3 Outdoor Doormats You'll Wish You Never Bought

Coir is the coarse natural fiber taken from the outer husk of a coconut. It's one of the most common materials used for traditional front door mats because the stiff, bristly fibers are good at scraping dirt and debris from shoes. Coir also has that classic brown, natural look many people associate with a traditional welcome mat.

But those natural fibers come with drawbacks, particularly when a coir doormat is used outdoors in an uncovered area.

Coir absorbs moisture. After repeated exposure to rain, snow and humidity, a coir door mat can stay wet much longer than a fast-drying synthetic outdoor mat. The fibers can also shed, deteriorate and lose their crisp appearance over time.

Printed coir doormats present another issue. The design may look beautiful when new, but repeated foot traffic and exposure to outdoor weather can wear away the printed surface, leaving the mat looking tired even when it is still functional.

Coir isn't necessarily a bad choice. It's simply better suited to a protected, covered entrance where it won't be repeatedly soaked by the weather.

If your front door is exposed to rain and snow, look for a fast-drying outdoor doormat made from a material designed for prolonged outdoor exposure.

Tip: Love the natural look of a coir doormat? Save it for a well-covered porch. For an uncovered entrance, choose an outdoor door mat designed to get wet and dry quickly.

Your front door makes one of the first impressions of your home, and your outdoor doormat is part of it. Just like your planters, lighting, hardware and door color, the mat you choose helps set the tone before anyone steps inside.

That's where rubber doormats can fall short. Black and dark rubber mats often have a rugged, utilitarian appearance that's better suited to commercial entrances, garages and workshops. They may be practical, but they don't necessarily give your front door the polished, welcoming look you worked to create.

Rubber is certainly durable, waterproof and rugged, but it has performance drawbacks too. Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can make rubber less flexible and more prone to cracking. In direct summer sun, darker rubber mats absorb heat and can become extremely hot.

Your front door mat shouldn't force you to choose between performance and style. Look for an outdoor doormat that can handle the weather while adding color, texture and personality to your entrance.

Tip: Your doormat is part of your home's first impression. Choose one that looks like it belongs at your front door, not a service entrance.

That inexpensive outdoor doormat at the big-box store can be tempting, especially when it looks perfectly good sitting on the shelf. The problem is what happens after you bring it home and expose it to real life at your front door.

Many inexpensive outdoor mats are made from lightweight materials with less structure and substance. They can flatten, curl, fray, shed or start looking worn surprisingly quickly. They're also more likely to shift around your entrance or blow across the porch when the wind picks up.

Then there's the dirt. Many inexpensive mats trap dirt, sand, pet hair and debris in their fibers, so they can start looking dirty fast. Instead of simply shaking them out or hosing them clean, you may find yourself dragging out the vacuum just to make your front door mat look presentable again.

And a cheap-looking, dirty doormat can bring down the appearance of your entire entrance. You can invest in beautiful planters, lighting and a freshly painted front door, but a thin, worn mat sitting in the middle of it all becomes part of that first impression.

Price matters, but so does value. Replacing an inexpensive outdoor doormat again and again isn't necessarily cheaper than investing in a substantial, well-made front door mat designed to perform and look beautiful for years.

Tip: A bargain isn't a bargain if it looks cheap, blows away, constantly needs vacuuming and ends up in the trash next season.

Lobster Rope™ is the brand we created in 2009 for our signature collection of Maine-made doormats and baskets. There has only ever been one Lobster Rope™ Doormat, made by Wicked Good Doormats®.

Instead of natural fibers that absorb water, utilitarian rubber, or lightweight materials that quickly look worn, Lobster Rope™ Doormats are handwoven in Maine from exceptionally durable marine-grade nautical rope produced to our exacting standards.

They're substantial enough to stay put, fast-drying, easy to clean and designed to handle rain, snow, sun, salt and everyday foot traffic. The raised weave allows dirt and sand to fall through instead of becoming embedded in the surface, and when your outdoor doormat needs cleaning, simply shake it out or hose it off.

But durability is only half the story. Your front door is part of your home's first impression. Lobster Rope™ Doormats come in sophisticated coastal colors and patterns designed to give your entrance the polished, elevated look that ordinary outdoor mats often lack.

And because we believe a quality outdoor doormat should keep looking beautiful, the marine-grade rope used in Lobster Rope™ Doormats has up to 6x more UV protection than industry standards.

You shouldn't have to choose between an outdoor doormat that works hard and one that looks beautiful. A Lobster Rope™ Doormat gives you both.

Outdoor welcome mats are bound to get wet - rain, snow, or even just damp feet are all part of the deal. The longer the material stays wet, the better breeding ground for bacteria and odors. Lobster Rope Doormats can get wet over and over again - these waterproof outdoor mats dry quickly and always stay fresh.

With these nautical rope rugs, you never have to worry about mildew, mold, or odors that materials of other outside doormats attract.

With its special “catch and release” weave, debris just passes so these unique outdoor mats never get bogged either. That means no more whacking against a wall!

Just lift your Lobster Rope Doormat and sweep away all the dirt it caught.

They also don’t hold water; simply shake it off or spray it down with a garden hose right at your door. These outside door mats even look so clean and good after years of being put to the test.

These colorful welcome mats are not just designed for beach cottages and lake houses - Lobster Rope Doormats come in many colors to complement any front door.

They can easily brighten up and add charm to any entryway. Plus added UV protection keeps them vivid for years.

With Lobster Rope Doormats, you won't have to worry about any staining or transferring their color to surfaces.

With top-notch quality that lasts for years, Wicked Good Doormats® will keep you from replacing your front door rug over and over again.

These outdoor mats for the front door are always up to the challenge year-round, making them an amazing housewarming gift, too!

Now that you’ve learned which mats should never be used outdoors, here’s our full guide on how you can choose the best outdoor front door mats for your home.