Doormats: practical and aesthetic functions of doormats in outdoor and indoor environments

To maintain perfect cleanliness in the house, it is necessary to properly equip the entrance area. Mats with a high dirt-repellent ability are indispensable in the rainy and snowy season. Doormats reliably prevent moisture, dust and dirt from entering the home space.

In addition to the utilitarian function, decorative beddings play an important aesthetic role: they create the first impression of the interior picture. Colorful looking door mats will be the hallmark of a home with a spectacular setting.

Door mats: functional purpose

To eliminate the need for daily cleaning in the house, you need to reliably protect the entrance from street dirt. It is advisable to lay rugs on both sides of the front door.

Outdoor bedding is designed to clean shoes from dirt and dust. The efficiency of removing the consequences of walking in slushy weather directly depends on the density and length of the pile of a textile product. To equip the porch of the house, it is optimal to choose a rubber or metal mat with an increased anti-corrosion property. A humid environment adversely affects the appearance and strength of the textile rug. Therefore, when choosing a street option, it is necessary to place the main emphasis on performance.

Doormat in the corridor is necessary to absorb moisture. It is relevant in the autumn-spring season to use rugs with excellent moisture-absorbing properties. The ideal option would be a model with heating. It not only instantly dries a wet floor, but also shoes that are wet from rain or snow. In winter, a warm rug will help you quickly warm your feet after a long stay in the cold.

A variable range of textile products with a natural and synthetic base makes it easy to choose the best option that can organically fit into the background lining of the hallway. If you want to point out the stylistic concept of interior design from the doorstep of the house, it is advisable to give preference to floor coverings with a characteristic color, ornament, pattern or print.

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How to choose a doormat for the season

Different weather conditions require seasonal renovation of the flooring on the outside and inside of the front door:

• In winter, the outdoor rug must not only instantly absorb an unlimited amount of moisture, but also steadfastly withstand the negative effects of low air temperatures. The basis of the product, capable of passing water through itself, is ideal for dealing with snow. For outdoor conditions, textiles are categorically not suitable. Slow drying causes the formation of an ice crust during frost, which creates dangerous conditions when entering the house. A perfect option would be a rubber-based door mat that securely fixes its position on a wet floor and creates an anti-slip effect. The fleecy coating causes excellent moisture-absorbing property.

• In autumn and spring, during heavy rains, it is important to equip the space near the front door with a PVC model with instant drying ability and suction cups that prevent slipping on a wet floor. For home use, it is optimal to choose rubber products with high sides. Due to the raised edge, they are able to hold a large amount of water. At the same time the floor covering remains absolutely dry. Thanks to this feature, it is rational to use them as a stand for shoes and umbrellas. Such a universal model is best suited for residents of regions with high rainfall.

• In summer, a microfiber door mat will become a reliable barrier from the external space with an abundance of dust and sand. The thick fleecy base acts as a high-quality cleaner for shoe soles. Having wiped it well on a microfiber bedding, you can confidently walk around the house in absolutely clean shoes. The soft base is compatible with any type of flooring.

Regardless of the weather outside the window, door mats guarantee impeccable order in the house.

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Variety of door mats

The model range of attributes of the entrance zone is so wide that you can easily choose the perfect option with the optimal shape, size, color. Doormats for the hallway are classified according to the materials of production:

• Fleece products are made from natural and synthetic bases. Models made of coconut fiber perfectly absorb moisture, retain dust and sand particles, and have high rates of hypoallergenicity. Bedding made of synthetic fibers (polyamide or polypropylene) with a rigid backing is characterized by unsurpassed wear resistance. As a result of daily exposure to moisture, dirt, they ideally retain their original shape and color. They are easy to care for: any dirt is easily washed off, and the base dries instantly.

• Products made of foamed PVC can withstand moisture and dirt. At hit of water on a surface do not get wet, do not slide on a damp floor.

• Doormats for the hallway on a rubber basis are equipped with a rubber backing and a fleecy surface. Heavy-duty rubber courageously withstands exposure to high and low air temperatures. They are recommended to be used to equip the entrance to the house from the inside and outside. They are easy to clean with a damp cloth or vacuum cleaner. If heavily soiled, they can easily be washed on a delicate cycle without spinning.

In order for the rug to retain its original appearance for a long time, it must be washed and dried regularly.

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Distinctive features of rubber mats

The most common type of bedding placed near the front door is practical rubber products.The elastic base is characterized by high density and dimensional stability. Heavy-duty rubber acts as a base that fits snugly to the floor. The massive edges of the product do not bend. Therefore, the door mat always looks presentable and neat, which is important for the entrance area of ​​the house.

