Parade of Homes

GIVEAWAY ALERT GIVEAWAY ALERT FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM TO LEARN MORE! official_mhba | #paradeofhomesmb 114 PARADE of HOMES SPRING 2024 Mudrooms cont. Get Fancy Some people add artwork, chandeliers and fancy furniture to their mudrooms, which can even double up as craft spaces. Deciding on what kind of mudroom a new homeowner wants to create depends on the available space and size of family. "One trend that we've definitely seen for quite a while is the combination of laundry room and mudroom," Curtis says. "But now we're seeing more of having the laundry room on the second floor, so there's a dedi- cated space for a mudroom — just for coming in and out of the house and for storing clothes and shoes." A popular design incorporates a bench that serves a dual purpose for seating and for storage. "You you can sit down and take your shoes off and put your shoes under the bench rather than leave them all over the place," Curtis says. "Maybe you can have cubbies above the bench so you have multiple layers of storage." No matter the size, the key elements to any mudroom should include a place to sit, hooks to hang coats or jackets, and a storage bin or basket. Ideally, a mudroom should be about 20 square feet, depending on the layout of the home. In addition, it's also useful to include a waterproof mat or floor. Pet-friendly homeowners might opt to include a dog bed in their mudrooms. Another idea is to add a steel sink where kids can wash dirt off their hands. "We live in a city where you have to have 11 different potential outfits to leave the house on a given day," Curtis says. "One house that we did had a little wall of cubbies where you can put hats, scarves, toques — you name it. You can start labelling those things, so having that level of organization is really amazing." Some people add artwork, chan- deliers and fancy furniture to their mudrooms, which can even double up as craft spaces. "Once you've got that mudroom, you want to maximize your space so you've got all that stuff out of the way. It really helps you create a much more calming sense and feel when you come into the house," he says. "There's a place for everything and everything in its place. These are all little touches that a builder will put into your home to help you get more organized." AI GENERATED DESIGN

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