Quick tips to revitalize your entryway

The foyer, the mud room, the entryway - whatever name you have for it, it's the first impression anyone will get upon entering your home. For this reason, you'll want to make sure it's in good shape, especially if you're preparing to have it shown to potential buyers. Use these entryway remodeling tips to breathe new life into this underappreciated room of your house.

For the mud room

In many cases, the primary entrance of a home is also one of the messiest. It's where dirty boots are discarded, coats are hung (maybe) and bags are left. If you need to make a good impression for showings, a particularly muddy room may not be the most pleasant sight. DoItYourself.com provided a list of great tips on how to make your mud room functional and fresh-looking at the same time. First of all, you need to get hooked on organization. If your mud room doesn't have any hooks for hanging coats, scarves or even extra bags, all of these items will just end up on the floor. Evenly spaced, sturdy metal hooks are easy to install and will make a world of difference. Consider placing some at a lower height to make them accessible to small children.

How many times have you nearly fallen down trying to pull your dirty boots off? It doesn't have to be so hard if you invest a bit of time into some seating in your entryway. An extra chair could do the trick, but a simple handmade wood bench will fit in well with the rest of the space. You could purchase a premade bench at a hardware or gardening store, or make your own with some spare lumber and heavy-duty mounting brackets. Take care to ensure the bench is well-supported on both sides and in the middle. Underneath the bench, place some baskets, buckets or other containers to make things more organized. These will keep footwear or other dirty equipment out of sight.

If you have the option, the right flooring can make all the difference in your mudroom. For easy cleaning, tile, linoleum or laminate all make great choices for floor materials. If your mud room is currently outfitted with carpet, you may be paying the price from frequent exposure to moisture and stubborn dirt. If you have wood floors, consider getting some heavy-duty mats or rugs to make cleaning easier and to preserve the flooring for a home inspection.

Keep it organized

It's no fun coming home to a messy house, and the cluttered entryway is the first thing that will greet you after a stressful work day or a long road trip. Cut down on the dysfunction by sprucing up your organization strategy, especially in your entryway, foyer or mud room. California Closets suggested placing a small end table by the door for placing pocket items like keys, change and wallets or purses. You could even include a charging station to keep cell phones ready to go as you head out. To deal with piles of mail (plenty of which you won't read), keep a small recycling bin to dispatch with junk ads in a jiffy. If you have kids, encourage them to join in the organization and cleaning effort, instructing them on their duties and best practices to keep things tidy. Frank Fontana recommended taking things to the next level by adding pleasant scents in your home's entryway. What better way to be greeted than by the smell of fresh flowers or spices? This has the added benefit of covering up old shoe smell.