Have fun fixing up the mud room

American homes often have lovely front entrances that homeowners never use.

Sure, we greet visitors at the front door. We hang a wreath there and make it look welcoming. But our own daily comings and goings tend to happen through the back door or garage entrance, if we have one.

In many homes, that back or side entrance leads into a "mud room" - a small area where we kick off our boots and stash our umbrellas. Mud room entrances, says designer Mallory Mathison, are also called "family entrances" or "friends and family entrances." These convenient but often sloppy spaces are ones we only allow some to see.

Even if they're organized, mud rooms tend to be utilitarian spaces with plain, pale walls and tile floors.

But what if the mud room got a little attention? By reorganizing your mud room and filling it with colors and objects that lift your spirits, say interior designers, it's possible to improve the start and end of every day.

Efficiency is crucial, but so is style. Fortunately, you can get an infusion of both without spending much money.

Every mud room is different. In some homes, there isn't a defined mud room - part of the garage or hallway or an alcove near the back door serves as the transition space between indoor and outdoor. Either way, says designer Brian Patrick Flynn, that space can be fine-tuned to work for you.

Put EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE

In reevaluating a mud room, says Mathison, "storage is the number one thing you're looking at. Coats, leashes, backpacks, ballerina bags ... you need a designated spot for each family member." Built-in cubby holes are ideal, she says, but that can be expensive. You can get the same effect from other approaches.

If you're worried about the space looking cluttered, designer Janine Carendi suggests using a cabinet with closed shelving to hide its contents. Be sure, though, that you'll actually open doors and drawers to put things away.

"Most people won't use it if it's closed," argues Flynn. "I tried, myself. I had a really cool retro credenza that I had refinished. All I would ever do was leave stuff on top."

He recommends open storage, such as shelves lined with bins or baskets. Use one main basket for dropping basics like your purse, keys and mail as soon as you get home. It beats carrying these items into the house and potentially losing track of them.

Walls often go unused in mud rooms: Spend few dollars on hooks or pegs on which to hang keys, jackets and bags. Family members can each have their own hooks.

Shoe storage is also important. Flynn suggests keeping your most frequently worn shoes in the mud room, rather than the bedroom. Kick them off as soon as you enter, he says. You'll always know where to find them, and you'll protect the floors in your home.

Consider adding a bench with storage underneath, says Mathison. Sit on it to remove your shoes, then open it and toss the shoes inside.

The mud room is also a great place to keep a dry erase or cork message board for communicating with family or housemates.

EXPRESS YOURSELF

Although mud rooms tend to be drab, they're the perfect spot to indulge in bold colors and gutsy design. It's a fairly private space and you don't spend much time there (though some mud rooms do double as laundry rooms), so bright shades of paint or large graphic prints won't get overwhelming.

Decorate with whimsy: Display your children's artwork, says Mathison, or let them paint a mural. Carendi added vintage rackets and umbrellas to one client's entryway for a dash of glamour.

"Raid your garage," Flynn says, to find unique decorative pieces. "I tend to find older, sometimes rustic pieces perfect for the mud room since this room gets a ton of wear and tear, as do the items that go in it."

And don't forget to add a mirror. It's practical, says Carendi, and will make a small space seem larger.

WHAT'S UNDERFOOT?

A mud room floor has to be durable and easily cleaned, but that doesn't mean tile or linoleum are your only options. These designers recommend using a machine washable rug or carpet remnants to add warmth and color. If the space already has wall-to-wall carpeting, Carendi recommends adding a washable rug on top. Again, consider prints and bright colors to lift your mood.