Whatever the size or style of your home, you can probably benefit from a well-placed, good quality mat. Whether you’re in a small bedsit or you have a large family house, there are many different types for you to choose from. Each matting type has a different function, and different features that you should look out for when you are choosing. Here’s our guide to the range of matting available for your home.
Entrance matting
Let’s start at the doorway. Entrance matting for the home falls into two distinct categories: indoor and outdoor.
Outdoor mats should be weather-proof. They will need to be able to resist temperature changes, water damage and UV effects, and be sturdy and robust. A popular choice here is a rubber mat – you, your family and visitors can quickly scrape the soles of your shoes over the surface of the mat, removing the bulk of any dirt, debris, leaves and mud that you might have picked up.
Indoors you have more choice. If you are using an indoor entrance mat in conjunction with an outdoor one, then your primary purpose here is to absorb water – shoes will already be relatively clean thanks to the first mat. If you are only using an indoor mat, then you’ll want to combine absorbency with scraping. Coir matting is the absolute best in class for a combined water and dirt collecting mat, although some modern alternatives like cotton or nylon can do a good job, too.
Kitchen matting
In the kitchen, you’re looking for two main features in your mat. First, you want improved traction – the kitchen is one of the most frequent places for people to slip, due to the presence of liquids and the popularity of linoleum, vinyl and laminate as flooring types. A good kitchen floor mat will reduce these slip hazards, and can even help you keep the rest of your home a little cleaner and safer by allowing spilled food and liquids to flow through the matnand be trapped beneath it, rather than being tracked throughout your home.
Secondly, look for anti-fatigue matting. This provides a slight cushion underfoot, which forces you to make micro-adjustments to your stance, improving your blood flow and relieving pressure on muscles and bones. Perfect for those of us that spend a lot of time chopping, dicing and slicing, or simply doing the washing up.
Home gym matting
If you are exercising at home, whether you use weights, machines or simply bodyweight exercises, you should use gym floor matting. These mats will protect your flooring from the impact of dropped weights and the slight movements that occur when machines are used. And if you are doing bodyweight exercises or yoga, the appropriate matting will protect you from cold hard surfaces (concrete, laminate, hardwood) and friction burns from carpets. Gym matting should be rubber, for comfort and safety.
Pool/wet room matting
If you are fortunate enough to have your own pool, or you have invested in a wet room, the right type of matting is essential. In these wet environments you need a mat that will quickly let water drain away and give bare feet added traction.
Slipping and falling in these environments can be extremely dangerous, so be sure to install your matting carefully. The ideal mat for these environments is perforated or has a drainage-friendly design, with a ribbed or heavily textured surface for comfort and grip. Be sure to source a mat that has an antimicrobial/antifungal finish – wet areas can be perfect breeding grounds for germs.
Home office matting
Working from home is becoming increasingly popular, whether it is full time or occasional. In the home office, you can easily and cost-effectively protect your carpet or other flooring type by using a chair mat. These are relatively small mats that sit between the wheels or feet of your office chair and the flooring to protect it from scratches, marks and eroded patches.
Author Bio: First Mats started life as safety matting specialists, but have since expanded to become a complete industrial and commercial supplies company. The focus of First Mats is to provide safety-focused products that improve the wellbeing of staff through quality approved products, backed up by extensive knowledge. www.firstmats.co.uk
