Do you want to be a friendly host for your guests and welcome them properly into your home? How far are you willing to go to make friends and family feel appreciated before stepping into your beautiful residence? A modern, chic doormat can do miracles. These décor items are the first thing guests see before ringing your bell. You wouldn't want them to think "Now that's a filthy, ugly mat. I bet the inside of their house it equally unappealing".
Having a beautiful mat at the entryway and in the hallway is an excellent way of improving the general allure of your residence's décor. However, these are not just meant to make your front entrance look better. Their main purpose is to stop grime and dirt from ruining your floor. Good quality mats prevent bacteria from infecting your family, too. This way your loved ones will breathe a fresher, cleaner air.
There are tons of door mats you can buy, although if you can't afford to spend a lot of money, you could try out a DIY project. The best ideas are those that 100% original. Cork mats, braided mats, and recycled mats for example, show that you actually struggled to make a beautiful accessory for your home. They exude ingenuity and will make your guests think highly of you.
Here's what you need for a statement doormat:
- Simple coir doormat
- Printed message - make sure it's something unique and specific to your household
- Scissors
- Paint
Print a message on a cardboard and make sure that the font and size of the letters fit harmoniously on the mat. Stay away from conventional 'hello' and 'welcome' phrases, and opt for something more interesting. How about writing your family's name on the doormat, or draw a cute dog/cat instead of a word? Whatever you do, just make sure that the goal here is to make an impression. You want to wow guests not make them think "oh great, another welcome mat".
Nothing draws people's attention more than color. To make a good impression on your loved ones, purchase a doormat that matches with the rest of your home décor. Generally speaking, hallways are dull and unappealing. Very few household choose to decorate them, and that's because there's a lot of foot traffic that damages the floor, the walls and everything in there. Basically, a lot of people think it's useless to decorate a space that will wear down anyway.
Fortunately, some homeowners love to have beautiful residences, starting with the entrance area. If you're one of those people then make sure to invest in a tasteful, colorful door mat. Place one at the entrance and another one in the hallway. There are lots of models you can go for, although the coolest types are braided doormats. Aside from looking good, they're easy to make on your own. Here are some guidelines:
- Use rope or old fabric (clothes that you don't wear anymore and other textiles are great)
- Decide on a shape and size (recommended dimensions 70×50)
- Practice braiding before starting to make the actual rug
- Scissors
- Pins
- Thread and needle
Begin with cutting the fabric in equal parts, and make sure they're as long as possible. Pin together the ends; thus you'll have lengthier fabric which you can braid easier. Let the braiding begin! There are many techniques you can opt for, although beginners are advised to stick to classic braiding. If the shape you chose is round, curl the braided straps and sew them using the thread and needle.
Make a sensible investment and before purchasing the cheapest door mat on the market, think in the best interest of your household. For the inside, DIY projects like braided mats are an excellent idea. However for the outside, you might want to invest in a more durable type of mat. Rubber matting for example, is ideal choice. These have the power to stop dirt and grime at the door. Thus your home will breathe a fresher air and your floor will be protected from bacteria and chemicals.