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Hallway Floor Solutions: How to Stop Dirt & 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
Sarah Warwick1 March 2021
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.
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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.
Graham Atkins-Hughes Photography
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.
Paintbox
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
The Brooklyn Studio
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.
NF interiors
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.
Green Building Supply
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.
User
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.
Urbaine Home
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.
The Crossboundaries
Make a shoes-off policy
This neat 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.
Ensoul Ltd
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
Fadd Studio
Pick a dirt-shrugging colour
In this home, a patterned floor for the hallway helps hide the dirt coming in.

Concerned that this floor is too precious for a hallway? The effect can be replicated with high quality vinyl floors that come in amazing colours and patterns.
Alternative Flooring
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.

Read more:
Door To Living Room: How to Make a Great Entrance

Tell us:Which hallway flooring have you chosen? Share your images and tips in the Comments section.
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