Hallway Floor Solutions to Stop Dirt and Mud in Their Tracks
Everyone tracking muck from the outside into your home? Try these floor-level solutions that'll cut down on cleaning
Sarah Warwick
19 October 2017
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines and websites. A serial house revamper, I love great design, beautiful interiors and practical solutions.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines... More
Bringing the outside in is great – until it’s literal. When dust, mud, leaves and damp are what accompanies all-comers through the front door, your hallway can look a mess in no time. The dirt doesn’t necessarily stop there either, getting tracked through the house in a trice. If cleaning up is getting you down, and the intrusion of the exterior is compromising the interior, take a look at these dirt-busting ideas.
Maximise the mat
There’s no dodging the doormat in the entrance to this home. It’s fitted from wall to built-in cupboard and extends to the end of the storage unit, providing space to wipe feet, remove shoes and put them away all without stepping on to the flooring beyond.
If you’re designing a mat well like this, remember that you need to be able to open the door fully, walk inside and close the door while still standing on it, so be generous in sizing.
There’s no dodging the doormat in the entrance to this home. It’s fitted from wall to built-in cupboard and extends to the end of the storage unit, providing space to wipe feet, remove shoes and put them away all without stepping on to the flooring beyond.
If you’re designing a mat well like this, remember that you need to be able to open the door fully, walk inside and close the door while still standing on it, so be generous in sizing.
Restore the floor
Patterned floor tiles like these don’t readily show dirt, and are easy to sweep, vacuum or wash as necessary, making cleaning up a breeze.
In a Victorian or Edwardian home, tiles like this may lurk under a carpet but if they’re in a state beyond repair, tile suppliers offer authentic designs that’ll bring back original character.
Floor tile ideas for every room
Patterned floor tiles like these don’t readily show dirt, and are easy to sweep, vacuum or wash as necessary, making cleaning up a breeze.
In a Victorian or Edwardian home, tiles like this may lurk under a carpet but if they’re in a state beyond repair, tile suppliers offer authentic designs that’ll bring back original character.
Floor tile ideas for every room
Stash brollies
A dripping umbrella combined with mucky shoes makes for a muddy mess underfoot, so follow this hallway’s lead by teaming an umbrella stand with practical flooring for the entrance. This one’s a curvaceous modern take on a traditional stand and complements the citrus shade of the floor covering.
A dripping umbrella combined with mucky shoes makes for a muddy mess underfoot, so follow this hallway’s lead by teaming an umbrella stand with practical flooring for the entrance. This one’s a curvaceous modern take on a traditional stand and complements the citrus shade of the floor covering.
Catch it all
This hallway boasts a boot tray with a slatted top section to help footwear dry and space below to catch the detritus and keep it from spreading across the floor. You’ll find designs in man-made materials on offer, but wood is a stylish option for the entrance to your home.
This hallway boasts a boot tray with a slatted top section to help footwear dry and space below to catch the detritus and keep it from spreading across the floor. You’ll find designs in man-made materials on offer, but wood is a stylish option for the entrance to your home.
Cut down on cleaning
The qualities of the material chosen for a hall floor make a difference to how dirty it gets. In this home, anti-static Marmoleum’s been used, so the floor doesn’t attract dust.
Need to keep the noise down because you live in a flat? This type of flooring is quiet underfoot. It might also be a hit with pets as it feels warm and comfortable.
The qualities of the material chosen for a hall floor make a difference to how dirty it gets. In this home, anti-static Marmoleum’s been used, so the floor doesn’t attract dust.
Need to keep the noise down because you live in a flat? This type of flooring is quiet underfoot. It might also be a hit with pets as it feels warm and comfortable.
Roll out
A long runner is a dirt-stopping solution in this home, and it’s in a shade that tones with the floor beneath. Repeating the strategy? Choose from runners specially designed to keep your home cleaner and which have rubber backing to stop slippage, or add a non-slip underlay to an ordinary runner.
A long runner is a dirt-stopping solution in this home, and it’s in a shade that tones with the floor beneath. Repeating the strategy? Choose from runners specially designed to keep your home cleaner and which have rubber backing to stop slippage, or add a non-slip underlay to an ordinary runner.
