Mudroom to Bloom Room: Functional Spring Upgrades

By Suzanne | www.arrangespace.com

There’s something really satisfying about the first day I walk into the mudroom and don’t reach for a snow boot. It’s usually still chilly in the mornings here in Bend, but the light has changed, and I start swapping out heavy coats for garden clogs. That’s my cue: it’s time to shift this space from winter bunker to spring launchpad.

I like to think of this area—off the garage, always a little dusty, always catching whatever the day throws at us—as more than just a mudroom. In spring, it becomes a bloom room. A place where I keep a trowel handy, stash a few packets of wildflower seeds, and make room for fresh-cut tulips or a soggy dog towel (or two).

First, I clear the winter clutter.
I always say: if it hasn’t been worn in two weeks, it’s time to tuck it away. I store the snow gear in labeled bins or deep drawers and free up hooks and shelves for lighter jackets, sun hats, and canvas totes. I keep baskets at the ready for dog leashes, gardening gloves, and sometimes a pair of muddy sneakers I’ve been meaning to clean since last October.

Then, I refresh the functionality.
Spring brings a different kind of mess—potting soil, paw prints, damp gardening gloves—so I make sure there’s a washable mat by the door, a dedicated basket for flower shears and seed packets, and a sturdy boot tray that’s not full of melting snow anymore, but maybe a bit of dried pine pollen and dirt. And I always keep a big old towel nearby for my dog, who manages to find every puddle between the garage and the front door.

I love bringing in color and texture too.
A soft new runner, maybe in a sage stripe or a light terracotta tone, instantly lifts the space. I’ll switch out the winter art for a little framed botanical print or hang a dried floral bundle by the door. Even something as simple as a pretty basket or ceramic umbrella stand makes the space feel intentional—not just a catch-all.

This time of year, I want my mudroom to feel like a place that supports the season I’m actually living in. One where the routines are changing—more time outside, more quick in-and-outs, more blooms coming in from the yard.

So if your mudroom is still stuck in snow mode, it might be time to give it a little love. Trust me, the switch from mudroom to bloom room is the kind of quiet transformation that makes spring feel real—even before the lilacs show up.

— Suzanne