Should You Have A Rug In The Entryway? (Answered)

The items you place in an entryway will usually give a glimpse into the rest of your home decor so decorating it with as much attention as any other area in the home is vital.

There are many reasons as to why it’s a good idea to have a rug in the entryway since this is a high-traffic area with frequent usage.

Having a rug in the entryway will protect expensive flooring from dirt, dust, and scratches, keeping the entire home clean as well. Its other purposes include improving your home’s interior design while also helping define space.

It may not seem like a big deal to have a rug at the entryway but when you take a closer look, you’ll find that the benefits of having a rug are definitely worthwhile.

If you’re still unsure whether you should have a rug, here’s everything you need to know:

Reasons To Have A Rug In The Entryway

Protects

Keeping any flooring or carpets in pristine condition is essential at all times and since this area of the house is used most often by family members, pets, and guests, it’s bound to be messier than other areas. 

If you have a rug, you’ll be able to have peace of mind knowing that the floors will stay clean from dust, dirt, rain, snow, or even pet scratches. 

It will also prevent other areas of your home from being exposed to this dirt. 

Aesthetic Purposes

Since this is the first place guests usually see, you’ll want to give a good impression by making sure the entrance is neat, clean, and is well decorated in a style that suits your personality, taste, and charm.

When decorating, you should choose items that will incorporate all of these factors to create a space you’re proud to show.

Defines Space

A rug is great at defining space and creating a statement.

This is especially useful if you have limited space for an entryway as a rug such as a runner can be a great way to indicate where the space starts and ends. 

Tips For Choosing A Rug

Since you’re now aware of the usefulness of having a rug in the entryway, let’s take a quick look at a few things you should consider when choosing a rug:

Size

The size of a rug definitely matters when buying as you have to make sure that the rug will fit the space where you plan to put it in the entryway, making sure there is no overlap or problems with opening the front door either.

This means you might need to measure or have a good idea if the particular rug you like will fit this area.

For example, if you have a large space, having an area rug will not be a problem but if you were to place a large area rug in a small space, it may look awkward and cover too much of the floor design.

This too applies to rugs that come in unconventional shapes.

Related Post: Are Rugs Good For Small Rooms? (Everything To Know)

Purpose

The next thing you want to consider is how this rug should be used. 

Will it be for aesthetic purposes so that the entrance looks stylish and modern or will this rug be used for other purposes too?

If you are afraid of guests wiping muddy feet on the rug, then you might want to place a smaller rug before this rug to solve the problem.

You can definitely have a rug that will fit both purposes if that’s what you need.

But it’s best to choose a rug that is durable, easy to clean, and looks good.

Types of Rug

There are various different rugs to choose from that come in all shapes, and sizes. 

You’ll find the more basic ones that are rectangular, square, or even round while there are also rugs that come with more bold, creative shapes.

Besides shape, there are also different types like area rugs that cover a large space or runners that go lengthwise and range from long to short. 

Depending on the allocated space you have to put a rug, this will help you decide on which one to choose.

Style

Here’s one of the major decisions you’re going to need to make and that’s choosing a pattern, color, and texture.

Now, this depends completely on personal taste or a theme you have in mind for the decor. 

There are shaggy rugs that provide warmth and comfort while there are more flat, textured rugs that will be easier to clean. 

Choosing a particular rug in whichever color or style will add to the visual appeal of the entryway.

In terms of color, you might want to avoid lighter rugs (especially white) as this will make it easier for dirt to be seen. 

It may also not retain its color for a long time and this could cost you more to get it professionally cleaned or to buy an entirely new rug.

Darker colors are great as this makes any dirt less noticeable and they tend to last longer.

How To Protect Rugs

Whether it’s an affordable rug or a really expensive rug, you’re going to need to know the best ways to protect these rugs so that they last a long time.

Here are a few smart tips you can use to help you do just that:

Vacuum

Cleaning regularly is essential if you want to maintain the quality of this rug.

The best way to do this is to vacuum the rug regularly to ensure it stays clean.

This might seem like a hassle in the beginning but if you maintain a consistent schedule, it should only take you a few minutes.

Steam clean

Another option would be to really ensure the rug stays clean is to steam clean the rug.

Now, this can be done by yourself if you can invest in a good steam cleaner or you could get it professionally done but this might not be worthwhile in the long run.

Bench

Since you have a rug to define the space as the entryway, why not add a few other essential components that will prevent others from damaging the rug.

A simple and quick way to do this would be to place a small bench and a shoe rack before the rug so that anyone can sit down and take their shoes off rather than wipe them on the rug.

This will most likely prevent the risk of having the rug streaked with dirt.

Conclusion

A rug is a great way to add visual interest to your decor and having one at the front entrance can easily set the tone, giving a good idea of your style and taste in decor.

It provides a warm, cozy, and comforting feeling to the decor, depending on your chosen rug while also protecting the floors from any dirt or scratches that may be difficult to clean. 

Having a rug will reduce the possibility of this happening which makes this one of the best reasons to have a rug in the entryway.

If you have any further questions that need to be answered, go ahead and drop them below. 

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