Rely on a rug
A boldly striped rug does double duty in this hallway, catching mess before it gets further and scoring style points to boot.
Not all rugs are suitable for this job. Only those that can cope with what suppliers call heavy traffic should be used in a hallway or they’ll suffer the consequences. Consider also indoor-outdoor rugs. Designed to go on patios and decks, they won’t be affected by wet and mud and come in patterned as well as plain finishes.
A boldly striped rug does double duty in this hallway, catching mess before it gets further and scoring style points to boot.
Not all rugs are suitable for this job. Only those that can cope with what suppliers call heavy traffic should be used in a hallway or they’ll suffer the consequences. Consider also indoor-outdoor rugs. Designed to go on patios and decks, they won’t be affected by wet and mud and come in patterned as well as plain finishes.
Make a shoes-off policy
This hallway’s neat gym-bench storage visually signals that stepping in the front door means removing shoes right away. After all, what’s easy to do is more likely to get done.
It’s a design that makes the most of the dimensions of a very typical hallway as it doesn’t intrude widthways but uses the length of the corridor.
This hallway’s neat gym-bench storage visually signals that stepping in the front door means removing shoes right away. After all, what’s easy to do is more likely to get done.
It’s a design that makes the most of the dimensions of a very typical hallway as it doesn’t intrude widthways but uses the length of the corridor.
Alternatively, be inspired by another shoes-off-now solution. This under-stairs design is easy to access and has nooks suitable for everything from boots to sports shoes.
Discover storage hacks for shoe hoarders
Discover storage hacks for shoe hoarders
Pick a dirt-shrugging colour
In this home, dark wood is the no-fuss selection for the hallway, avoiding the marks light flooring reveals.
Concerned that wood is too precious for a hallway? High quality wood is a durable choice, and can be sanded and refinished as required over time. Do take heels off at the door, though!
In this home, dark wood is the no-fuss selection for the hallway, avoiding the marks light flooring reveals.
Concerned that wood is too precious for a hallway? High quality wood is a durable choice, and can be sanded and refinished as required over time. Do take heels off at the door, though!
Revisit patterned carpet
In this hall, a runner to match the stair carpet is the saviour of the floor. Patterned carpets have traditionally been valued for their ability to retain their looks despite lots of foot traffic, and the latest versions, like this one, are far from swirly 1970s numbers, creating a striking, modern effect.
Worried that even a patterned carpet won’t cope with everyday comings and goings? It’s worth bearing in mind that wool is naturally stain-resistant as well as being anti-static.
Which hallway flooring have you chosen? Share your images and tips in the Comments section.
In this hall, a runner to match the stair carpet is the saviour of the floor. Patterned carpets have traditionally been valued for their ability to retain their looks despite lots of foot traffic, and the latest versions, like this one, are far from swirly 1970s numbers, creating a striking, modern effect.
Worried that even a patterned carpet won’t cope with everyday comings and goings? It’s worth bearing in mind that wool is naturally stain-resistant as well as being anti-static.
Which hallway flooring have you chosen? Share your images and tips in the Comments section.
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timiduser....having had similar conundrums re mats requiring 'wells'....I reckon the only way is to have a mat which is fairly easy to lift...and then just use a hoover for the "sweeping out". I think lots of entry hall foot-tracking yuk depends, too, on how agile, speedy, and/or, agreeable people are in removing their shoes after stepping 'off the mat' into their, and/or, your home. I have found that many people simply do not see or feel the need to remove their outdoor shoes once landing inside 'home'......which begs a whole 'nother question, for sure :))
Yes, MJ, the 'closing the door' problem... I chuck some newspaper from my trug on the floor to step on temporarily so I can close the door then step back on the mat. The newspaper would be needed anyway if my shoes/boots were wet. It's a bit of dancing around but easier than cleaning/mopping up the floor! You've have to have well trained kids to faff on like this though!!
Lovely article and illustrations. There's definitely been a trend - among my dear friends at least - to de-shoe at the door (and I now take my slippers to friends' houses!). I usually enter through my back door, into the kitchen (which has a side and back door), and I haven't yet found a suitable mat to put by these doors - one that doesn't make the space look cluttered - and cover up the beautiful multi-coloured slate floor tiles.