S23 E26: Mudroom Cubbies is the kind of home-improvement episode that looks simple at first glance and then quietly solves one of the most annoying household mysteries of all time: why does every shoe in the house migrate to the entryway like it has been summoned by a tiny sneaker wizard?
In this episode of Ask This Old House, Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor build practical mudroom cubbies designed for coats, shoes, bags, accessories, and the everyday clutter that usually ends up forming a small mountain beside the door. Mauro Henrique and Kevin later finish the project with a bold burgundy paint job using a paint sprayer, while Jenn Nawada steps outside to explain different types of mulch and how they improve a garden’s appearance and health.
The result is an episode that blends carpentry, finishing, organization, and landscape know-how into one tidy package. It is basically a reminder that a home does not need more yelling about misplaced backpacks. It needs better storage.
What Happens in S23 E26: Mudroom Cubbies?
The heart of the episode is a custom mudroom cubby build. Tom and Kevin create a storage unit with three main hanging compartments, upper shelves for accessories, and lower cubbies for shoes. The design is straightforward, but that is exactly why it works. It does not pretend to be a luxury closet system with a personality disorder. It simply gives every daily item a clear place to land.
The cubbies are built with a modular mindset, which makes the project easier to transport, assemble, and adapt. Instead of constructing one giant, impossible-to-move wall of cabinetry, the approach breaks the unit into manageable sections. That detail matters for DIY builders because the hardest part of a home project is often not the cutting, sanding, or painting. It is discovering that the finished piece cannot fit through the doorway. Many dreams have been humbled by a 90-degree turn in a hallway.
After the cubbies are built, Mauro and Kevin apply the finish. The burgundy paint gives the storage unit a polished, custom look, proving that mudroom furniture does not have to be boring. A mudroom can be tough, useful, and still have a little drama. Think of it as the work boot of interior design: practical, durable, and surprisingly stylish when done right.
Why Mudroom Cubbies Are So Useful
Mudroom cubbies are popular because they attack clutter at the point of entry. A coat closet hides things, but it can also become a dark cave full of mystery mittens. A cubby system is more direct. Shoes go below. Coats hang in the middle. Hats, gloves, bags, and baskets go above. Everyone can see what belongs where, including the family member who claims they “looked everywhere” while standing directly in front of their backpack.
The best mudroom storage systems combine open and closed storage. Open cubbies make daily items easy to grab, while baskets or cabinet doors can hide less attractive clutter. This balance is important because real homes are not magazine spreads. Real homes have muddy cleats, reusable grocery bags, dog leashes, sports gear, wet umbrellas, and at least one lonely glove that has been single since February.
Design Lessons from the Episode
1. Give Every Category a Zone
A successful mudroom cubby system starts with categories. Shoes need low storage. Coats and bags need hooks. Small accessories need shelves, baskets, or bins. Seasonal items need upper storage. Once each category has a zone, the space becomes easier to maintain.
The three-compartment layout from the episode is especially useful for families. Each vertical section can belong to one person, or each section can serve a different purpose: work gear, school gear, and outdoor gear. The magic is not complicated. It is simply organization made visible.
2. Build for Daily Abuse
Mudrooms are not delicate rooms. They deal with dirt, rain, snow, backpacks, grocery bags, sports equipment, and humans in a hurry. Materials should be sturdy enough to handle repeated use. Plywood, hardwood trim, durable paint, strong hooks, and easy-clean flooring are all smart choices.
A mudroom cubby is not a place to use flimsy hardware and hope for the best. That hook holding three winter coats and a backpack full of textbooks is doing Olympic-level work. Give it proper support.
3. Make the Bench Comfortable
A mudroom bench is more than a decorative ledge. It is where people sit to tie shoes, pull off boots, sort bags, and negotiate with stubborn rain gear. A comfortable bench height usually falls around standard chair height, making it easy for both adults and older kids to use.
If the bench is too high, putting on shoes becomes a balancing act. If it is too low, adults will stand up making the exact sound people make after helping a friend move a sofa. Comfortable proportions matter.
4. Use Paint as a Design Tool
The burgundy finish in the episode is a smart reminder that storage can be a design feature. Darker, richer colors can help hide scuffs and give built-ins a more intentional look. A bold paint color can also turn a basic utility area into a welcoming entry point.
Using a paint sprayer creates a smooth finish, especially on cabinetry with shelves, dividers, corners, and trim. The key is preparation. Sanding, cleaning, priming, masking, and applying thin coats are what separate a professional-looking finish from something that screams “I painted this at midnight and got impatient.”