Due to their moisture repellency, they are equipped with a soft pile fused into the substrate. The textile surface perfectly absorbs water, collects dirt, dust, sand. It is made from polyester, PVC and other polymers that eliminate the likelihood of mold or mildew due to being constantly wet.

Rubber is actively used by manufacturers of door mats due to its advantageous performance properties:

• prevents slipping on a perfectly smooth wet floor;
• has high strength;
• does not fade in the sun and does not change color under the constant influence of moisture;
• easy to clean from dirt;
• abrasion resistant;
• has a long service life.

The rubber door mat with a dense bristly surface effectively cleans the dirt from the soles of shoes according to the brush principle. The productivity of collecting dirt depends on the texture of the surface. Perforated models with a relief base are best suited for this task.

It is not recommended to use rubber mats in severe frosty conditions. Plastic material may crack. Ideally, rubber mats should be used at home: at the entrance or in the bathroom.

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Performance properties of metal door mats

In the fight against street dirt, the iron rug has no equal competitors. The design of most models is very similar to the lattice, on which you need to clean your shoes before entering the house.

Metal door mats are made from different materials: stainless steel, galvanized aluminum, cast iron. Each species has unique features:

• Steel products with firmness maintain negative impact of the atmospheric phenomena. They do not deform under heavy load on the lattice base, which can have straight and cellular holes. To ensure anti-slip properties, the grille elements are equipped with notches.

• Aluminum grilles are framed with a rectangular profile that fixes their position. An alternative option is to arrange a niche in the porch of the house, on which a removable lattice base is superimposed. A solid base can serve for decades, because it perfectly withstands temperature fluctuations. The hard surface contributes to the effective cleaning of shoes from adhering dirt and snow.

• Cast iron door structures not only have all of the above properties, but also have an original look. Instead of ascetic-looking gratings, forged bases with openwork, ornamental, geometric elements are used.

For the convenience of removing dirt, many metal products are equipped with removable plastic trays that prevent debris from spilling and water from spreading around its base. Multifunctional structures are equipped with containers with holes designed for connection with storm sewers. To do this, a pipe is installed at an angle, through which water flows with dirt.

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Significant differences between indoor and outdoor door mats

In order to maximize the protection of the living space from the effects of precipitation, it is necessary to install a double barrier in the form of a lattice on the outside of the door and a soft bedding on the threshold of the hallway. There are many significant differences between outdoor and home shoe cleaners:

• On the porch of the house or the landing near the entrance to the apartment, it is customary to place durable rugs with a rigid base and thick rubber bristles. It is able to penetrate deep into the grooves on the shoe sole, effectively clean out dirt and sand, and absorb water.
• When used outdoors, door mats must perfectly resist the influence of high and low air temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, mechanical stress during hail and strong winds.

• A home door mat that absorbs moisture and dirt performs a superficial cleaning of shoes. In addition, he participates in spatial composition. Therefore, an aesthetically attractive wool base is used for production.
• Woolen rugs look elegant in the interior, but are intended for use in the dry season. Thick pile is able to perfectly cope only with the task of collecting dust and sand from shoes. Wet dirt breaks wool fibers. When hardened, it is difficult to remove from the natural base.

• A reasonable replacement in the wet season will be a rug made of coconut fibers. The durable base is easy to clean, dries quickly and pleases the eye for a long time with a beautiful look.

With the right selection of a set of rugs for the entrance area, cleanliness in the house is not afraid of any natural phenomena.

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Decorative features of door mats

A huge variety of bedding of different shapes and colors allows you to quickly solve any design problem. For a strictly designed hallway interior, it is advisable to choose models with a traditionally laconic square or rectangle shape. The rectilinear base fits perfectly with the threshold of the front door. A non-standard solution will be a rug in the form of a semicircle with an extruded imitation of the sun's rays, symbolizing the year-round good weather in the house.

Door mats in dark colors perfectly mask dusty contents or traces of dirt. If you choose rubber models, then you should not limit your choice to non-staining tones. They are perfectly washed under running water without the use of cleaning products. For a bright greeting of guests, it is important to give preference to cheerful colors: turquoise, terracotta, lilac, light green tones.

If a door mat in tandem with a carpet is used to equip the floor in the corridor or hallway, then their design should complement each other. The connecting link between textile products can be a typical ornament, pattern, pattern, color, texture or texture of the base.

