Mud room benches come in a variety of colors, finishes, sizes, and styles. Most have storage space or cabinets to help keep the mud room organized, though some serve only as a seating area and provide no storage. Benches can be free standing or built-in as well as customized to fit a specific mud room and meet the homeowner's needs. Although they are called mud room benches, these combination storage-seating pieces can also be used in a foyer or entry hall.
One of the most common types of mud room benches is a backless, rectangular bench with storage underneath. Most often the storage area is open and baskets or bins are used for holding the items that commonly accumulate in the mudroom, such as umbrellas, pet leashes, hats, and gloves. Other styles have cabinets that provide storage, and some are designed for storage within the bench, accessed by lifting the hinged seat.
Another common style of mud room bench has high back that extends several feet above the seat. This type of bench is often referred to as a hall tree bench. The back portion may be solid wood, bead-board, or mirrored, and the storage area is either underneath or within the seating area. There are usually hooks at the top for hanging coats, and often, there is a shelf above the hooks for additional storage.
Built-in mudroom benches can be custom designed to fit into a home's mudroom. A custom bench allows the homeowners to decide how much storage the unit will have, the overall size, design, and materials used for construction. The storage areas can be open or closed, and the bench can be stained or painted to match the rest of the mud room.
Cherry, oak, and walnut are a few of the most common woods used in crafting mud room benches. Benches can also have painted finishes, white and black being the most popular colors. Cushions can be added to benches to make them more homey as well as more comfortable. Wicker baskets, canvas totes, and plastic bins are among the various containers that can be used for storage.
Mud room benches vary in price depending on the style, size, and construction of the bench. They can be purchased in furniture stores and in stores that sell specialty furniture as well as online. Some assembly may be required.