Giada DeLaurentiis’ Entryway Nook Is a Great Alternative to a Mud Room

If your dream is to have a mud room in your home but the space (or budget) just isn’t there, celebrity chef Giada DeLaurentiis just showed off a great alternative. Rather than devote an entire room to your outdoor gear, you could just install a “nook” in your front entryway like she did.

“Bella, my partner in crime, loves this nook as much as I do! It’s the perfect place for getting ready for a walk or in her case, playtime,” DeLaurentiis wrote in the caption of a June 3 Instagram post. 

She noted that the fabric used to cover the bench seat is Sunbrella, which is “durable and easy-to-clean,” and the paint she used on her cabinetry looks very similar to Matcha Latte from Clare Paint.

Turning your front entryway into a “mud nook” can be done in a myriad of different ways. Built-ins (including upper cabinets) like DeLaurentiis’ are great for hiding away shoes, hats, and mittens, and even provide storage for things like cleaning supplies and other household items you’d rather keep out of sight.

But if your entryway doesn’t give you enough space to install built-ins, you can get the same effect with some strategic styling. 

Rather than a console table, give yourself a spot to sit down and put your shoes on. And then install a few hooks to hang jackets and hats flush against the wall.

No mud room? No problem. Make use of that empty space next to your front door and turn it into the mud nook of your dreams.