What do doormats do?
More Than Just an Entryway Accessory
A doormat might seem like a small detail, but it plays a bigger role than most people realise. It stands at the entrance, greeting every guest, customer, or employee before they step inside. Though often ignored, it works tirelessly to keep interiors cleaner, safer, and more inviting.
Different spaces demand different types of mats. Businesses need options built for high traffic, homes focus on aesthetics, and public spaces prioritise safety. Regardless of location, a well-chosen mat provides benefits beyond what meets the eye.
Door mats serve as the first point of contact between footwear and indoor spaces. Dirt, moisture, and safety hazards start at the entrance, making mat selection an important decision.
Keeping Floors Clean: The First Line of Defence
Stopping Dirt at the Door
A good mat acts as a filter, removing dirt and debris before it reaches flooring. Shoes collect dust, sand, and mud throughout the day, tracking it into homes, offices, and commercial spaces. Without a mat, these particles spread across carpets and hard surfaces, increasing maintenance costs and cleaning efforts.
Scraper mats specialise in this task. Their rigid bristles dislodge dirt from shoe soles, trapping debris within the mat’s fibers. For maximum effectiveness, an individual should take at least eight steps before stepping onto indoor surfaces. That’s why commercial buildings often install mats measuring 3.6 metres or longer at entrances. The more steps taken, the cleaner the floors remain.
Managing Wet Weather
Moisture on shoes can create messy puddles and slippery conditions. An absorbent mat helps prevent this problem, soaking up water before it spreads across the floor. Wet surfaces reduce traction, increasing the chance of accidents.
A two-mat system works best—one outside to scrape off dirt and another inside to absorb moisture. Space limitations sometimes make this setup difficult, but hybrid mats combine both functions, making them a great alternative for compact entryways.
Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls
Reducing Workplace and Home Accidents
Slippery floors lead to injuries, especially in high-traffic environments. A well-placed mat adds friction underfoot, reducing the chance of slipping. Businesses, in particular, rely on mats to meet safety requirements and lower the risk of liability claims.
Construction sites are especially prone to slips, trips, and fall incidents. In 2021, the construction industry saw nearly 1 in 5 workplace deaths, with over one-third caused by slips, trips, and falls. Almost all of these fatalities resulted from falls to a lower level, making up 46.2% of all fatal slips, trips, and falls that year.
The risk extends beyond construction zones. Offices, warehouses, and retail spaces also see their share of accidents. Avoiding such incidents isn’t just about safety—it helps maintain a professional environment where staff and visitors feel secure.
Choosing the Right Placement
To maximise safety, the mat must sit flush against the floor. Loose or curled edges create tripping hazards instead of preventing them. Low-profile designs or mats fitted into recessed wells offer a seamless finish, keeping walkways hazard-free.
Entryways, kitchens, and workstations benefit most from added traction. A high-grip backing helps keep mats in place, preventing movement underfoot.
Enhancing Brand Identity with Logo Mats
A Marketing Tool That Works Without Effort
A logo mat reinforces branding every time someone walks through the door. Businesses use them to display company logos, slogans, or welcoming messages in high-traffic areas.
Unlike traditional signage, a floor mat blends practicality with advertising. Reception desks, retail store entrances, and hotel lobbies benefit the most from this kind of branding. When positioned strategically, a custom mat creates a lasting impression without feeling intrusive.
Quality That Lasts
A well-made logo mat should retain its design and color over time. Advanced printing techniques ensure that logos remain visible even after prolonged use. High-traffic areas demand materials that can withstand wear and tear without fading or deteriorating.
Browse a huge range of logo mats designed for both durability and visual appeal.
Customisation for Style and Personality
Blending Function with Design
A mat does more than protect floors—it sets the tone for the space. Color, material, and texture all contribute to the first impression guests receive. A modern black mat suits corporate offices, while vibrant options add personality to creative environments.
Adding a Personal Touch
Some mats greet guests with a friendly message, while others carry witty remarks or safety instructions. Homes, cafes, and retail stores use personalised designs to create a welcoming or lighthearted atmosphere.
