Having no mudroom causes a problem for me when I come home from a rainy walk or muddy hike with my dogs and they are caked with dirt.
If you opened our front door, you would walk right into our living room. Our house is not unique. Many classic, early 20th-century Seattle homes lack and entryway.
If I let my dogs go right inside, they track dirt all over the house.
I am making an effort to keep my house and floors cleaner so I decided to make a visually appealing, simple mud-room type entryway right inside the door.
I also wanted to make it easier to go for walks. I was storing all of their leashes, jackets and stuff in the spare bedroom which made it feel like more of a chore to get ready for a walk. I wanted to find a cute way to store them just inside the door so they would be quick to grab on our way out.
To be honest, the area of the living room that I repurposed was a total mess. I mean, what kind of slob lives here anyway? Ha, ha.
Check out what I did with the space. I’m so proud!
It took me a while to make everything just how I wanted it.
I started with the porch. The porch is my first line of defense for my house against a muddy dog.
I bought a cute metal pail and put towels in it. Now when we come home all muddy, Chester and Gretel get toweled off here before they are allowed in the house.
I take off my dog’s jackets and harnesses and leave them on the porch until later if they need to go in the washing machine. If the jackets are just a little wet or dirty, I wipe the dirt off of them with the towel and take them inside.
Once Chester and Gretel are inside, I wipe my feet really good on the door mat and then again on the (new) rug just inside the door. I then take my shoes off and put them in a boot tray.
I filled the boot tray with “sea glass” I had used in my wedding table decorations so that air can circulate around the shoes and dry them faster.
I bought a his and her Love Dog Leash Hooks (UPDATE: It looks like this shop went out of business but you can find other cute leash hooks on Etsy HERE) from Etsy and put them just inside the door. I can hang the damp dog leashes there so they are dry and ready to go next time we go for a walk.
I have been trying to incorporate the things I have in storage from my Grandparents house into my house so I put my Grandma’s old small dresser in the corner (I had met with a professional organizer and she said if they are important enough to store then I should enjoy them by putting them where I can see and use them).
I put Chester and Gretel’s jackets, extra harnesses, night safety lights, my GoMotion Lite Belt, etc inside the dresser drawers. I made it more visually appealing by putting some plants and flowers on top. I also hung the sea-shell wind chime my friend gave me in the corner to at some visual “vertical height”‘ to the corner.
The finishing touch to my new space was a cute new dog bed. The nice folks at PupYo! were nice enough to send us a Bowser Double Donut Dog Bed for my new space.
It’s awesome because it is “overstuffed” and the velvety material is thick to help it hold it’s shape. The stained glass Dachshund was sent to me by my awesome step-Mom on my birthday. I hung it in the window.
As it turns out, where I put the bed is exactly where the afternoon sun beam hits.
As most of you know, Chester and Gretel are not related, there is a large gap in their age, and they don’t like to touch. This “magic bed” inspired they to finally snuggle.
Ok, it’s really the sun they both covet so desperately that Chester will tolerate Gretel laying on him, but the medium bed is big enough for both of them to be in it without smushing up against each other.
I am so excited about my new living room entry way. I actually feel all designer-crafty and stuff 🙂
Have you come up with any creative solutions to accommodate pets in your home?
Angela says
You did a wonderful job Jessica. My husband and I lived in Seattle for 3 years so I know the struggle against tracking in wet and mud — and that was before we got our dachshund! Since it is so damp a lot of the time, I would worry that the towel in the pail outside might get a little mildewy. Not sure if that is long term out there, or something that gets placed in there on your way out the door for a hike.
Love your blog!
Jessica Rhae says
Thanks Angela!…on the entryway and reading oir blog. The towel sits out there but it is something I replace every other day if it gets used/wet. If it’s dry, I won’t change it out as often. The one in the video had been sitting there, unused, for a week with no problems. It does get a tad damp in there though.
Lara Elizabeth says
Love it ALL! The leash hooks and dog beds especially! My back patio door is my main entrance and opens into my dining room – I’m lucky enough to have a built in cabinet and drawer under the counter and I’m pretty proud of how I’ve organized all the food, grooming products and extras in the cabinet, complete with a coat rack! I’ve got a basket filled with treats, poop bags, leashes and collars on top of the counter, and Ruby has three different dog beds to choose from in the kitchen/dining area since that’s where she spends her days when I’m at work. It’s amazing what you can do with some creativity and a few cute functional focal pieces! Canine interior decorating!
Jessica Rhae says
Your little space sounds great. If you have any pictures you should post them on our Facebook psge 🙂
Montecristo Travels (Sonja) says
GREAT job!! It’s perfect! We live in an apartment and although we do have a hallway we like to keep it clutter free. I like the dresser idea!!
Jessica Rhae says
I am moving in a year or so I and I am pretty sure our new place will be way smaller. It’s going to be a challenge keeping everything accessible but uncluttered for sure.
Jerimi says
Holy cow, this is inspiring! I’m pinning it. 🙂 We just adopted a little doxy mix. He’s our first dog ever, and boy, has it been a learning curve. We adore him. Your website has been a great help.
