Future Trends in Indoor Door Mats Designs

Indoor doormats are one of the most basic design elements in commercial and private interiors but perform essential roles in terms of floor protection, branding, hygiene, energy efficiency, and information gathering. As residential and commercial buildings evolve to become more intelligent, sustainable, and health-conscious, the designs of high quality Indoor Door Mats will also change.

Sustainability Materials and Circular Design Will Become Mainstream

The need for sustainable doormats is being forced by all businesses due to the ecological pressures surrounding their manufacturing practices.

Expect the following trends to drive circular thinking:

• Recycled and Upcycled Fibers: Doormats made of recycled PET, industrial waste yarns, and reclaimed rubber will become common. These materials are durable, stain-resistant, and becoming more price competitive.
• Natural Fibers and Compostable Options: Expect doormats made with natural fibers (i.e., coir, cork, hemp, etc.) to experience a resurgence of interest due to their ability to be manufactured without toxic post-processing treatments that will increase resistance to mold and moisture.
• Modular Replaceability: Customers will replace doormats with modular tiles or inserts made from different materials, allowing them to recycle and prolong their use.
• Clean Energy Labelling: Expect to see clearer labels, and consumers will expect to know where their doormats come from and how they can be repaired.

Health, Hygiene and Allergen Control

These have become a focus for the globe during and after the pandemic with regard to surface cleaning (surface cleanliness) and better quality of the air inside buildings (indoor air quality). With the current trends, mats will also evolve:

• Surfaces that are Antimicrobial and Odor-Controlling: New coating technologies or incorporated materials (ceramic, silver ion alternatives, and enzyme-based coatings) will inhibit bacterial growth and bad odors without using hazardous chemicals.
• Allergen Collection and Filtration: High-loft mats that have been engineered to trap pollen, dust mite debris, and pet dander in conjunction with removable, machine-washable filters will provide assistance for allergy sufferers.

• Hygienic Entry Zones: As part of a multi-layered entry strategy, Washable Indoor Door Mats will have three layers (scraper pad, absorbent center, and antimicrobial backing) to capture contaminants tracked indoors.

• Machine Washable or Designed to Withstand High Heat: Mats that are designed to be machine washable or capable of being dried at very high heat will be widely available in homes and healthcare facilities.

Smart, Connected Mats

The Internet of Things is expanding into common household items. Doormats will now contain low-power sensors and communication devices.

• Foot Traffic Sensors and Occupancy Indicators: Pressure or capacitive sensors embedded into the mat can count the foot traffic entering a building and the time of day, thus automating certain processes (lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and security). This data will be anonymized and processed at the edge to maintain individual privacy.
• Detecting Package Delivery and Delivery Confirmation: Mats or sensors close to mats can notify homeowners of the delivery of a package and/or send an alert to the homeowner’s phone in the case of a multi-unit building.
• Health Situation Monitoring: Preliminary experiments have indicated that sensors installed in a home’s flooring could potentially provide an indication of a person’s gait and/or weight and thus alert senior care services to a fall or health issue. Mats serve as a non-invasive monitoring solution for a senior’s home entry area.
• No Batteries or Energy Harvesting Sensors: In the future, it is expected that there will be sensors that do not require batteries and/or rely on energy-harvesting technology. This could be accomplished through the use of piezoelectric sensors and/or solar panels.

Multifunctional and Adaptable Designs

Traditional mats don’t just wipe feet; they also serve many additional functions.

• Seasonal Purpose Mats: Mats designed for use during different seasons would use materials/layers that are optimized for wet winter conditions (to absorb water) vs. hot summer conditions (to remove dirt/grime and dry).
• Decontamination Surfaces: Disposable layers of low-cost materials that can be peeled off quickly and replaced with new layers will be made available for laboratories, clinics, and areas that require the highest level of hygiene.
• Integrated Shoe-Cleaning and Conditioning: High-end Washable Door Mats may have incorporated subtle bristle patterns or special treatment areas for removing salt and applying protective finishes.
• Thermal/Comfort Features: Heated mat sections for doorways in homes that are located in cold climates, and cushioned anti-fatigue mats for businesses.