A doormat is the first thing a visitor sees before stepping inside your home. In some cases (like with salesmen!) that's all they will get to see of your home. Whether you choose a cedar wood doormat or some other kind defines your taste and says something about you as a person (however superficial that may be). Are you leaning towards wood, or more in the mood for metal? Different materials come with own sets of advantages and disadvantages.

Cedar and other types of wood

Advantages:

- Hardwoods are durable and weather-resistant

- Their unique slatted design traps dirt and allows air to circulate, letting mats dry faster

- Often come with bristled boot brushes for extra tough dirt

- Will last for year with little to no maintenance

- Beautiful natural coloration requires no painting, and sealants are optional

- Cedar possesses a natural pleasant aroma

Disadvantages:

- If subject to prolonged moisture, warping and rotting can occur

- If subject to prolonged sun and heat cracking and splitting may occur. If left untreated, cedar will also adopt a grayish color, although this is not in itself harmful to the wood

- Often more expensive than other doormats

- Do not capture the same amount of contaminants and dust as some other materials

Coir

From the Malayalam word ?kayar? meaning cord, coir is the coarse fiber on the outside shell of coconuts. There are two varieties, brown and white, the latter of which is mostly spun for use in doormats.

Advantages:

- Relatively waterproof

- One of the few natural fibers that is resistant to saltwater damage

- Supports local workers in poorer countries like India and Sri Lanka who still harvest coir by hand, climbing and harvesting anywhere from 25 to 250 trees per day. Monkeys are also trained for this, though they are less efficient.

- The material is biodegradable

- Easy to print on images and personalized messages

- Sustainable material

- Can handle moderate traffic

- Resistant to insects

- Cheap

Disadvantages:

- Little pieces of coir can be picked up by shoes and tracked inside

- Though biodegradable, these mats still take 20 years to degrade in a landfill

- Sometimes difficult to find

- Not recommended for outdoor use

- Uncomfortable underfoot or to sit on

- Gets dusty

Palmyra

Similar to coir is the palm fiber named after the ancient town in Syria of the same name. These doormats are often made with a combination of palmyra and wire.

Advantages:

- Easy to clean

- beautiful and exotic looking

- Sustainable material

- Helps to support native famers in impoverished areas

- Biodegradable

Disadvantages:

- The metal wire is not biodegradable

- Cannot hold up to heavy foot traffic

- Will eventually start to fall apart and track pieces into the home

- Retains dust

- Not good for prolonged outdoor exposure

Nylon and Rubber

Advantages:

- Tough enough to withstand heavy traffic

- Perfect for adding images, names and logos

- Can be made in any color

- Weather-resistant

- Good traction

- Durable and long-lasting

- Resistant to mildew, shredding and fading

- Can be used both indoors and outdoors

Disadvantages:

- Trapped air and moisture underneath the mat can lead to ugly build-up and odor

- Not as ornate as other materials

- Can shrink or warp in response to intense heat or direct sunlight, or even melt locally

- Prone to static electricity in warm, dry environments

Cloth:

Advantages:

- Colorful and attractive, often made from rag cloth

- Comfortable underfoot

- Some newer canvas doormats are waterproof and easy to wipe clean

Disadvantages:

- Not nearly as durable or long-lasting as other materials

- Not generally suitable for outdoor use

- Unless it comes with a special backing, can slide around

- Stains easily unless treated with some sort of sealant coating

- Not strong enough for wiping off excessively dirty shoes or boots

Metal

Advantages:

- Aluminum is lightweight and moldable

- Can be made to look antique

- Comes with a number of finishes including pewter and bronze

- Rust-resistant

- Beautiful molded designs

Disadvantages:

- Will probably begin to rust after prolonged exposure to moisture

- Heavy and bulky

- Expensive

- Can be slippery