How to beat the «dirty» zone in the corridor: 6 super ideas

How to arrange a wet zone at the entrance? Told in video

one Use non-marking colors

The right shades will visually make dirt and dust less noticeable. Gray, beige, brown, khaki are best suited. Finely patterned floor and wall covering will keep you from visible water stains, especially during the rainy season in autumn and spring. If you want brightness, use color zoning: decorate the entrance area in calm, non-marking shades, and choose more saturated colors for the rest of the space. By the way, this solution will help to visually adjust the proportions if you have a narrow elongated hallway.

2 Don’t skimp on flooring

The dirty area in the hallway is often in contact with water and caustic chemicals that remain on outdoor shoes. That is why the flooring there must be as reliable and durable as possible. Porcelain stoneware is best suited for this role: it is not afraid of water, temperature changes, mechanical damage and exposure to chemicals (including household ones). If you want to save money, then leave the tiles near the door, and the rest of the space can be finished with a moisture-resistant laminate of class 33 or 34.

3 Use paint instead of wallpaper

The main plus of paint as a finishing material is that it is easy to update if necessary. Yes, to make a beautiful coating, you need perfectly even walls; you may have to call the wizard. But these costs will pay off, because the paint makes it possible in the future to quickly refresh areas with stubborn stains or stains. With wallpaper, this will be much more difficult. In addition, there are universal shades that you can buy at any hardware store (or take what is left after the first staining). The main thing is to remember exactly the manufacturer and the color that you used.

four Choose easy-care materials

Obviously, you will have to clean up the entrance area often, even if it is decorated as non-markingly as possible. To make it easier for yourself, use materials that are easy to clean in the decoration. For example, waterproof paint with an anti-vandal finish, glass wallpaper, smooth flooring without texture and volumetric details. Furniture and decor, if there is one in the area at the front door, it is best to choose simple shapes, made of durable wear-resistant materials that are not afraid of contact with water.

5 Maximize space

Leave at least a couple of tens of free centimeters at the door. Owners of even very small apartments can afford it. The fewer items in the entrance area, the less it will get dirty. The only exceptions are functional accessories that save from dirt (umbrella stand, rug, etc.). It is better to place a shoe rack, a chest of drawers, ottomans, and even more decor, away from the front door — this way they will be less polluted, and it will become much easier for you to clean up. If possible, use closed storage systems in the floor so that you do not have to get under the closet with a mop every time.

6 Use accessories

There are many «assistants» in the fight against pollution, chemicals and moisture from the street. For example, it is better to lay a doormat not only outside, but also inside the apartment, so that it retains the dirt and water that flow from street shoes as much as possible. In winter, it also saves from reagents that stick to the sole and damage the floor covering, especially if they remain on it for a long time. Do not be afraid to stain the rug, because washing it is easier than changing the floor. An umbrella stand with a water drain also helps control moisture. With such an accessory, drops will not fall on the floor, furniture and clothes.