How to Plan Mudroom Cubbies for Your Home
Before building mudroom cubbies, start by studying how your household actually enters the home. The best location is usually near the door everyone uses most often, not necessarily the formal front entrance. In many American homes, that means the garage entry, side door, laundry room, or back hallway.
Next, measure the wall carefully. Note outlets, vents, baseboards, door swings, windows, and trim. A beautiful cubby system is less beautiful when it blocks a light switch or traps an outlet behind a shoe basket forever.
Then count the users. A family of four may need four vertical sections, while a couple in a small home may need two compartments and more shared storage. If kids are involved, lower hooks are useful. If adults are the main users, higher hooks and deeper cubbies may make more sense.
Essential Features of a Great Mudroom Cubby System
Lower Shoe Cubbies
Shoes belong at the bottom because gravity is undefeated. Open lower cubbies make footwear easy to slide in and out. If you want a cleaner look, use baskets or drawers. Just make sure the storage is ventilated enough for damp shoes and boots.
Strong Coat Hooks
Hooks are faster than hangers, especially in a busy household. Install them securely into solid backing, not just drywall. A row of hooks can hold coats, backpacks, dog leashes, tote bags, and hats. For families, double hooks are especially practical.
Upper Shelves or Baskets
Upper shelves are ideal for items that are useful but not needed every hour. Think winter hats, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, picnic blankets, or seasonal accessories. Labeled baskets keep these shelves tidy and reduce the classic “where did we put that?” routine.
A Durable Bench Surface
The bench takes a beating, so the surface should be tough. Painted wood, stained hardwood, sealed plywood, or a separate wood top can all work. If you add a cushion, choose a stain-resistant or washable fabric. Mudrooms are not gentle on upholstery. They are where clean fabric goes to learn humility.
Easy-to-Clean Surroundings
Painted beadboard, washable wall paint, tile, luxury vinyl plank, brick, and porcelain flooring are all common mudroom-friendly choices. The goal is to make cleanup easy. A mudroom that cannot handle mud is just a room with a misleading job title.
DIY Tips Inspired by the Episode
If you want to build a mudroom cubby system inspired by S23 E26: Mudroom Cubbies, begin with a simple sketch. Draw the front view first, then mark the major sections: top shelf, hanging area, bench, and shoe storage. Decide whether the unit will be built in place or assembled in modules.
Modular construction is often easier for DIYers. Build the base, vertical dividers, and upper shelf sections separately, then fasten them together during installation. This approach is especially helpful if you are working in a garage, basement, or workshop and need to move the pieces into the house later.
Use consistent measurements where possible. Equal-width compartments create a clean look and make cutting easier. Pre-drilling screw holes, using clamps, and checking for square at every stage will make the final piece stronger and neater.
Before painting, fill nail holes, sand rough edges, vacuum dust, and wipe surfaces clean. If you are using a sprayer, mask the surrounding area carefully. Paint mist has ambition. It will travel. It will find the one thing you forgot to cover.
Common Mudroom Cubby Mistakes to Avoid
Making Compartments Too Narrow
A cubby that looks elegant on paper may be too tight for real coats and bags. Leave enough width for bulky winter jackets, backpacks, and sports gear. Storage that requires wrestling is not storage; it is a daily arm workout.
Ignoring Wet Gear
Mudrooms often deal with damp items, so airflow matters. Open cubbies, ventilated baskets, and moisture-resistant finishes help prevent musty smells. A washable mat or boot tray can also protect the floor under shoes.
Skipping Labels
Labels may sound fussy, but they work. They are especially helpful for kids and guests. A labeled basket for gloves or pet supplies is faster than asking the entire household where something went.
Forgetting Lighting
A mudroom should be easy to use in the morning rush and evening return. Good lighting helps people find matching shoes, read labels, and avoid stepping on a rogue cleat. Overhead lighting, sconces, or even LED strips can make a big difference.
Where the Mulch Segment Fits In
Jenn Nawada’s mulch segment may seem separate from the cubby build, but it fits the episode’s bigger theme: smart home maintenance begins with choosing the right material for the job. In the garden, mulch can help regulate soil temperature, improve moisture retention, reduce weeds, and create a cleaner landscape appearance.
Different mulch types serve different purposes. Organic mulches, such as bark, shredded wood, leaves, or compost, can break down over time and improve soil structure. Inorganic options, such as stone or gravel, last longer and can suit certain decorative or drainage-focused areas. Like mudroom materials, mulch choices should be practical, attractive, and appropriate for the conditions.