Businesses can use mats to guide customers, display warnings, or reinforce their brand voice. A hospital waiting area might choose a calming design, while a warehouse could use a mat to highlight safety reminders.
Choosing the Right Doormat for Your Needs
A doormat isn't just a decoration—it serves a purpose, and selecting the right one depends on where it will be used. Some focus on removing dirt, others absorb moisture, and a few do both. Understanding these differences makes a big impact on cleanliness and safety.
Scraper Mats: The First Line of Defence
Scraper mats work best in outdoor spaces or high-traffic entrances. Their coarse bristles grab dirt and debris before it gets tracked inside. These mats often feature rubber or textured fibers, designed to withstand tough conditions.
Ideal locations:
- Storefronts with heavy foot traffic
- Industrial and warehouse entrances
- Outdoor steps and porches
Absorbent Mats: Keeping Floors Dry
Water and mud don’t belong indoors. Absorbent mats take care of this problem by soaking up excess moisture, helping prevent slippery surfaces. They are commonly made of microfiber or plush materials to hold water effectively.
Best used for:
- Office and retail entryways
- Home entrances during rainy seasons
- Indoor transition areas from wet zones
Combination Mats: The All-in-One Solution
When space is limited, a mat that scrapes and absorbs at the same time is the best option. These dual-purpose mats remove dirt while drying shoes, offering a practical solution for compact areas.
Great for:
- Small business entrances
- Apartment buildings
- Shared indoor spaces
Size and Placement Considerations
Selecting the right type of mat is just the beginning. Size and placement determine how effective it will be. A mat that’s too small won’t catch enough debris, while poor positioning reduces its impact.
Mat Length: Why It Matters
A person should take at least eight steps on a mat for maximum dirt removal. In commercial spaces, this means a mat should be at least 3.6 metres long for proper coverage. The longer the mat, the cleaner the floors remain.
For homes, a minimum of 1.2 metres allows for multiple steps before entering. Compact doorways might require a smaller mat, but going as long as possible improves effectiveness.
Best Placement for Maximum Benefit
A well-placed mat makes a noticeable difference in cleanliness and safety. Here’s where to position them for the best results:
✔ Primary entrance: First point of contact for dirt and moisture.
✔ Side and back doors: Often neglected, but these entry points track in just as much debris.
✔ Kitchen or workspace: Reduces fatigue while keeping areas clean.
✔ High-traffic hallways: Provides grip and prevents dust from spreading.
For businesses, recessed mat wells keep mats flush with the floor, preventing curling edges or movement that could lead to accidents.
Why Investing in a Quality Mat Makes a Difference
A cheap mat might seem like a good deal, but it won’t hold up to daily wear and tear. Investing in a high-quality mat means fewer replacements, better floor protection, and a more professional appearance.
Durability That Pays Off
A well-made mat lasts longer, retains its function, and keeps looking good even after heavy use. High-traffic areas need mats that resist wear, while homes benefit from ones that blend durability with style.
Easy Maintenance for Long-Term Use
Cleaning a mat regularly extends its lifespan. Many mats are designed for easy shaking, vacuuming, or washing, keeping them effective without extra effort.
A Small Change with Big Benefits
Doormats do far more than most people think. They prevent dirt from spreading, reduce accident risks, reinforce branding, and enhance a space’s overall appearance. Choosing the right mat—whether for home or business—can make everyday life easier and safer.
For expert advice on finding the best option, Matshop offers a range of high-quality mats designed for different needs. Whether it’s a custom logo mat, an industrial scraper mat, or an all-purpose solution, the right choice starts with the right supplier.
If it’s time to upgrade, our team is ready to help. Use the chat function below or call 1300 628 746 for personalised recommendations.
Door mats do more than just look pretty.
At first sight, the humble door mat doesn’t do much. Maybe even on second or third sight. To be honest, most people are surprised when we tell them that door mats are multi-talented fixtures. So, what do door mats do?
As well as being an important style icon, your door mat is a critical safety feature. This is true at home or work, but particularly if your entranceways see a lot of people walking through.
