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10 best doormats for a welcoming entrance to your home

Visitors can tell a lot from your doormat so choose wisely – you will be judged!: The Independent/iStock
Visitors can tell a lot from your doormat so choose wisely – you will be judged!: The Independent/iStock

Whether inside or out, a decent, design-led doormat will not only add style and character to your home, it will also protect your flooring from the inevitable dirt and dust brought in.

Most are made from coir, a natural fibre extracted from the husk of a coconut, making them hardwearing, durable over time and, depending on the design, weather resistant.

If you’re looking for an indoor-only mat, there’s a wealth of mini-rugs to choose from, some carpet-like and machine washable, others more decorative and craft-driven – a touch of jute will bring a laid-back bohemian feel to your doorstep.

Visitors can tell a lot from your doormat so choose wisely – you will be judged! We found some lovely contemporary and graphic mats that bring bags of character and a cheery flash of colour to the front door.

But of course you may shy away from the quirky and prefer a stylishly understated piece to complement your elegant abode. Whichever style you choose, look for a non-slip vinyl backing to keep your doormat firmly in place.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Red Candy rainbow doormat: £19.50, Red Candy

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Dimensions: 45cm x 75cm

A bright and cheerful doormat can make all the difference when it comes to first impressions, which is just one of the reasons why we loved this graphic rainbow number from Red Candy. Made from 100 per cent coir with a non-slip PVC backing, it’s as practical as it is pretty. Hardwearing but strictly for indoor use, this is one contemporary doormat to take pride in.

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Maison de Campagne doormat: £24, Dibor

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Dimensions: 40.5cm x 101cm

Its typographic message translates as “house in the country” but we think city dwellers can get away with this on their doorstep, if taken with a pinch of irony. It’s an arresting piece, not least because of its unusually wide and slim rectangular shaping – ideal if you have a grand double door to dress. Made from coconut coir with an all-weather rubber backing, it’s hardy – but classy.

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Paper High multicoloured jute and cotton oval rug: £41.95, Not On The Highstreet

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Dimensions: (approx) 29cm x 49cm

This striking indoor mat scores high on sustainability. Crafted from durable jute with plaited cotton rags rescued from the garment factory floor, it not only looks boho-beautiful but, like all the best homewares, it boasts an interesting backstory. Used as a small rug, or decorative doormat, each one is unique. We loved ours at the foot of our French window bay.

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Source leopard print doormat: £20, Source

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Dimensions: 40cm x 60cm

We loved this fashion-forward doormat underfoot – proof, if it were needed, that leopard print is everywhere (and we’re all for humble doormats getting in on the act). It’s crafted from coconut coir with a non-slip PVC backing and is suited to both indoor and shaded outdoor use. A striking doormat in a simple design that adds a much-needed touch of glamour to the dreariest of days. Take a walk on the wild side!

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Scion Living Mr Fox navy doormat: £49.95, Turtle Mat

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Dimensions: 60cm x 85cm

Urban fox fans will appreciate a welcome home from this friendly fellow on their doorstep. It is carpet soft, making it an ideal mat for indoors. Part of Scion Living’s extensive (and highly covetable) range of graphic homewares, we loved its simple, contemporary design and bold colourway. It can be machine washed and tumble dried to maintain its newness and is backed with a non-slip material, making it a highly durable piece.

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Dunelm silly sausage doormat: £5, Dunelm

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Dimensions: 40cm x 60cm

We couldn’t help but smile at Dunelm’s doormat offering. This coir mat with a non-slip vinyl backing was incredible value for money yet it proved every bit as popular with our house guests as our pricier pieces. And who doesn’t love a cheeky sausage dog to welcome them home, or see them off to work? Graphic, contemporary, and undoubtedly one for dog lovers.

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Bombay Duck rainy day umbrella doormat: £19.50, Bombay Duck

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Dimensions: 45cm x 75cm

This quirky graphic doormat comes with a guarantee that you’ll never leave the house without your brolly again. Another coconut coir number, only this time in stand-out cream with an endearing blue and red design, we found it made a cheery addition to the hallway, whatever the weather. And despite the raindrops, this one’s for indoor use.

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Getting Personal personalised outdoor Nordic cabin doormat: £26.99, Getting Personal

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Dimensions: 51cm x 75cm

A personalised doormat, whether “Mr and Mrs Smith”, “Family Jones”, or something a little more irreverent, speaks volumes to visitors about our attention to detail. Getting Personal’s customisable doormats are bursting with personality and err on the side of the sophisticated (we’ve seen some cheesy offerings). Our Nordic cabin scene came with a resilient recycled tyre backing and is suited to all weathers. You can preview your wording before you buy too.

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The Farthing shoe scraper doormat with coir bristles: £19.50, The Farthing

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Dimensions: 45cm x 75cm

Primarily a functional doormat with its mud-scraping capability, we were rather taken with this one’s chevron-striped form, too. Marrying a wire scraper with a traditional coconut coir mat, it offers the best of both worlds and proved to be invaluable in getting the mud off our wellies. This is an affordable doormat, given both its functionality and natural rustic charm.

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Garden Trading star bunting double door mat: £30, Not On The High Street

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Dimensions: 55cm x 125cm

For double doors that lead directly to the garden, you need an elongated doormat to catch the incoming dirt. At 125cm wide, this mat’s got you (and your polished floor) covered. We loved this natural coir doormat for its hint of Christmas. With its striking star bunting design it’s certainly seasonal – but it wouldn’t look out of place year-round. Classic and contemporary.

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The verdict: Doormats

Red Candy’s rainbow doormat won us over for its simple design and cheery flash of colour against the natural coconut coir while Paper High’s multicoloured jute and cotton oval rug is a delightful doormat with a conscience. We were also impressed with Dunelm’s silly sausage doormat for its chic and contemporary design – serious bang for your buck.

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