That is the quiet genius of this episode. Whether indoors or outdoors, the message is the same: the right system reduces mess.
Why This Episode Works for Real Homeowners
S23 E26: Mudroom Cubbies works because it focuses on a problem almost every household understands. Entryway clutter is universal. It does not matter if a home is large or small, old or new, suburban or city-based. Daily life brings stuff through the door, and that stuff needs somewhere to go.
The episode also shows that organization does not have to mean buying a pile of plastic bins and hoping motivation will do the rest. Built-in or freestanding mudroom cubbies create structure. They guide behavior. When the right storage is in the right place, people are more likely to use it.
And yes, people may still drop shoes in the middle of the floor. But at least now the shoes are clearly disobeying a system.
Best Ideas to Borrow from S23 E26: Mudroom Cubbies
One of the best ideas from the episode is the vertical storage layout. It uses wall height efficiently, which is crucial in smaller entryways. By stacking shelves, hooks, bench seating, and shoe cubbies, the design gets more function out of the same footprint.
Another smart idea is painting the unit in a strong color. White mudrooms are classic, but deeper tones can make storage look more custom and hide everyday wear. Burgundy, navy, forest green, charcoal, and warm taupe can all work beautifully depending on the home’s style.
The third takeaway is that a mudroom should match the household’s habits. A family with kids may need lower hooks and labeled bins. A gardener may need boot trays and washable floors. A pet owner may need leash hooks, towel storage, and a basket for waste bags. A commuter may need a charging drawer, key tray, and mail slot. The best cubbies are not generic. They are personal without being precious.
Experience Notes: Living With Mudroom Cubbies in the Real World
After living with or helping plan mudroom cubbies, one lesson becomes obvious fast: the perfect design is not the one that looks best on installation day. It is the one people still use three months later. A mudroom has to survive routines, bad weather, school mornings, grocery runs, and the mysterious family habit of owning more shoes than there are feet in the house.
The most successful cubby systems are easy to use while standing up, holding a bag, and being mildly late. Hooks beat hangers for daily coats because they require almost no effort. Open shoe cubbies beat deep bins for everyday shoes because people can see what is inside. Baskets work best for smaller items, but only when they are not overloaded. A basket labeled “hats” should not also contain batteries, old receipts, a flashlight, and one granola bar from a previous presidential administration.
Another real-world discovery is that each person needs slightly different storage. Kids need reachable hooks and forgiving spaces. Adults need room for larger coats, work bags, and shoes. Guests need an obvious place to put things without asking for a guided tour. Pets, somehow, need more mudroom storage than anyone expects. Leashes, towels, treats, paw wipes, and outdoor toys can take over quickly if they do not have a home.
Paint durability also matters more than people think. Mudroom cubbies get bumped by backpacks, scraped by zippers, kicked by shoes, and touched by hands that may or may not be clean. A quality primer and durable enamel or cabinet-grade paint are worth the effort. Satin or semi-gloss finishes are easier to wipe down than flat paint. The smoother the finish, the less likely dirt is to cling to it like it pays rent.
Ventilation is another underrated detail. Wet shoes and damp jackets need airflow. Completely closed storage may look cleaner, but it can trap odors if used for damp gear. A combination of open cubbies, baskets, and a few closed cabinets is often better than going all-in on one storage type.
Finally, the best mudroom cubbies change the mood of a home. That may sound dramatic for a storage unit, but it is true. When the entryway is chaotic, everyone feels it. When there is a clear place for shoes, coats, keys, bags, and outdoor gear, the house feels calmer before anyone even reaches the kitchen. A good mudroom cubby system does not just store stuff. It removes tiny daily frustrations. And sometimes, fewer tiny frustrations are the difference between a smooth morning and a family meeting held over one missing sneaker.
Conclusion
S23 E26: Mudroom Cubbies is a practical, satisfying episode because it shows how smart carpentry can improve everyday life. Tom and Kevin’s cubby build offers a clear model for organizing coats, shoes, and accessories, while Mauro’s painted finish proves that utility storage can still have personality. Jenn’s mulch lesson adds an outdoor reminder that good materials and thoughtful placement matter everywhere around the home.
For homeowners, the episode is more than a project recap. It is a blueprint for reducing clutter, improving routines, and giving the hardest-working entryway in the house the attention it deserves. A mudroom may never be glamorous in the chandelier-and-grand-staircase sense, but with the right cubbies, hooks, shelves, paint, and planning, it can become one of the most useful spaces in the home.
