1. Where will you wash clothes? If you want muddy clothes stripped off and washed before they enter the house, put the utility room near the mudroom door. If most of your laundry is generated near bedrooms, put the washer on the same level. Do you generate enough laundry to warrant multiple washers? Build in space for them, if so.

2. How much storage will you need? The more the better, right? But how much is "must have" vs. "would like to have"? Make sure the must-have is built in. A remodel is a wonderful time to inventory your stuff and jettison what you don't need so you won't have to build storage to hold it.

3. More on storage. Make sure the storage areas are in places appropriate to what is being stored. If your family participates in sports that yield a bunch of muddy equipment at the end of the day, storage should be outside, so the mud doesn't get tracked through the house. Crafts may require specialized storage.

4. Do you have pets? Would you like for them to have direct access to the outdoors through a pet door or mudroom? Build that access in. If you have dogs and cats, think about where you will feed them so their bowls are not tripped over, and so dogs don't eat the cats' food.

5. Collecting collectibles. Extensive collections may need specialized storage or display space. Some require climate control.

Source: "Decorating Master Class," Elissa Cullman and Tracey Pruzan, Abrams, $45