Many times I see where a homeowner is so concerned with the aesthetic of their home, they show little concern of practicality.
Other times, I see where someone is more concerned with the daily use of a room with little thought on how the details look. There is a way to achieve a good look with everyday life in mind.
Many people use an outdoor rug at their main entry for people to wipe their dirty shoes. Considering some of the patterns or fun sayings that are offered, you can add a lot of character to your home before your guests even come inside!
Always consider a hard surface by your entry doors.
Whether hardwood, ceramic tile or vinyl flooring, these are great alternatives to wall to wall carpet. Carpet can get worn down much quicker when wet and/or dirty shoes walk over them and traffic patterns become visible quickly. Adding a rug to a hard floor gives a layered look and adds protection to your floors.
Although I don’t do this, I really like how most Asian cultures take their shoes off at the door and walk around their homes in socks or bare feet. I sometimes design a shoe storage bench by a guest or garage entry.
Many people will place a small rug at their doorways for people to wipe their shoes as they enter. Rug companies now offer their patterns in a variety of sizes, including small sizes made just for a doorway. This way, you can match your door rug to the larger rug in the room.
If you have a foyer area, and possibly double doors, you can even find a rug that is five to six feet wide that fit the space very nicely. Always consider the scale of the space when making rug decisions. Small, scattered rugs can look like “postage stamps” that make the space look busy and and like they were place as an afterthought.
I have discussed vinyl rugs before. They, too, offer a variety of sizes. Although there is no pile to catch debris from shoes, it is very easy to maintain and clean. A vinyl runner could help keep your hallway floor dry.
Although there are still many great hand knotted and machine made wool and cotton rugs, I suggest to my clients they select from man made fiber rugs. Whether polyester, rayon or polypropylene, these rugs are much easier to maintain as the fibers do not absorb like a natural fiber rug can. And…they are mush less expensive!
We know area rugs don’t have to be boring, but neither do their smaller counterparts used at entryways. Give it some thought and consider your options. Create some character for your guests as they enter your home and pull your design together completely.
