How to Choose the Right Rug for Your Entryway
Show your style and go big for the first rug you and your guests will see
Shoshana Gosselin
July 10, 2011
Our company has a fresh forward thinking approach to interior design. We offer livable luxury that reflects our clients’ personality and lifestyle. We use products that offer high quality and beauty. Our designs are personalized and as unique as you! Whether your project is large or small scale, requires cosmetic changes or includes construction work, we work with contractors and vendors that are talented and experienced. Our greatest benefit is our Full Service. From the initial design concept, to ordering materials and furnishings, coordinating deliveries, advising installations during the construction phase, to setting up your magazine worthy room down to the throw pillows, we help you enjoy the process by taking care of all the little details. It's time to love your room!
Visit...
Our company has a fresh forward thinking approach to interior design. We offer livable... More
Deciding on a rug for your entryway is by no means a trivial decision. After putting endless work into the rest of your home, don’t let this first rug in your house look like an afterthought. There are many choices to make. What shape works best? What size? And don’t forget about style and color.
As a decorator I spend a lot of time on rugs. I make sure all the furniture is in place first then I measure the foyer area to find my rug size. The rug should not only fit the space well (the larger it is the warmer the space becomes); it should clean easily because an entry way is a high traffic area. You do not want a high-pile rug. And the rug should carry your style, giving visitors a clue to your home’s personality as soon as they walk in the door.
As a decorator I spend a lot of time on rugs. I make sure all the furniture is in place first then I measure the foyer area to find my rug size. The rug should not only fit the space well (the larger it is the warmer the space becomes); it should clean easily because an entry way is a high traffic area. You do not want a high-pile rug. And the rug should carry your style, giving visitors a clue to your home’s personality as soon as they walk in the door.
Express your personality in a big way, show how interesting and fun you are, and make visitors feel welcome through a bold joyous rug. This one offers a terrific contrast against black-and-white flooring and becomes the focal point in unfurnished entry way. There is no piece of furniture that can add as much of a colorful punch of color and personality as this rug. Note the size of this rug is as wide as the door way. This is important because an entry way can have heavy traffic flow and you don’t want anyone tripping over the sides of a small rug as they pass through.
If you have a smaller entry hall, go big with your rug’s size and pattern. Measure the width of the entry and look for a rug that will take up a bulk of the space. You will find you have more choices with larger rugs. Find one that has a large geometric shape that will fool the eye into thinking the space is larger.
This is a good example of placing your furniture first, then measuring for the rug. You do not want the rug bumping up against furniture or touching another rug in the same area, yet you don't want the rug to be too small.
If you find a beautiful big rug for your entryway but do not want to get dirty shoe prints on it, pull it away from the front and use a neutral and/or naturally woven mat directly in front of the door. Visitors can walk on the mat, take their shoes off, and then enjoy your chic rug. And because the smaller one is neutral, it won’t take away from the bigger rug.
If you have a wide, shallow entryway, define the space using a rectangular rug wider than your doorway and center it in front of the door. Try a pattern and/or color that won't get lost when placed on your flooring.
If you have a long narrow entry, use a runner as wide as your door. It feels warmer and more welcoming with a wider, larger rug. If you are having trouble finding one, look for a remnant that can be cut and bound to the size you need.
Round rugs add an elegant touch when centered in an entry way. I like using round rugs with arched front doors. Add to the ambiance by using a large round chandelier above.
Round rugs also fit beautifully in a grand double-stair entryway. The soft corners mimic the curved stairwells. Make sure it is large, and try to connect the colors and patterns with the stair runners.
A large rug placed on a tiled floor warms up an entryway.
If you have a double-front entry door, get a rug that lies in front of both doors. The larger rug creates a more powerful front entry look. I use a lot of 4' x 6' rugs this way.
A rug can add another layer of charm in a home full of eclectic beauty. A fringed oriental piece works well. Make sure you use a rubber pad underneath to prevent it from slipping.
Remember, as soon as someone walks into your home, you can grab their attention through a large, interesting rug. Just remember to get one that grabs your own attention, and don't skimp on size.
Show us your great entry hall rugs!
More: 11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them
Find a rug in the Products section
Show us your great entry hall rugs!
More: 11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them
Find a rug in the Products section
Likes dots and hot pink color
Likes modern feel
Charcoal grey with lime green
Lime green
With over 8 years of experience serving the Columbus and surround area, Hoffman Exteriors, is your solution for... Read More
Related Products
Related Stories
Doors
The Perfect Front Door for Your Entry
Learn about material and style choices, how to get a front door installed and how much it will cost
Full Story
Mudrooms
The 10 Most Popular Entries and Mudrooms So Far in 2024
Get ideas for storage setups, color schemes and special details from the most-saved entry photos so far this year
Full Story
Decluttering
How to Create a Joyful, Clutter-Free Entry
Make your entryway a calm, well-organized space with these steps
Full Story
Decorating Guides
4 Designer Tips for a Fashionable Entry
By tidgboutique
A pro shows how adding color, statement pieces and more to a foyer can set the right tone for the rest of the home
Full Story
Trending Now
The 10 Most Popular Entries and Mudrooms of 2023
By Becky Harris
See the stylish color palettes, smart storage features and impressive details in the most-saved entry photos this year
Full Story
Holidays
10 Easy Ways to Give Your Entryway and Front Yard a Holiday Boost
Make your entry inviting this season with decorations, lighting, furniture and more
Full Story
Trending Now
Top 10 New Entries and Mudrooms
By Becky Harris
Find inspiration for smart storage solutions and charming color palettes in these most-saved new photos on Houzz
Full Story
New This Week
6 New Mudrooms With Great Storage Ideas
Designers, including one found on Houzz, share the details of entries with ample storage that keeps everything organized
Full Story
Trending Now
The 10 Top Entries and Mudrooms of Spring 2023
By Becky Harris
Get ideas for formal and casual spaces with a variety of storage and style options sure to make an impression
Full Story
New This Week
5 Spectacular New Entries and Mudrooms
Get ideas for elevating the look and feel of an entrance with storage and style details from design and remodeling pros
Full Story
Thanks for great article. What is the suggested height/depth of the rug pile for a rug right in front of an entry door? I see a lot of flat weave rugs suggested for foyers -- but would prefer a hand knotted wool rug for durability. Suggestions?
Moroccan rugs compliment a space in a way that's so captivating and inviting at the same time. Berber runners known for their abstract and minimalist nuances with
the artisanal traditions behind the handmaking process make these rugs a unique decor statement for every home
https://bohoconvention.com/blogs/news/the-berber-moroccan-rug-more-than-a-home-decor-trend
Pic #3 mostly answers my question, which is whether furniture in the entry can encroach on a rug(?). I plan to have a piece of furniture next to the front door, and wondered if I need to take this into consideration in choosing a rug size. The room is almost perfectly square but I assume that I need to allow for both furniture and door swing, as it's not likely the door will clear a rug short of it being very flat. Alternately (and this is the husband's suggestion) I could use a smaller, rectangular rug that is slightly wider than the door and extends just to the edge of the stairwell, rather than covering most of the floor.