Design and Size Mat-ters for Your Hallway!

Like the football season, Christmas seems to come round more quickly every year, with the gaps between each one getting shorter.

If you have lots of people to buy presents for, it can be hard to come up with original ideas, not to mention find the time to go traipsing around the shops to find inspiration for that elusive, unique gift.

But focusing on a particular type of present, like house gifts, can make a good starting point. After all, presents for the home invariably go down well, and can be enjoyed every day for a long time ahead, unlike other types of offerings.

Door mats are such great Christmas ideas for the home because they are long-lasting, original presents combining a sense of style with practicality.

So they're ideal if you know someone likes to receive practical things they can put to good use. Equally, if the recipient is environmentally conscious, mats keep dirt out without the need for chemical cleaning products or energy-guzzling vacuum cleaners.

But there's more to buying doormats than you may have realised. And a front doorway says a lot more about the person living there than you probably reckoned.

A doormat certainly doesn't have to be a functional, dull item. You can help your friend or relative create a highly individual, welcoming entranceway by choosing one of the many personalised designs available.

Remember, a mat says 'welcome' literally and figuratively. And it gets looked at every day so it's important to get something you know the person will like and be happy to step on day in and day out.

Think about the type of place your recipient lives. Do they have a traditional or historic home, or a modern flat or house? For more contemporary dwellings, perhaps a modern design, such as geometric shapes, would work best.

Thought mats had to be plain brown? Think again. You'll find mats available in all hues of the rainbow, and colour is an important factor in your choice. Think carefully about the colouring of the walls in the hall and elsewhere in the house and pick a matching shade.

Clearly, this is where personal preference plays its part, too. After all, no one wants a daily welcome from something they can't bear to look at!

As a general rule, however, darker shades in high traffic areas are less likely to show the dirt.

At the same time, you'll find a range of designs, from funky to floral to plain. Again, bear in mind the personal taste of the person.

And if you are going for an amusing slogan, just be sure your recipient will share the joke! 'Wipe Your Paws', for example, is not going to mean that much if you are buying for someone who has never owned a dog.

And, of course, size matters! Your recipient may find it a bit odd if you start to measure up their doorframe next time you visit, so if you can't be precise, you may just have to make an educated guess and take a good look next time you are in the person's home.

Ideally, choose a doormat that runs at least 80% of the doorframe, while the diameter of oval and circular doormats should equal the length of the doorframe.

Seasonal gifts from The Mat Factory

At The Mat Factory, we have a fantastic selection of unique gifts for home birds, including our original Dirt-Trapper products. These come with a host of benefits, including being fully machine washable at 40°C, and you can pop them in the tumble dryer afterwards.

Our mats also come with a five-year guarantee and are made from 100% pure cotton, so there's not a synthetic fibre in sight.

We have models for in the hallway and just outside, and for the kitchen and bathroom, in an array of colours, designs and sizes. If you can't find the size you want, we can even cut your gift to order if you supply us with the exact dimensions.

At the same time we also offer a range of backings, from a general purpose lightweight one to a strong anti-slip version. Our Dirt-Trapper PLUS, for example, has a smooth anti-slip white rubber backing which makes it ideal for wooden floor types as well as ceramic tiles.

Their ultra-absorbent pile effortlessly lifts almost all moisture, dirt and even grease from the muckiest wellies, boots, shoes and paws.

Choose from polka dots, stripes, patriotic Union Jacks, a paw print design, and that favourite wartime slogan, Keep Calm and Carry On, all in a rainbow of delightfully warm colours. You'll like these products so much you'll want to buy them as gifts for your home, too!

Finally, you'll also love our attention to detail, our highly individualised customer service, and the sheer ease of shopping with us online.