Is it safe to widen the frame of my closet to create a mini mud bench coat area, considering supporting walls and electrical? Any tips on reframing it?
Asked by Julie Gardner 
2 months ago
Last Updated: October 29, 2024
Hey guys, quick question! Sorry for any typos, my phone is acting up today.
I’m thinking about transforming my closet into a small mud bench with coat hanging space. Do you think it’s safe to widen the frame? I’m worried about the supporting walls and electrical. If it’s possible, how would I go about doing it? Would I need to reframe it? Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Here’s a picture for reference.
I could probably use a stud finder to locate any electrical wiring, right? There’s a powder room nearby and a dining room to the right of the closet, so I’m guessing there might be electrical wiring close by.
To support the weight, simply take out the studs and construct a header. Also, have you thought about the condition of the flooring if you take down walls?
I’ve noticed that mudroom benches are quite popular these days. However, looking at the photos, if this is your main entry, you might want to consider removing the door and wrapping the opening instead (You could save the door just in case you change your mind). Then, you could put mini benches on either side first to see how that works. Typically, mudrooms with benches are usually out of sight, so when you leave, you can shut the door and leave everything behind you.
I’m a fan of this concept! Can you explain what you mean by enclosing the opening?
Take off the door and the door frame. Then add trim to the frame like you would see around low walls or walls that divide rooms, such as between the dining room and living room, etc.
Here’s an example like this…
Oh, got it! Thanks Jon for getting back to me! Your input was very useful!