"A doormat, more frequently spelled door-mat, is a flat, usually rectangular object placed immediately outside or inside the entrance to a house or other building, to allow people to easily scrub or wipe the soles of their shoes before entering...Doormats may also be known as welcome mats, as their location at an entrance constitutes a "welcome" to visitors, and may therefore also bear some word, message or sign of greeting."
--Wikipedia
Historically, doormats have been used to ensure that dirt doesn't enter the home. This practical use soon took on a new purpose when people began decorating these doormats with messages of welcome. Now, a doormat has become part of the first impression of a home and even the people living there.
As I walked around Provo photographing doormats I found that they communicated how much someone cared for their home. Some doormats were only a piece of cut carpet-- showing that the residents cared little for the appearance and more for the practicality of a doormat. Others were new and colorful-- showing that they hadn't been used much or were new to the area. My favorites were the "welcome" mats that were worn out and well-used. I felt that this communicated most the idea of welcome-mat. It seemed to say to me, "Welcome to this home, where many have entered and will continue to enter."
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