Beautiful entryway and hallway floor ideas for your home in 2025

Hard flooring is often the top pick for entryways and hallways, thanks to its durability and ease of maintenance. These areas are highly trafficked, and hard flooring can stand up to daily wear better than many alternatives. With regular care, it’s also forgiving of the unique demands these spaces endure.

If you’re not bound by matching flooring to adjacent areas, consider the following hard flooring options:

• Hybrid Flooring: Combining the best features of laminate and vinyl, hybrid flooring is tough, water-resistant, and visually stunning. Its timber-look designs make it an excellent choice for entryways, where both durability and style matter.
• Vinyl Flooring: This versatile option is not only affordable but also incredibly resilient. It’s ideal for wet areas adjoining entryways and hallways, thanks to its waterproof qualities and low maintenance needs.
• Laminate Flooring: Offering a beautiful timber-like appearance at a fraction of the cost, laminate flooring is scratch-resistant and easy to clean. It’s perfect for high-traffic spaces like hallways and entryways.

Carpet brings warmth and comfort to any space, including hallways and entryways. However, it’s crucial to select a carpet type that can handle heavy foot traffic while maintaining its appearance.

Best Carpet Options for High-Traffic Areas

• Solution Dyed Nylon Carpet: This synthetic carpet is incredibly durable, stain-resistant, and easy to maintain, making it a fantastic choice for busy areas.
• Polypropylene Carpet: Known for its resilience and affordability, polypropylene is a practical option for entryways.
• Polyester Carpet: With their vibrant colour options and durability, polyester carpets are another excellent choice for hallways and entryways.

For maximum longevity, pair your carpet with a high-quality underlay. A good underlay absorbs the impact of frequent use, protecting your carpet and extending its lifespan.

Rugs and runners are excellent additions to hallways and entryways, offering both practical benefits and style enhancements. Here’s why they’re a smart choice:

• Protect Your Floors: Rugs shield your hard flooring or carpet from the constant foot traffic in these areas, reducing wear and tear.
• Trap Dirt and Debris: Placing a rug in the entryway helps catch dirt, grit, and moisture brought in from outside, preventing it from spreading through the house.
• Add Style: With various colours, patterns, and textures available, rugs can elevate the look of your hallway or entryway while offering added protection.

Consider a durable runner rug for hallways or an easy-to-clean entryway rug for the front door. A pet-friendly rug is especially useful if you have pets that frequently move through these spaces.

Regardless of the flooring type you choose, proper care and maintenance will ensure it lasts longer and stays looking great. Here are some tips to extend the life of your flooring:

1. Adopt a No-Shoes Policy: Create a designated area in the entryway for removing and storing shoes. This reduces the amount of dirt, moisture, and grit tracked inside.
2. Add Protective Rugs or Runners: Use rugs or runners to minimize wear in high-traffic zones and to catch debris.
3. Regular Cleaning: Vacuum carpets and rugs frequently to remove dirt and allergens. For hard flooring, sweep or vacuum regularly and mop as needed.
4. Keep Pets Groomed: Long claws can scratch hard flooring and snag on carpet fibres. Regularly trim your pets’ nails to prevent damage.
5. Choose Easy-to-Maintain Flooring: High-traffic areas benefit from flooring options that are simple to clean and maintain, such as hybrid, vinyl, or laminate.

Proper cleaning is essential for all flooring types to reduce marks, stains, and general wear. Here are some quick care guidelines:

• Carpet: Vacuum frequently and address spills immediately. Consider professional cleaning for deep refreshes.
• Hybrid Flooring: Sweep or vacuum regularly and use a damp mop and avoid harsh detergents.
• Timber and Laminate Flooring: Avoid excessive water; instead, use a slightly damp cloth or mop. 
• Vinyl Flooring: Like any other hard flooring, keeping dirt at bay through regular vacuuming or sweeping is ideal.

Visit our advice pages for more detailed guides on caring for carpet, hybrid, timber, laminate, and vinyl flooring.

How to clean laminate flooring

Laminate floors, like all hard flooring, should be frequently vacuumed (bristles down) or swept to remove dirt or grit to minimise scratching or wear. It’s also important to clean up any spills as quickly as possible. Avoid steam mops and excessive water while moping and don’t use wax, oils or polishes on the floor. 

What is the best way to mop vinyl?

Vinyl flooring is an easy-care flooring option and simple to look after. Use a quality mop and not too much water and ensure it’s not a steam mop. You can read all the details you need on our Vinyl Care page.

What flooring is easiest to maintain?

All flooring requires some level of maintenance to ensure it will look good for a long time. All carpet and hard flooring should be swept or vacuumed regularly to remove grit and dirt from the surface (which can lead to scratches and marks). Laminate and vinyl floors are excellent low-maintenance hard flooring options while solution dyed nylon and polypropylene carpet are also resilient.

Disclaimer: In some states of Australia, the building regulations for Vinyl Planks, Vinyl Tiles and Hybrid flooring varies. Meaning they may not be suitable for areas requiring water resistance, such as bathrooms and toilets. We advise to always ask your local Flooring Xtra store for the correct advice regarding the local regulations. We also advise to follow the manufacturer’s recommended installation instructions and guidelines, not following the instructions could make the product not fit for purpose, for the area it’s being installed into and void your product warranty. To ensure you get the appropriate product for those areas, please contact your local Flooring Xtra store.