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I believe that you can tell a lot about a person from their door mat. If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. The door mat is one of the first thing visitors see when they enter a home. So if we just take the time to notice the details of the door mat, we could learn a great deal about the person who is welcoming us into their home. So here is my interpretation of the connection between home owner and the door mat that sits before their door.

The first one is the funny jokester. This is the person whose door mat tries to amuse you as you wait to be welcomed inside. The funny and slightly inappropriate mat is meant to set the guests at ease and let them know that they are going to have a good time during their visit. This doormat may say something like, “Did you remember to wipe?”

Another door mat owner is the slightly offensive rebel. This is usually a man, but not always. This person is saying, “Hey you, this is who I am and I do not care if you like me!” Very self confident, this home owner is comfortable in his own skin. Unfortunately, his message may scare some people away, which may be his ultimate goal. His doormat might say this “Go Away!” or “Wow! Nice Underwear!”

This next door mat owner we have all met, the pet enthusiast. This person spends most of her life covered in animal hair, and shares funny puppy stories when everyone else is telling baby story. She is sweet and loving, but her mat is warning you that you may leave a little furrier than you arrived. Her mat may say this, “Wipe your paws.”

Next we have the very serious home owner. This person usually has the perfectly manicured lawn and the his and hers Toyotas sitting in the driveway. The door mat offers no amusing or witty statements, no cutesy pictures or obnoxious obscenities. It usually has one word symmetrically placed in the center of the mat “Welcome” or if they are a bit bolder, it might have their last name “Jones.” This personalized doormat tells us that these home owners keep a nice, tidy house with very little clutter. It also quietly requests that you keep your children under control, so that nothing gets broken.

The last door mat owner is the non door mat owner. There is no mat at this house. I’ve been thinking about what message this home owner is trying to convey. I have two theories. One interpretation is that the inside of this house is a disaster already, so a little extra dirt brought in by visitors is not going to make any difference. The other explanation is that this home owner is saying you are NOT welcome here.

So the next time you ring the doorbell at someone’s home, take a second and look down at what’s under your feet. And consider, what the door mat is trying warning you about.

Beth is a teacher and writer in Florida. If you are looking for more information on Customized Doormats click here.