TR DESIGN: Got Mudroom?..... for these snowy days

+countryliving.com

As the snow falls and keeps on falling on the east coast and, I think all the way back into Midwest, us hardy cold acclimated people look forward to skiing, making snowmen, sledding and topping it all off with a big bowl of soup and hot chocolate. If you live in the snow you might as well make the best of it. I have a "shed" roof in front of my house just below the second floor and, one year there was so much snow we went sledding right off the roof and into the front yard when my kids were little.......now that's what I call making the best of it. I also love the outdoors. After all those fun activities its nice to come into a warm and cozy house.
Hopefully upon your return you have a mudroom or, a place to drop all the boots, gloves and, hang your hats and coats. Most newer homes, especially in our part of the country, have mudrooms. If your house is an older one or, the builder just decided not to have one to cut down on his cost there are many wonderful ways to make your own without adding on an addition.
If you walk right into your living room a simple dresser, a narrow sofa table or, a bench with a mirror or hooks above it is a great place to drop your gloves and underneath you can place a simple boot tray. You can purchase basic rubber or metal boot trays that you can paint. A leopard print, family name or, a fun quote painted on the "floor" of the tray will make it look like part of the decor at times when there are no boots in it. Simple hooks on the wall or an old fashion coat rack can be an easy solution to hang the wet coats so they can drip dry and them moved to a closet at a later time. The icing on the cake for your "mudroom" is a great area rug. Which acts as a "landing pad" and grounds the area so people get the idea of wiping their feet and taking their boots off. There are many fun and inexpensive indoor-outdoor area rugs that could fit the bill.They can be switched out for whatever the season is.

+Bhg.com

These are basic mudroom ideas however, if you have the space and funds, built in cabinets with seating, hooks for coats and hats and, built in shelves for shoes underneath is the ideal set up.