Your entryway rug is one of the first things guests see when they walk into the house — so shouldn’t it be chic? Bonus points if it’s also made to handle wear and tear (did someone say “washable”?) Your pets, kids, and friends will be walking all over this thing; it’s important it’s built to last … but also looks good.
Luckily, you’ve come to me, a style editor, who knows where to shop for all the best rugs. I spend my afternoons hunting for quality deals and quality pieces, which then become editorial selections informed by my personal taste, conversations with design experts, and a whole lot of research and review-reading.
Below, I’ve highlighted 12 superb entryway rug options of both the area and runner variety — all of which were selected with quality (but most importantly style) in mind.
Entryway Runners
Price: $40
Size: 2′ x 7′
I looked at a lot of rugs when working on this piece, and I have to say — the Madison might be my favorite neutral of them all. Its low but textured pile appears satisfying underfoot (almost slightly massaging?), while the two-toned colorway is different but versatile, a bit of personality inside what could be a run-of-the-mill piece.
Customer reviews look equally as effusive. 4.3/5-star rating, with 68% of those being 5 star and 14% being 4 star.
Price: $144, Was: $169
Size: 2’3″‘ x 7’6″
The soft porcelain blue colorway of the Miah tufted rug reminds me of the Bridgerton drawing room: elegant, playful, and above all, welcoming. Exactly what you want in an entryway rug. After all, it is one of the first things guests see. Moreover, the busy vintage pattern should easily disguise any stains and marks. The perfect choice for a high-traffic area like the front door.
Hawkins New York Essential Floor Runner
Price: $89.99, Was: $95
Size: 72″L x 24″W
I’ve experienced the beauty of Hawkins New York dishware, but never that of its rugs. Well, this navy runner has me undoubtedly excited. I’m quite partial to the simple but exciting tonal stripe design, and appreciate that a darker color will easily disguise dirt dragged in by pets and kids. Not only that, but it’s machine washable, so you can refresh your entryway without paying a professional cleaner or lugging a rental machine all the way home.
Chris Loves Julia X Loloi Jules Oriental Indoor Area Rug
Price: $41.28
Was: $129
Size: 2’6″ x 7’6″
With rugs, relationship between price and quality is often linear: the more expensive the rug, the better it’s made. But there are outliers, of course; take Loloi, for example. I’ve touched and felt their products in person, and can confirm that the excellent price point isn’t the only good thing about these floor coverings. If you don’t believe me, believe the 1596 reviews for this oriental runner from the brand’s collaboration with Chris Loves Julia. The overwhelming majority have decided this is a rug worth buying. And with 68% off, who can argue with that?
Price: $358
Was: $448
Size: 3.5′ x 9′
If you’re dying to nail the coastal grandmother aesthetic for less, look no further than the Serena & Lily sale section. I get it — sometimes a full-price piece is out of your price range. But they offer great discounts during regular sale periods and beyond, as is the case with this fabulous scalloped jute rug, practically begging for a spot at the forefront of your beach or lake home.
Price: $127 with code BDAY24
Was: $169
Size: 2.5′ x 7′
I just bought a version of this rug for myself (the 5′ x 7′) and can confirm that this sage-toned colorway is as beautiful as it looks online. What I really like is how it functions as a neutral — the tan accents combined with the soft green and blue grey keep things clean and sleek but also refreshingly colorful. But most importantly, this runner is washable, as is the case with all of Ruggable’s products. A fresh start is just a laundry cycle away.
Entryway Area Rugs
Price: $319.20
Was: $399
Size: 5′ x 8′
Let’s hope stepping on this beautiful, textured piece is as satisfying as it looks. Crafted in a fair trade workshop in Bhadohi, India, its braided jute fibers look exactly the quality you’d need in such a high-traffic area. What’s more, the design of the rug plays with that classic bordered look we all know and love. I really like this one.
Price: $599
Size: 6′ x 9′
If a standard 5’x 7′ or 6’x 9′ just isn’t going to cut it, I’d check out Ernesta, a retailer at which you can completely customize the size of your rug … and have it delivered in as little as two to four weeks. There are plenty of pattern and material options to choose from, but the so-called Finch print caught my eye for its lowpile, durable flatweave construction (disguises stains and likely feels great underfoot), and subtle blue-grey accent tones.
Price: $249 + $99 rug pad
Size: 6’3″ x 9’2″
This made-in-Turkey rug is no-shed and stain-resistant, two big plusses in the world of entryway rugs. It’s also low pile, which you want if people will be walking all over it, barefoot or otherwise. I’m also quite partial to the colorway; I think you could absolutely treat this as a neutral, despite the blue base (which I think would match with most anything, by the way).
Lilytide Watercolor Tufted Rug
Price: $309
Size: 8′ x 11′
To me, the main draw of the Lily tide watercolor rug is its colorful, artistic design, the purpose of which is two-fold: (1) it’s decor, but (2) it’s busy enough to hide wear and tear. It’s tufted, which might be a bit difficult with dirt, but the pile appears low enough that a bit of vacuuming should do the trick.
Nuloom Krystin Machine Washable Distressed Area Rug, 6′ X 9′, Beige
Price: $119.99
Size: 6′ x 9′
I haven’t tried a nuLOOM rug for myself, but I seem them everywhere and am always impressed by the customer feedback. This washable (!!) area rug, for example, has a 4.1/5-star rating across 296 reviews.
Design-wise, I thought the low pile height would help with durability and practicality, while the subtle diamond adornments add interest and personality. This could be the ideal budget win.
best-reviewedPrice: $200
Size: 7′ x 10′
I’ve kept my selections rather light and bright this far, so I wanted to offer up a darker-toned choice, as well. Enter: the Vintage Distressed Rug from Target’s Threshold line. It’s … perhaps the best reviewed rug on this list? i love the indigo base combined with the camel-colored accents; there’s something quite luxurious and maybe even mysterious about the combination. It’s tufted but the pile height is low, so hopefully that won’t prove a problem in an entryway. If anything, it might add a cozy touch!
Which type of rug is best for an entryway?
‘Low-pile rugs are easier to clean and maintain, and they handle heavy foot traffic better than high-pile rugs,’ says Carolyn Cerminara-Kelly, founder and principal designer at Cerminara Design, regarding entryway rug selection. ‘In terms of style, look for durable materials like wool or synthetic fibers that can withstand wear and tear.’
In terms of size, most entryway rugs are either a large area rug or a runner. ‘One of the best types of rug for an entryway is a runner that is low pile, made from polypropylene. and attached to the floor with rug grips,’ adds Sara McDaniel, designer and renovation expert at Simply Southern Cottage. ‘Typically, a 2 x 8 runner is adequate to fill the space while serving as a texturizer against the flooring surface.’
If you’re going the area rug route, however, your pick ‘should be large enough to cover the space without overwhelming it,’ and ‘wide enough to cover the width of the door and extend about 3-4 feet inside,’ Carolyn continues. ‘This allows ample space for wiping shoes and provides a welcoming entrance.’
Should your entryway rug match your living room rug?
Decorating a house means decorating a lot of rooms. How do you know which should match and which shouldn’t? At least in the realm of rugs, you can relax knowing a bit of variety and mismatch is a good thing.
Matching entryway and living room rugs “feels contrived and predictable,” Carolyn says. “You want to add your personality and let every room have its own identity while still cohesively working together. Your entryway should be a prelude to the rest of your home, offering a glimpse of what’s to come but with its own unique charm.”
Sara agrees: “Depending on how close your entryway is to your living, it’s best to try to color coordinate but the rugs do not have to match. In fact, I strongly discourage decor that is too matchy matchy.”