To focus the attention of guests on the original design of the floor at the entrance, it is necessary to avoid trivial models with a "grass" pile. It is optimal to decorate the most passable place in the living space with woven rugs made of abrasion-resistant thick synthetic yarn, sisal or jute.

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Application of designer rugs

In search of effective ways to create unique interior paintings, decorators often start implementing creative ideas from the very doorstep of the house. Designer door mats never cease to amaze with intricate ideas expressed in a unique looking decor:

• The shape of the rug copies the images of various figures - animals, flowers, slippers, clouds, emoticons, footprints, hands, paws of pets and other objects.
• The coloring creates an imitation of monochrome, neon illumination, rainbows, fireworks, raindrops on glass, virtuoso overflows of tones that are radically different from each other.Particularly popular are models that perfectly copy the look of a beach with pebbles or shells, the color of a zebra, snake and crocodile skin.

• The inscriptions symbolize the cordial greetings of the owners of the house, life mottos, comic expressions, logos of popular brands, call to change shoes or wipe your feet well.
• Marking the rug into several parts, indicating the location of the shoes of each tenant of the house and guests, not only acts as a visual dominant of the interior, but also teaches children the order in which shoes are placed.

Modular rugs provide an opportunity to experiment with interior design. They consist of several parts that are assembled according to the principle of puzzles. In the summer, it is important to cover the entrance area to a minimum. In the autumn-winter period, it is advisable to make a large rug for maximum protection of the floor covering from moisture.

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Caring tips for door mats

For the longest possible preservation of the original appearance of the street and home rug, it is necessary to monitor its cleanliness. Proper and timely care determines its service life. In order for door mats to look presentable regardless of weather conditions, you need to follow simple care rules:

• Products with a rubber base and bristly pile made of polymers must be washed under the pressure of water from a tap or a watering hose. To clean hard-to-reach places from dirt, it is recommended to use brushes with coarse and long bristles.
• Shake rugs with a rubber honeycomb structure hard enough to leave all the sand and dust on the floor. Then you should dip them in water, drying them well in the sun.
• Models with electric heating require only dry cleaning.
• Outdoor rugs should be cleaned and dried regularly. In a humid environment, mold forms extremely quickly, contributing to the ingress and spread of pathogenic microbes. To protect households and pets from harmful dust particles, it is advisable to use rugs with specialized antibacterial impregnation of synthetic fibers.
• Textile bedding should be washed by hand or cleaned with a washing vacuum cleaner. Frequent automated washing quickly deforms the dense base of the product.

When looking for door mats, you should ask about the possibility of wet cleaning. Even the most effective dry cleaning of a rug cannot 100% remove stubborn stains and microorganisms hazardous to health. Ease of care is the main criterion for choosing a bedding that is constantly exposed to dirt and moisture.

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How to make a do-it-yourself doormat

A cozy living space is hard to imagine without textiles that create a warm aura in the house. From the small details of the situation in the form of door and bedside rugs, as if from puzzles, a colorful looking picture is formed. Handmade decor gives you the opportunity to improve the interior in your own way. So why not implement an interesting idea for decorating the entrance to the house with a homemade rug, borrowing one of the ideas from skilled craftswomen?

For needlework, you will need a modest list of materials and tools:

• felt fabric or burlap;
• glue gun;
• scissors;
• pencil;
• ruler;
• compass;
• strong rope.

The elementary technology for sewing a door mat is to perform a sequential algorithm of actions:

• Measure the area of ​​the doorway and determine the optimal size of the round rug.
• Draw on the felt fabric two intersecting perpendicular lines of the same length.
• Connect the edges with a compass, getting a circle of the correct shape.
• Cut out the base and overcast it by hand or with a sewing machine.
• Fix the edge of the rope on the table with your left hand and gradually wrap it around its axis. Before forming the turns, the cord must be carefully coated with a glue gun.

• When you get a round product that matches the size of the felt base, you need to cut the rope. The end of the rope must be brought to the fire so that the threads do not stick out in different directions during operation.

• After the spiral surface has completely dried, glue it to the round felt part.

Any fan of original handmade things will appreciate the exclusive look of a rug made of clothesline, rope, thick twine or any dense cord. As a result of home-made carpet equipment of the entrance part of the housing, it will be possible to surprise guests from the very threshold with a memorable design of the floor covering.

Textiles with a bright color, interesting design, non-trivial decor in the manner of "hand made" are a refinement of interior fashion. In order to show individuality in the design of the hallway, it is rational to lay rugs of a non-standard asymmetric shape or with colorful colors near the front door, charging with a positive mood.

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Photo gallery - door mats

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