Where does almost any home begin? Some would say, with the hallway – and they would be damn right. Some, with the living room – and they would also be right. But the first impression, you must admit, is often the most important, so I'll tell you what – any home actually begins with the doormat.

Life is an interesting thing – something that was originally conceived as a purely utilitarian thing for wiping dirty soles, over time turned into something incredibly creative. Don't believe it? Then let's scroll through this selection of the most unusual, funny and simply cute doormats from around the world, carefully collected for you by Bored Panda!

#1 My Husband Ordered Us A Doormat

Image credits: koreanforrabbit

#2 First Attempt At A Doormat… So Fun

Image credits: scannalach

#3 My Cat Looks Exactly Like The One On This Doormat My Grandfather Bought For Me

Image credits: emilytoc

It is widely believed that doormats originated in the countries of Northern Europe in the second half of the 19th century, and this is quite reasonable. Firstly, it’s usually colder there, so the doormats also served the function of retaining heat. And secondly, the development of the factory weaving industry made various fabrics very common, so homeowners had another opportunity to take care of beauty. Well, then about a couple of decades later, doormats appeared in North America.

#4 My Bulgarian Dumpster Cat Is Proud Of His Harness And Doormat

Image credits: onlyonedayatatime

#5 My First Doormat

Image credits: Forizzelmywitzel

#6 Our Adopted Boi Is Half Husky. Got A Custom Doormat Made Just For Him

Image credits: StR33tL1GhT

And today, about a century and a half later, we can say with confidence – the doormat has definitely become part of our cultural code. It has ceased to carry only the function of a “rag for wiping feet” and has become a kind of decoration. Another means of “standing out from the crowd.” Another way to show everyone who comes your unique and immaculate wit.

#7 Dangit, No Chance To Sell A Vacuum Cleaner Here

Image credits: CatPasswd

#8 Doormat Of The Day

Image credits: Proof-Emu2789

#9 Doormat Kitty

Image credits: OldGreyTroll

By the way, about wit. In one fan fiction, I once read a really outstanding version of the appearance of the inscription “Welcome” on our doormats – supposedly, this is in fact the machination of an influential “vampire lobby.” After all, as we all know, a vampire cannot enter a house without an invitation, and a doormat with an invitation already written on it actually solves this problem… Now we are probably waiting for a mass campaign to discredit silver and garlic in the media.

#10 New Front Door Mat

Image credits: Tasselplants

#11 My Dad’s Doormat

Image credits: SmallDangerousHippo

#12 The Doormats That People Have

Image credits: reddit.com

Ah, and also about wit. Of all the doormats presented in this selection, I personally enjoyed the inscription “Please knock, the cat is naked” the most – and the sphinx kitty sitting next to it on the porch. By the way, if your door does not have a special cat door, then a warm doormat can perform another incredibly important function – your cat can lie on it while waiting for you to open the door for them after another pleasant walk.

#13 Could Never Quite Find A Doormat That I Liked, So I Made My Own

Image credits: christmaskrazy

#14 This Made Me Laugh When I Dropped Off Here

Image credits: CommercialCurrent918

#15 Funny Doormat I Saw While Delivering Today

Hold on we're probably not wearing pants

Image credits: EloquentGoliath

Well, one of the wise men of the past noted that there are as many opinions as there are people. We, in turn, want to rephrase this quote: there are as many doormats as there are houses. So now please feel free to scroll this list to the very end, and if you smile at least a couple of times (not to mention going out and buying or making yourself some unusual doormat as well), then we have definitely achieved our goal today!