I grew up in a house with a regular front door and a side door that led straight into the kitchen from the driveway. Right inside that side door was a small table where you'd drop your purse, your mail, your keys. I never thought twice about it. That was just how the house worked.
It wasn't until I moved to Vermont that I started to notice something different. Front doors here often lead straight into a formal entry, what you might call a foyer, but it's rarely where people actually come and go. Ask almost anyone in this state how often they use their front door, and you'll get the same answer: almost never. The side door, the mudroom door, the informal entrance, that's the real way into the house.
I've lived in five homes since moving to Vermont, and across every one of them, I've become convinced that the mudroom is one of the most important features of a house. This is just my opinion, but people will argue the kitchen deserves that title instead, and I understand why. To me, the mudroom is your home's calling card. It's the first thing you and everyone else touches every single day.
Why Four Seasons Means Four Times the Gear
Vermont living means your entryway has to absorb an enormous amount of stuff, and it changes constantly with the season. It also gets all the wear and tear from the outside elements, mud, salt, snowmelt, wet leaves, before any of it makes it further into the house.
In winter, you need a place for snow gear: hats, gloves, snow pants, multiple pairs of boots. If anyone in the house skis, add poles and skis to that pile. In spring and fall, you're managing transitional pieces, lighter jackets, sweaters, scarves, the stuff that doesn't quite fit in either the winter or summer rotation. And year round, you need rain gear: raincoats, umbrellas, wellies.
Even if you consider yourself a minimalist, living in Vermont means you need somewhere to put all of this, and somewhere durable enough to take the abuse that comes with it.
What an Actual Mudroom Needs
In my experience, the single biggest mistake people make in mudroom design is not having enough hooks and no dedicated storage at all. Hooks are the standard for a working mudroom. When multiple people live in a house, nobody is taking the time to hang a coat on a hanger in a closet between school pickup and dinner. Hooks let everyone drop and grab gear in seconds, which is the entire point.
A functional mudroom, as I see it, needs:
Cubbies, at least one per person. In our house, we converted half of an old, screened porch into a mudroom with four cubbies. My son and I both have one and somehow my husband has claimed the rest because he has so much stuff.
Hooks throughout, not a single rod. Coats, backpacks, leashes, anything that gets grabbed daily belongs on a hook within reach.
Room for sports and activity gear. If you have kids or are active yourself, this is non-negotiable. My son's cubby alone holds a tennis racket, lacrosse gear, a skateboard, and helmets for both bike and skateboard. That's before we even get to hats.
A landing spot for the small stuff. Keys, mail, sunglasses. The little table from my childhood home wasn't a bad idea now that I think about it.
I've walked into homes where only two people live there, and the mudroom is larger than the primary bedroom closet. At the time it can seem excessive. In practice, it's the homeowner who figured out how the house actually needs to function.
If You Don't Have a Mudroom
Not every Vermont home has a dedicated mudroom, especially older farmhouses and homes built before this was a design consideration. If that's your situation, the fix doesn't have to be a renovation. A mudroom closet, just inside whichever door you actually use, can do the same job. The goal is simple: when you walk in the door, there's somewhere for everything to go, instead of it landing on the floor or the kitchen counter.
FAQs
Does a mudroom matter to Vermont buyers? In my opinion, it matters practically more than it matters financially. Buyers touring homes in Vermont notice quickly whether an entryway can handle real seasonal gear, and a well thought out mudroom tells them the home was built for how people actually live here.
What's the difference between a mudroom and a foyer? A foyer is typically the formal entry off the front door. A mudroom is the functional, everyday entry, usually off a side door or garage, built to handle gear, shoes, and seasonal storage.
Can I add a mudroom to an older home that doesn't have one? In many cases, yes. Converting part of a porch, garage, or back hallway is a common and often affordable way to create one, even without a full addition.
How big does a mudroom need to be? There's no fixed size. What matters more is function: enough hooks for each household member, and a clear landing spot for daily items like keys and mail.
What should I avoid when designing a mudroom? Avoid hangers and closed closets as the primary storage. With multiple people in a house, hooks are far more practical, since gear needs to go on and off in seconds, not get hung up properly every time.
About the Contributor
Nancy Warren is a Vermont Realtor with more than 20 years of experience working with homes throughout the region. Her contributions to Vermont Living Guide draw on that experience and are provided for general informational purposes only. This content should not be considered legal, environmental, inspection, or other professional advice. For guidance specific to your property or situation, consult the appropriate licensed professional.
Nancy’s real estate business is separate from Vermont Living Guide. To learn more about Nancy and her real estate business, visit asknancywarren.com.