9 Easy Ways to Keep a Small Mudroom Tidy All School Year Long, According to Organizers
By Mary Marlowe Leverette Published on 08/17/25
Having a transitional space like a mudroom between the outside world and the rest of your home is a great way to help keep your home cleaner and more organized. Unfortunately, a mudroom can become cluttered and messy unless you keep it well-organized.
We asked two professional organizers for their best tips to keep a mudroom neat.
MEET THE EXPERTS
Jamie Hord is the founder of Horderly Professional Organizing.
Danica Carson is the co-founder of The Uncluttered Life and creator of Declutter Deck.
Designate Drop Zones
Danica Carson, the co-founder of The Uncluttered Life and creator of Declutter Deck, explains how mudrooms can easily become drop zones, which can often result in clutter over time if not handled properly.
"Things get misplaced or forgotten. That's why a drop zone is crucial for backpacks, purses, and bags to simplify coming or going," says Carson.
Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!
Create a Dedicated Spot for Every Person (Including Pets)
Whether the dedicated spot is a bin, basket, cabinet, or shelf, give everyone their own space to store or place items.
"Keep spaces lower down for kids so they can access (and put back!) items themselves," says Jamie Hord. She recommends using a lower drawer or a wall hook rather than hangers for jackets and sweatshirts.
Carson explains how pets need a spot of their own with all the stuff they may need when they go outside.
"I highly recommend using a hook for leashes because it makes it easy to grab and go," says Carson.
Label Everything
Adding a label to shelves, cabinets, bins, baskets, and drawers helps take the guesswork out of where something should be placed or stored, especially in a shared space. Hord recommends bin clip labels that are easy to change as family needs change.
Create an Inbox/Outbox Station
Stacks of school papers, flyers, and mail can quickly get out of hand. Carson suggests a mudroom inbox/outbox station, especially for families with children.
"Anything that needs to be signed or turned back in goes into the inbox for parents," she says. "The outbox holds papers that need to be returned to school or placed in the mailbox. Place your inbox/outbox close to the door as a visual reminder of anything you may need from it as you leave the house."
Improve Shoe Storage
One of the benefits of a mudroom is that it is a place to take off shoes before they track dirt into the house. Whether you have a bench or a single chair to sit on for putting on and taking off shoes, be sure the storage is close at hand.
Hord recommends using labeled baskets or bins under a bench, or stackable shoe shelves for storage. Carson suggests regular checks to return some shoes to bedroom closets and seasonal clean-outs.
Make a Returns Box
Whether it is a library book, borrowed jacket, or online shopping mistake, every home has items that need to be returned. Carson suggests having a designated box for anything that needs to be returned or exchanged. Be sure to check it regularly so you don't miss return windows.
Add a Reminder Board With Key Hooks
Since people often forget things as they're walking out the door, a simple dry-erase or chalkboard with key hooks can ensure that you don't leave without forgetting anything important, says Carson.
"Reminders for activities, appointments, or tasks are easy to keep on top of when you are reminded as you walk out the door," explains Carson.
Take Advantage of Every Inch of Storage Space
Hord suggests taking advantage of every storage spot, such as behind the door or inside cabinet doors.
Consider using organizational systems like an over-the-door shoe organizer that can also hold hats, gloves, and scarves.
Make Staying Neat Simple
Carson also recommends using hooks to keep spaces organized.
"For whatever reason, people will happily hang things on hooks but not put things away in a closet or drawer. The effort is almost non-existent, so things are up off the floor or counters," says Carson.