When was the last time you wiped your feet walking into a shopping centre? The cinema? What about your kids when they walk into school? When was the last time you even thought about the fact that most public buildings have mats in their doorways?
If you’re anything like us, the answer is hazy. The truth is we don’t tend to think about it when we’re out and about. Luckily for these buildings, door mats do their work without anyone even noticing. Here’s what they do while you’re not looking:
Door mats clean shoes for you…
As people step over a door mat – especially a scraper mat – their shoes are cleaned without them even noticing. The sturdy bristles pull dirt and dust from soles and hold it all in the structure of the mat, leaving shoes clean as they walk over your floor.
For a mat to effectively remove all the dirt from a shoe, the person wearing the shoe needs to take 8 steps. That means, your door mat should be long enough that anyone entering your building can take at least 8 steps.
If your building is public or commercial, we highly recommend fitting your entrance with a door mat that is at least 3.6metres long. That said, we also understand that space limits can make this impossible. So, the longer the better in that case.
…And dry them too
It isn’t just dirt and debris that door mats remove. Water is another uninvited visitor that hitchhikes on the soles of shoes. After the hardcore scrape and collect, a great door mat will work to absorb the remaining water and keep your floors dry as a bone.
The ideal doormat combination is a durable scraper mat outside and a softer, absorbent mat inside. We understand, though, that some people don’t have the space for this, which is why we also stock multi-tasking mats that both scrape and absorb!
Keeping floors dry isn’t just useful for your cleaning team, it is also an important safety step. Water on the floor reduces friction and causes shoes to slip, and the person wearing the shoes to fall. Which leads us to our next benefit of door mats…
Doormats prevent accidents
One reason that people come to us for new door mats is that there has been an accident in their home or workplace that they want to avoid repeating. Slips, trips and falls are a leading cause of workplace injury and account for around 8% of workplace deaths.
The perfect door mat will provide friction between feet and the floor, reducing slip accidents significantly. It will do this without creating a trip hazard, either with bevelled (ramped) edges or by having a very low profile (height).
To make an even lower profile, especially in commercial buildings, door mats can be fitted into a mat recess. Recesses – or mat wells – work to keep the mat still as well as lower it to ground level. This simultaneously prevents slip and trip accidents.
Door mats showcase your brand
OK, so this one has a caveat: you need to add your logo to a mat for it to do your marketing for you. But, luckily for all entrepreneurs and businesses out there, we have a huge range of logo mats to suit all your business needs.
Logo mats put your logo at the highest-traffic areas in your building, which keeps your logo at the forefront of your customers’ minds. As they step through the door every morning, make your logo the first thing they see.
Our unique and varied printing techniques means we can get your logo onto almost any type of door mat. If you need something intricate and specific, we can make it. If you need a logo to outlast the life of the mat, we can make that too.
Door mats fit your vibe
As well as being your longest-lasting marketing material, door mats tell your employees, customers and friends what to expect once they get through your door. Not only does colour and style portray your personal brand (yep, even at home), they showcase cleanliness and personality too.
Personalising your door mat isn’t reserved just for branding. Do you want to welcome your guests? Make them laugh? Maybe you want to deter any visitors from knocking. Just a few words on a seemingly inconspicuous mat can set the trend for every encounter.
Personalising your entranceway for business is equally important. What tone of voice do you want to portray? A mat in a hospital waiting room might want to lighten the mood. A warehouse might want to warn of a safety hazard. Find out how to design an entranceway for your business if you would like to know more.
It’s up to you what your door mat can do
You might be surprised now that you’ve reached the end of this post: door mats sure do a lot. We hope you’ve learned to appreciate mats as much as we do, and maybe it’s even time for you to upgrade yours.
If you’re looking for more personalised mat-related assistance, our team of friendly matxperts are ready and waiting to dish it out. They know everything there is to know about mats and love helping you find the perfect solution for your space.
Reach out to us using the chat function at the bottom of your screen. Or, if you prefer to pick up the phone, you can reach us on 1300 628 746. We are Australia’s most highly reviewed door mat manufacturer, and you can browse all our mats and more right here on the website.
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