When we moved into our home 3 years ago, one of the first things we did was build a mudroom bench by the front door. With a family of 5 and seasonal weather, we knew we needed a place for shoes, hats, jackets, gloves, scarves and backpacks.
I hacked some IKEA benches and created the perfect spot for all our odds and ends, and I wrote up a big tutorial post on it here.
Since 2015, the post has been pinned over 17,000 times and appeared in the IKEAHackers.net book with 24 other IKEA hacks for the home – crazy! I love that people have identified with my need to declutter in order to de-stress!
Get the IKEAHackers.net book
Since it has been so popular, I thought I should write an update about how they are holding up after 3 years of wear and tear. So here’s a little review on what’s working, what’s not and what’s changed.
How is the Mudroom Bench holding up?
Mudroom Bench Drawers
Great! They still roll in and out several times a day with no issues.
Mudroom Bench Paint
I need to wipe down the drawer fronts about once a month because they get plenty of shoeprints from being closed with feet and dirty handprints on the handles. I find that a Magic Eraser does the trick for tough spots, along with a quick wipe down using all-purpose spray and a wet cloth. We have just a couple of small chips in the paint and I think within another year they could use a paint touch-up on just the fronts. It would be a really quick and easy one-day project.
Flooring
Yikes. The floor. This has nothing to do with the drawers, but with the fact that we have bamboo wood flooring, which is very susceptible to wear and dents. Which is why after 3 years, our floors have obvious tracks where the drawers roll out. To be honest, it doesn’t bother me that much. These floors won’t be here forever and they weren’t in great condition to begin with. I could probably do some research and find a way to refinish the color where the tracks have worn them, but I haven’t cared enough to do it!
Wooden Mudroom Bench Top
Just like new! It has held up beautifully and still looks amazing. I vacuum it off from time to time so I can get dirt and dust out of the grooves, but other than that I haven’t done any maintenance.
Mudroom Area Hooks
Still great! We bought our hooks for $2.99 at IKEA and they are awesome. They hold heavy coats and heavy backpacks all year long. My daughter’s hook has been bent because she chose to pull down on her backpack in order to pull herself up on top of the bench every day for quite a while before I noticed… (you can quickly pick it out in the picture below). It may need to be replaced at some point, but it’s still hanging in there for now and can usually just be pushed back up into place when I notice it’s bent.
Overall, in 2 years time with 3 kids under the age of 8, we have managed to keep our mudroom area looking pretty good. I can’t imagine it will be going anywhere anytime soon. The fact that everything is screwed into the wall and connected to other pieces of the total bench has kept it incredibly sturdy.
Changes Made since 2015
We have made some changes in the surrounding areas, like adding a desk with a computer to the right (it’s the perfect little space for it!) and I painted the front door a bright, cheery color.
This room continues to be my favorite in the house and it’s where we spend most of our time. Creating a clutter-free home and space that you love is so critical to enjoying where you live! If you’re feeling bogged down by “stuff,” I would definitely recommend creating an organized area where you can store it all.
Get the tutorial
In case you missed it, you can find the original IKEA mudroom hack tutorial here or you can purchase the book, which gives a little more detail than my post!
Disclaimer: some affiliates links used in this post, which means I receive a small commission on any items purchased