Mudroom makeover: Making a mudroom into a sunroom

It’s time for a mudroom makeover into this mom’s happy sunroom.

I’ve noticed that we spend a lot of time talking about places and spaces for men. Man caves filled with hi-tech gadgets and beer, and men reclaiming their fair share of the bathroom and other spaces in the home.

But wait a minute.

Whenever anyone talks about women and spaces in the home, it’s either that the entire rest of the house is for the mom or that moms need a craft/wrapping space.

I don’t know about you, but I would have joy over a workshop of my own. But that’s not the same thing as the beer-swilling game-playing-and-watching over-stuffed-recliner-sitting man caves of Jason Cameron’s popular DIY Network show.

I want a space that’s quiet, clean, and relaxing. A place where I can sit with a few friends and chat. We drink coffee or wine, depending on the time of day, and we don’t spend any time doing anything for anyone.

My mom used to hide in the bathroom when my siblings and I were kids. I’d ask why. She’d say: “It’s the only place where I can be alone.”

Funny now that I think about it, because I had the door open talking to her while she sat on the toilet. And now as a mom, I’m now the one sitting with the parade of kids, cats, and husband. Being a mom means letting go privacy, embracing that while we might be the main decision-makers about our homes, what goes in it, and where those items go, we actually don’t have square footage of our own.

A time-out corner might be a treat.

In the meantime, check out how I made over our mudroom into a sunroom. I’ve been dreaming about this mudroom makeover for about a decade, and after stealing minutes here-and-there over the course of a week, it’s done. And I’m giddy-like-a-school-girl about it.

How do I know it won’t become a room where everyone wants to gather? The wi-fi is terrible in there. You’ll need to bring a book, a drink, love of serenity, and your imagination. It’s kind of killer.