Try Using This Entryway Feature For Cleaner Floors And A More Streamlined Look

Entryways can get messy — quickly. It's the area where you track in dirt and take off your shoes, which oftentimes leaves the floors looking worse for wear. One way we try to stop this messiness is by adding a doormat. However, these are notoriously difficult to keep in place. Whether the door sweeps it to the side or it slides around as you try to wipe your soles, it's an imperfect solution. However, a fitted mat can help nix that problem. It's a must-have doormat that adds flair to your home.

There is a lot to consider when choosing the right doormat, but most people don't know about the fitted option. Fitted doormats are exactly as they sound — they're mats built into the floor, which keeps them snuggly in place and makes the area look more custom. They sit flush against the floor, making the transition from mat to tile or wood seamless. It also helps you keep your foyer much cleaner, since the mat sits in place and allows you to properly wipe down the bottom of your shoes. Here is a closer look at the ingenious feature. 

Fitted doormats, also called recessed doormats, are custom mats that fit into a recessed well in your floor. This well is a small opening — made to be the same depth as the mat — that is cut into the floor and framed out. You then get a custom-cut mat to fit that exact opening and pop it into the recess. The end result is a welcome mat that spans the entire length of the entryway and that doesn't move around. 

To pop the mat into place, all you need to do is remove the threshold, put down the mat, and reattach the threshold. Once it gets soiled or overly wet, you can simply remove it and clean the doormat outside, much like you would a freestanding welcome mat. If you would ever like to change out the mat for a new design or a different material, you can just reach out to a flooring company of your choice and purchase an off cut. Much like how you can buy an off cut of marble, granite, or quartz, you can get a leftover scrap from a bigger project, which makes it cheaper. You can then use a utility knife to cut it down to your exact size at home.

There are plenty of benefits to going the extra mile and creating a recessed doormat. The first is that it looks much tidier. Rather than having a loose floor mat that is only as wide as your door, a recessed version sits flush against the flooring and spans the entire length of the entryway, making it look more seamless and, as a result, tidier. However, its benefits don't just end with aesthetics. It can also be safer. Since it's embedded into the floor, it's no longer a tripping or slipping hazard. 

They can also better contain the mess in the space. Any excess water or dirt will pool into the recess below, rather than be on the entryway floor. While you will have to remove the mat and clean the recess, at least the dirt and water is contained in a well and not spread throughout the house. This not only makes the area cleaner, but also safer, since you reduce the chance of slipping on a puddle.