Coir Doormats

Why coir makes a good doormat

Every mat on this page is made with coir, the fibre from the outer husk of the coconut. Its stiff, bristly strands brush mud, grit and dust from the soles of shoes, then hold that dirt down in the pile instead of letting it travel through the house. That is the whole job of a doormat, and coir does it well, with no fuss.

Texture is what counts at the door. A coarse surface gives the sole of a boot something to drag against, so a firm wipe on the way in clears away the worst of the dirt before it reaches carpet, tiles or wood. The rougher the fibre feels in the hand, the harder it works underfoot.

Natural and coloured coir doormats

Most of our coir doormats keep a natural finish. It is a forgiving colour that hides dried mud and dust between cleans, and it sits comfortably beside brick, stone, oak and painted front doors.

Colour is there if you want it. Some of ours bring in black, which looks sharp beside dark ironmongery. Several come in red, a cheerful sight against a pale door. Several show green, which ties in well with a front door painted in a muted shade. A few come in brown, for a darker look underfoot. If you are torn, match the mat to your door furniture or to the floor just inside.

Modern and rustic coir doormat designs

We stock modern and rustic coir doormats, so you can match the mat to the house as well as the door. Modern designs suit a clean, pared-back hall and a front door with crisp paintwork. Rustic designs sit happily at a cottage door or in a boot room, where a lived-in look feels right.

Across our range, the details vary from mat to mat. If you like a mat that says hello, some greet visitors with a word or a short phrase. Stars appear on a few. Some carry geometric patterns, a good match for a tiled floor. Animals feature on some, a friendly touch for a home with pets. For something quieter, a few lean classic, which suits a period front door.

Sizing a coir doormat for your door

Start with the width of the door. A mat that runs close to the full width of the frame catches feet whichever way people step in, while a narrow mat in a wide doorway simply gets walked around. A few of ours are double mats, worth considering for French doors or a wide entrance.

Then check the height. The height given in the specifications tells you whether an inward-opening door will sweep over the mat or catch on it, so measure the gap beneath your door before you order. If your hall has a recessed mat well, measure its width and depth and compare them with the dimensions listed, so the mat sits flat inside it.

Keeping a coir doormat in place

Look at the material details in the specifications to see whether a mat has a latex or PVC backing beneath the coir. Where the backing is listed as non-slip latex, it helps the mat hold its place on tiles, stone or polished wood. That matters in a busy hall, where a mat that creeps is easy to trip over.

On a very smooth floor, a rug gripper underneath adds extra hold. The weight given in the specifications is useful too: a heavier mat lies flatter and moves less underfoot, while a lighter mat is easier to lift and shake out.

Where a coir doormat works best

Coir is happiest where it can dry out between wet days. The best spots are just inside the front door, in an enclosed porch or under a canopy. On an open step where rain collects, the fibre stays soaked and heavy, so bring the mat in after a downpour and let it dry before you put it back. Check the placement details in the specifications, where given, to see where a mat is meant to go.

We stock coir doormats suited to the hallway, where another mat inside the door picks up whatever was missed on the step. A few suit the kitchen, which is handy at a back door that sees muddy boots and paws.

Cleaning a coir doormat

Coir needs little more than a regular shake. Take the mat outside, shake it hard or beat it against a wall, then turn it over and tap the back to free the grit caught in the pile. A stiff brush lifts what is left, and a vacuum cleaner on a low setting helps between shakes, though a strong brush roll can pull at the fibres.

Avoid soaking it. If the mat gets muddy, let the mud dry, then brush it off. If it gets wet, stand it on its edge somewhere airy until it is dry right through, away from radiators and open fires. Loose fibres can appear at first, and a quick shake or sweep deals with them.