Jessica Rhae says
I inherited Chester as a pup. I wanted a dog – a big dog – but had never owned a dog as an adult. I totally understand about the learning curve! I feel I am finally hitting my stride after 10 years 🙂
The hardest thing for me to get used to was dog hair everywhere.
jenny db says
you did a really great job everything looks awesome! That’s funny that your pups don’t like to cuddle dot dot dot for some reason they look like they should be so snuggly!
Jessica Rhae says
I wish they would cuddle. It’s so cute. We settle for occasionally pushing them together and going “Awwww…they’re touching” Ha, ha.
Miranda says
I love how you made that space functional! (Your home is very pretty.)
Roxy the traveling dog says
That’s a great idea. My “house” is kinda already that way. LOL
Jen says
That is awesome! You did a really great job! Love the wipe you paw bucket outside! That is a great idea, I just throw mine on the floor!
I’m still waiting for my husband to make me a dog wash station for our downstairs area where we let the dogs in from outside. I ask for one every year and still nothin!
Bev says
Hi! Thanks so much for sharing that! I have the same thing. No entry and 2 dogs! I really appreciate the inspiration! I’ve tried to leave you a comment before and link you to Piper and Scooter, the weiner pop star dogs who have their own CD but couldn’t figure out how to do it! If you want to see some of their songs performed, email me and I’ll send you the link to the youtube videos. Love weens! XO
Jessica Rhae says
Hi Bev. You should be able to copy and paste the link right into the comments box. If that doesn’t work, you can use my contact page to send it to me or post it on our Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/YouDidWhatWithYourWeiner
Rebekah says
Those are all really good ideas. I love that little dresser you have, both its form and function.
Jessica says
Really cute!
We have a tiny tiled entrance with a nice rack for leashes and all, but of course it leads out the front door. Silas almost never goes out that way, since he doesn’t like to walk next to the street. Our back entrance–the one we use all the time–opens right into the dining room. It’s a little awkward. At least we don’t have your worries about the mud!
Corso Mama says
Love it! I’ve done some of these things, but I am always trying to figure out how to get my items closer together as I have several large dogs and they want to go off in all directions when we arrive home. The mats on the inside AND outside of doors is a MUST! Great job and good to connect with you again!
Beth says
Great ideas! I had bought a single hook to hang in my laundry room for the 4 leash walker, but need more space to hang the individual leashes. I found a quilted pattern of a little house that has a block of wood at the bottom (between the layers of fabric and batting) that you screw cup hooks into. I’m trying to finish it to put on the other wall in the laundry room. Love the video!
Jessica Rhae says
Sounds like a fun little project
Beverly says
I LOVE the entryway, but I especially love the boot tray idea. Here is So. California we have to deal with fine dirt and dust. The boot tray would go a long way to keep desert dust from tracking into the house! Love everything though. So creative Jessica!
Jessica Rhae says
Thanks Beverly. I don’t mind if you borrow my boot tray idea 🙂
Donna says
Thanks. You gave some great ideas. I’m going to incorporate some of them since we don’t have an entryway either.
Caren Gittleman says
First of all I LOVE LOVE LOVE your living room! I really loved this post because we live on the 2nd floor of a condo/apt building and we walk right into our living room too when we enter. We do have a mat by the door, my husband throws the leash on the chair by the door (I MUCH prefer those hooks you bought and need to check those out). LOVE your cabinet! I could put towels in it for rainy days. Dakota really doesn’t wear jackets.
I think you did a great job of organizing everything and these are fabulous tips for those of us who are “space-challenged!!”
Jessica Rhae says
Hey…that should have been the title of my post…”dog friendly entryway for the space challenged” 🙂 Thanks for the compliment and glad my little space inspired you.
Caren Gittleman says
you are welcome! I loved it!!
Caren Gittleman says
Oh I forgot! I have a dumb question. On the tray with the crushed glass, was the tray made that way? That is so cool!
Jessica Rhae says
No. I bought the metal boot tray and put the “sea glass” in it. It’s tumbled, recycled glass used primarily for landscaping. I had a bunch leftover from a wedding centerpiece and hot this idea when I saw a lot of boot trays on Pinterest with “river rocks” in them.
Caren Gittleman says
love the sea glass idea but I would be afraid that Dakota would eat it 🙂
Emma says
Awesome job, looks great! For those really dirty times, we go in the garage and get cleaned up before going in the house, otherwise we have a foyer with a large rug at the front door and a big mat at the back door. We still manage to track in all kinds of stuff, but it could be worse!
Jodi says
Great idea and what a beautiful job you did. Usually when we come back from our walk if the dogs are super muddy I just bring them in through the gate and use the hose to wash them down. They can then wait in the screen porch until I can dry them off. It’s not nearly as nicely thought out as yours, but it works for us. 🙂
Jessica Rhae says
I fear that blasting Chester and Gretel with a hose would wash them away! Ha, ha. For sure they would at least hate me 🙂
Lorna Jegens says
Hi Jessica,
We have like 4 dogs in our house, they sleep beside the small office door, problem is hairs are all over the office now, i think the wind direction is contributing where the dog hairs are blown..
anyway, i love what you did there…i love dogs too..so this post is really adding new knowledge.. guess my aunt is going to get a new dog for her daughter.. so well send them here too… thanks
Jessica Rhae says
We have wood floors (as you can see) so hairs find themselves all over the place in our house too 🙂