I’ll take a pic if you want once they’re home and all their stuff is hanging!
nectarine / 2460 posts
@MountainBaby: You're probably right. The hooks themselves are probably enough of a delineator.
@HappyBaker: I'd love to see a picture, thanks!
cherry / 150 posts
That does seem really narrow for hooks on the opposite wall. What about letting them use the existing hooks above the bench for their coats and move that stuff somewhere else? Or add one hook on the short wall next to the door, and one on the flat wall above the bench, and one on the other side too.
clementine / 948 posts
What about adding a second pole/layer to the closet?
Here’s our very messy and real life mud room closet. (I can’t figure out how to rotate the photo here).
cantaloupe / 6086 posts
@ilovepie: I really like the idea of adding hooks to the short wall pieces around the built-ins. We live in a small house and making use of every space in storage areas is necessary!
You can get creative on the hooks too. I just hung this vertically on a small piece of wall and it provides a lot of hooks in a small area so it has a couple coats, a dance bag and toddler backpack no problem. Then you could move things like the helmets around too and maybe use those harder to reach hooks for adults. With the accordion shape you can make it long and narrow if needed.
https://www.target.com/p/accordion-decorative-hook-rack-brass-project-62-8482/-/A-78175830
pomegranate / 3809 posts
It doesn't look like you need that many cubby holes so I'd consider removing the one on the left side and adding a second row of hooks there. Would they be able to reach that? The small things hanging can go in a basket. I'd also put in more shelves for shoes if you need shoe storage organization, or those cubbies could be for backpacks.
pomegranate / 3272 posts
I would buy big baskets/bins that go into the bottom cubbies. We have something similar and use those to corral everyone's shoes in one spot. Then each kid gets their own hook for their coats. You could just have them place their backpacks under their hook. Hats, gloves, etc go in the bins on the sides. I think for kids, its probably best to keep everything in one place.
But I do like the idea of using command hooks first to see if you like the idea of moving more hooks to the other wall first before you make any other changes.
nectarine / 2018 posts
Another idea, we put a few command hooks on the inside of our closet door before DD could reach our wall hooks. She still had to open the closet but didn't have to mess with a hanger. Now she can reach our hooks on the wall, so we hang our reusable shopping bags on the command hooks inside the closet.
nectarine / 2242 posts
@JennyPenny: here’s a pic of ours, though I realized we have a couple inches extra next to the door frame. Usually their jackets are on the hooks too but we seem to have started losing stuff in week 3 of school!
pomelo / 5621 posts
Lots of good ideas. Wherever you add more hooks I’d definitely start with command hooks so you can easily move them.
We don’t have a mushroom just a closet at our front door. Along the wall in the entry way I have command hooks staggered for my boys coats and bags.
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