Your bathroom floor serves an important practical purpose, but it can also be a decorative focal point that expresses your style. The right bathroom rugs and mats allow you to add comfort underfoot, delineate separate zones, and make a fashion statement. With so many colors, textures, sizes, and shapes available, it’s easy to transform the look and feel of your bathroom through strategic use of bath mats. Here are 7 clever ways to dress up your bathroom floor with a stylish, functional mat or rug.
1. Define Separate Spaces
Bathrooms include different functional zones, like the shower/tub area, sink space, and toilet section. Using bathroom mats is an easy way to delineate these separate spaces in an open floor plan.
Place a plush accent rug in front of the tub or shower to create a spa-like vibe and protect bare feet from cold tile floors after bathing. Use a rectangle or runner mat in front of the vanity to corral products and absorb drips. Round or oval rugs work well around toilets to soften the space. Coordinating the colors and textures of different mats can help zone off areas while still looking cohesive.
Defining separate spaces not only looks organized, but it helps prevent slipping between areas with wet and dry surfaces. It also contains messes in each zone.
2. Anchor the Furniture
Strategically anchoring bathroom furniture on mats or rugs gives the room a polished, pulled together look. For example, place a woven jute or sisal rug under the vanity to ground the seating area. The mat edges will delineate the furniture layout.
For a freestanding tub, use a plush shag or fur rug to create a cozy lounging space that invites relaxation. A rug underneath a bathroom bench softens the space and designates it as a sitting area. Contrasting the texture of furniture with complementary rugs enhances each element.
Rugs used under bathroom furniture should be absorbent and washable to deal with water drips and products that may fall off the vanity.
3. Make a Fashion Statement
Bathroom floors offer an often overlooked opportunity to showcase your personal style. From modern geometric patterns to bohemian prints to vintage florals, today’s bath mats and rugs come in endless fashionable options beyond basic solid colors.
For a bold statement, layer a few printed accent rugs on top of wall-to-wall flooring. Or use a single floor-size area rug as the focal point of the space. Complement the sink, tub and other fixtures by bringing in secondary colors from a patterned rug.
The materials used in unique bathroom rugs can also express style, from braided cotton to plush chenille to handmade rag rugs. Check the rug’s care instructions before purchasing to be sure it will hold up in a damp bathroom environment.
4. Soften Hard Surfaces
The sleek, easy-to-clean materials used in many bathrooms – like stone, porcelain, ceramic tile, glass and metal – end up creating an echo-y, clinical look. But the hard reflective surfaces that make a bathroom functional can lack warmth and visual softness.
Laying down bathroom rugs and mats instantly makes any space more inviting by introducing softness, absorbency and textural interest underfoot. Plush pile rugs in natural jute, cotton chenille or sheepskin add comforting texture. For safety, use non-slip rug pads and select durable fabrics that can tolerate moisture.
Rugs around hard floor surfaces – whether tile, stone, concrete, laminate or wood – also help reduce noise and brighten up rooms with warm hues.
5. Warm Up Cold Floors
If your bathroom floor tends to feel uncomfortably cold under bare feet, a few scattered bath mats can instantly warm things up. This is especially helpful for bathrooms located in drafty old houses, or over unheated basement spaces prone to cold seeping up through the floor.
Choose plush, absorbent fabrics like cotton chenille or microfiber, which hold onto warmth better than low-pile indoor-outdoor or braided rugs. Place mats alongside the bed, in front of vanities, around toilets, and inside showers or tubs for convenient cozy spots to put your feet first thing in the morning. You can also opt for electric underfloor heating mats covered by an area rug.
6. Protect Floors from Damage
No matter how durable and waterproof your bathroom flooring, constant splashing around a sink, tub or shower can take a toll. But a strategically placed bath mat can shield surfaces beneath from water stains, scratches, cracks and other damage.
Look for rugs or mats constructed of mold/mildew resistant natural fibers, like sisal, seagrass, jute and rattan. Absorbent cotton chenille and microfiber also help soak up drips quickly. Use non-slip backings so rugs stay securely in place when stepped on wet. Shake out, hang dry and launder mats regularly to prevent buildup of soap scum or stains over time.
7. Add Safety and Grip
Hard bathroom floors paired with wet, soapy conditions create the perfect slip and fall hazard scenario. Luckily, adding some supportive, slip-resistant rugs can instantly boost traction and security underfoot.
Seek out thin rubber-backed bath mats, which grip tile floors securely when wet. Look for textured woven fabrics, like natural sisal and seagrass, for added traction. Avoid plastic-backed mats which become slippery when damp. Only choose absorbent fabrics that can dry out quickly to prevent mold growth. Place mats inside showers/tubs, around toilets and anywhere footing routinely gets wet.
Pro tip: Use non-slip bath mats AND install ADA-compliant grab bars and non-slip stickers on your tub floor for full fall protection.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dressing Up Your Bathroom Floor With Mats and Rugs
Q: What size bathroom rug should I use?
A: Choose sizes that best suit each space’s function. Use 20″ x 30″ mats by sinks. For toilets, round 20”-24” rugs work well. In showers/tubs, rectangular 24″x40″ mats fit nicely. Rugs measuring 24”x72” runner sizes work well in narrow hallspace. Opt for larger 5×8, 6×9, 8×10 sizes to ground vanities or benches.
Q: Should bathroom rugs be machine washable?
A: Yes, machine-washable rugs are optimal for easy cleaning. Look for cotton, synthetic or blended fabrics that won’t fray, shrink, bleed color, or develop mildew when laundered. Check tags to confirm washing machine and dryer safety.
Q: Are natural fiber rugs suitable for damp bathrooms?
A: Yes, natural fibers like sisal, seagrass, jute and coir wick away moisture nicely and help rugs dry quickly after laundering. Avoid woven cotton rugs, which can promote mildew growth when damp. Always choose mold-resistant natural fiber rugs.
Q: Should I use a non-slip rug pad under bathroom rugs?
A: Yes, non-slip pads are highly recommended, especially on tile and wood floors. The gripping rubber backing keeps rugs securely in place, while also protecting floors from scratches. Look for waterproof non-slip pads resistant to mold and mildew.
Q: How often should I wash bathroom rugs?
A: Launder bath mats weekly, or more often if heavily soiled. Bacteria and mold can accumulate on damp rugs left unwashed. Shake out rugs after each use and allow to fully air dry before replacing to prevent mildew odors.
Q: What’s the best rug material for a bathroom?
A: The most practical bathroom rug materials are cotton, microfiber, nylon, polyester, sisal, seagrass and coir. Avoid sponge-backing. Look for woven, low-pile, thin rugs that absorb moisture quickly and launder easily.
Q: How can I keep bathroom rugs from moving?
A: Use a non-slip rug pad, select a rubber-backed rug, or apply adhesive rug grippers. Avoid plastic-backed rugs, which become slippery. Also be sure to completely dry off feet before stepping onto rugs to prevent sliding.
Conclusion
Dressing up your bathroom floor with a stylish, functional area rug or accent mat brings an array of benefits beyond just added decoration. Strategically placed rugs create designated spaces, anchor furniture, protect floors, add comfort, warmth, and traction. But with so many materials, textures, prints and sizes to choose from, it’s important shop carefully for bath rugs suited for damp environments. Prioritize mold resistance, absorbency, non-slip qualities, and easy-care washability so your beautiful bath mats last. With the right rug choices, you can easily enhance the look, zones, and purpose of your bathroom.
