# Smart Sanitizing Doormats The Nebula Mat Detects Users Walking Up & Activates Misting Pads By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2021-08-26 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nebula-mat References: [prnewswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sanitizing-doormat-disrupts-the-smart-home-industry-301361954.html) & [kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nebulamat/nebula-mat-smart-door-mat) The way that people enter public and private spaces has changed over the past few years with more of a focus on sanitization before entry and the Nebula Mat is a [sanitizing doormat](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pawprint-door-mat) that promises to keep homes cleaner. The smart home product is made from a durable, hard-shell polymer blend and it includes [replaceable and recyclable misting pods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hand-cleansing-mists). The mat is designed to automatically detect when someone is walking up, which triggers a the misting pads, touchlessly. Suited to heels, sandals and open-toed shoes alike, the mat is a discreet solution to keeping homes cleaner and inviting fewer germs inside. The Nebula Mat went viral on social media and wrapped up a successful crowdfunding campaign on [Kickstarter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bidet-seat) thanks to the support of many eager backers. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.8/10 - Popularity: 97% | Activity: 98% | Freshness: 10% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Home](https://www.trendhunter.com/home) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Smart Sanitizing Mats:** Increasing demand for touchless home solutions presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for manufacturers of smart sanitizing mats. - **Replaceable Misting Pods:** The trend towards environmentally-friendly products presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for manufacturers of sanitizing mats offering replaceable and recyclable misting pods. - **Automatic Sanitization:** The trend towards hands-free technology presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for manufacturers of sanitizing mats offering automatic detection and activation of misting pads. ### Who This Affects Most - **Smart Home Products:** Manufacturers of smart home products can capitalize on the rising demand for touchless, sanitizing solutions by developing smart sanitizing mats that detect and activate misting pads upon user approach. - **Environmental Products:** Manufacturers of environmental products can capitalize on the rising trend towards sustainability by developing sanitizing mats with recyclable misting pods. - **Public Spaces:** The trend towards sanitization before entry presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for manufacturers of sanitizing mats to target public spaces such as restaurants, gyms, and hotels. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Patterned Luxe Progressive Doormats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-outlier.md) - [Naturalistic Earth-Made Bath Mats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/quick-dry-earth-mat.md) - [Sanitizing Shoe Cabinets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rootsense.md) - [Entryway Deodorizing Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/comodo.md) - [Mop-Changing Robot Vacuums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mova-mobius-60.md) - [Intelligent Textile Sensor Mats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trampletek-blue.md) - [Clean Workstation Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/workstation-kit.md) - [AI-Powered Sanitizer Dispensers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/igiene-hand-sanitizer-dispenser.md) - [Artistic Public Air Sterilizers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/venue-smart-commercial-air-sanitisation-device.md)