I’m excited to share our DIY Mudroom tutorial, our front closet was quite an eye sore and I was excited to get my hands on it and make the space more useful as well as aesthetic. If you have a closet space near an entry point that is currently just a catchall space, you can use this DIY Mudroom upgrade step-by-step tutorial to give your space a face-lift!
Table of Contents
DIY Mudroom Process
The steps for our DIY Mudroom are obviously specific to the design we were going for. Even if you ultimately want your Mudroom to look different, I still think the basic flow of the project will be the same so hopefully, this will be helpful to you.
- Make a plan. I am someone who likes to visualize so I pull reference photos and come up with the design I want before starting any of the actual renovation. For me, it helps the projects go quicker and smoother.
- Clean out the space.
- Sort through your items – We create 3 piles: Toss, Keep and Donate.
- Take down all shelving and doors.
- Remove framing & cut back the existing wall. (This is optional of course. I’ve seen where many people have built their mudrooms within the existing closet space.)
- Fill in any holes in the walls with putty.
- Sand everything down so you have a smooth surface.
- Build out shelves. (If they are part of your design.)
- Add in ship-lap paneling. (Again, if it is part of your design.)
- Build out the bench. The design we went with had everything built in but if you are adding a stand alone bench, entry table or dresser to your space I would swap this to the last step.
- Paint. We kept this simple, painting everything white, if you are using multiple colors you may want to paint in stages between the building steps.
- Add in your hooks and accessories.
Bench and Shelves – Step by Step
Bench
- We used a simple 2×4 frame. Measure the depth and width of the space, then cut boards to make the frame. Cut small cross pieces to strengthen the frame and attach at 16″ on center beginning from the left stud of the frame. Attach with screws or nails. Attach the frame to the wall (make sure to find the studs — use stud finder if need be to ensure a secure hold) at the desired bench height using a level. Allow for an extra 3/4″ for top boards.
- Cut 1×6 boards to length and attach to form the top of the bench. Screw from the bottom to hide screw heads.
Shelves
- We built the shelves in boxes with 1 x 12″ boards cut to fit our closet. Measure your opening and premake your shelving units using glue and finish nails or small wood screws. Allow proper time to dry. Painting them before installation may prove easier. The choice is yours. We painted ours after installation.
- Once the shelves are finished. Hang shelves at the desired height by attaching long screws to existing closet studs. Us level to ensure proper installation.
- Caulk any of the seams.
- Paint your closet and you are ready to style as you wish. We used baskets for shoes and wire-framed baskets for holding towels, first aid, etc… in the shelves.
DIY Mudroom Accessories
Wall Hooks
Below are some awesome hook options and if you are wanting to make your own you can check out our Modern DIY Wooden Hook tutorial.
Baskets
For our DIY Mudroom project we built our own bench and shelves, but I wanted to give you some options if you aren’t wanting to build your own. (Just keep your measurements in mind.)
Benches
Shelves
Manisha Khare says
Thank you for the fantastic DIY mudroom tutorial! Your step-by-step guide makes the renovation process seem both accessible and achievable, even for those of us who might not have extensive DIY experience. I especially appreciated the detailed instructions and helpful tips for maximizing space and functionality. Your creativity and practical advice are truly inspiring, and I’m excited to try out some of these ideas in my own home. This article is a great resource for anyone looking to enhance their entryway with a personal touch!