foyer--runner? doormat? both?

[bhnumbers]

I am now the proud owner of a foyer! With our kitchen remodel, we were able to create an entryway, so now the front door doesn't open right into the living room

The stairs are directly across from the front door and the the foyer itself is pretty narrow. We have enough leftover carpet from the stair runner to have a runner for the foyer made that is about 8'x 3' which seems like a good size. But if I center it, then having a separate doormat will look weird. Or maybe I don't need a doormat inside since I have one outside and it's a covered porch?

OR should I just have a smaller doormat-type rug made instead of a runner and just have that by the door and no runner? 

What would you do?

It's an awkward space to photograph, not sure if these are helpful!

View through the front door:


With the runner (that would need to be bound still):


There will be a narrow table to the right of the stairs--I'm still working on finding something. This is in the running: www.westelm.com/products/metalwork-console-hot-rolled-steel-finish-h2440/?pkey=centryway-storage

[laterz]

Personally, I would put a (sizable) doormat that could absorb water/snow if people are walking in through that door from the outside.

Signed - someone who lives in the midwest and has a dog and always tracks muck inside. YMMV.

[Susie]

I agree that I would def want a doormat. We have LLBean water hog door mats inside all our exterior doors. They are not sexy but they are highly functional. Then you can do the smaller runner between the door mat and the stairs if you want.

[libbygrl109]

I would go with a decent sized rug to act as a doormat, too. For our back door, which is the one we use the most often, I got a weather tech door mat. Not lovely to look at, but is a good landing pad for dirty shoes and paws. Our front door opens into our living room, so we are thinking of putting a ruggable (maybe 3x5) there.

[lessel]

We rarely go in through our front door, so we don't have a doormat inside. We have a larger rug that's about a foot from the front door threshold. So you can step from the door to the rug and over the wood if you wanted. I think I'd kind of go for an over-sized runner in your case unless that door gets a lot of in and out traffic (then definitely go larger doormat). We got a larger runner for our kitchen that's a bit wider than a regular runner and I think it's 9x3 vs. the standard size. Just found it on Amazon. I think they even had a 10ft long one.

[darby]

I don’t think I would do both a runner/rug & a doormat. I think you need something a little wider than the runner from the stairs. I would also add some color with what you choose. Maybe something like this, but not sure it has the dimensions you might need.

www.wayfair.com/Three-Posts™--Ashville-Oriental-Wool-Dark-BlueBeige-Area-Rug-X117221570-L167-K~W006110469.html?refid=GX549208170472-W006110469_621490611&device=m&ptid=1431172243886&network=g&targetid=pla-1431172243886&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=123647139&fdid=1817&PiID%5B%5D=621490611&gbraid=0AAAAAD9ISC4wOK-C1m2Ask5uNqduK-y-Z&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwKeW2ovL9wIVPB-tBh1HCwzAEAQYASABEgLkC_D_BwE&piid=621490608

[hbomdiggity]

May 5, 2022 19:09:02 GMT -5 Susie said:

I agree that I would def want a doormat. We have LLBean water hog door mats inside all our exterior doors. They are not sexy but they are highly functional. Then you can do the smaller runner between the door mat and the stairs if you want.

Same. We live in PNW, so function wins.

I’d do a neutral functional doormat and circular rug in middle of space.

[bhnumbers]

Thanks for the feedback! A little more info--we use the front door about half the time, but we have an LLBean water hog doormat right outside the front door and the front porch is covered. When we walk the dog, we always use the back door because we keep her leash back there and a towel to dry her feet off on the back porch.

Also, there is kind of a busy rug in the living room right next to the foyer. So I kind of feel like whatever is in the foyer needs to coordinate with the runner on the stairs because I don't want to introduce a third pattern to that fairly small space.

[Roc A Bee]

I would just do an outside doormat.

[lessel]

I like the other angle. I think I would do that runner and pull it a smidge closer to the front door/farther from the stairs.

[lolalolalola]

I’d either start the runner at the door so it functions like a doormat or I would lose it in favor of a doormat. Both would look too busy imo. I probably wouldn’t use a runner at all if it were me.

[bhnumbers]

May 7, 2022 9:14:12 GMT -5 lolalolalola said:

I’d either start the runner at the door so it functions like a doormat or I would lose it in favor of a doormat. Both would look too busy imo. I probably wouldn’t use a runner at all if it were me.

I think that's what I'm leaning towards

[deadwing]

This is probably a UO, but it bothers me that the runner is off center in relation to the he stairs. I would do a round or oval rug instead of a runner. It's the linearity that makes me want everything aligned. Or skip the rug/runner altogether.

[simpsongal]

Hmm I don’t love the runner for that space. Id rely on a doormat outside since you have a covered porch. Do you need an umbrella stand too? Maybe a few hooks? I think a rectangular rug would look nice and help define the room.

[lust2hart]

I'm not a fan of the runner. I think I would have nothing for a while, and if it seems like a doormat is needed, get one later. You could consider cutting the runner in half and using that as a doormat (laying it the wide way).

[lilac05]

I would just do a doormat. I think it’s a nice addition to an entry.

Does your outdoor mat/rug really work? I’m tempted to get something like it, but have a hard time believing they actually work as advertised.