It’s time to find the best rug for your bathroom! See what materials and styles will best suit you out of the 11 different types of bathroom rugs, how to take care of them, and how to make sure they stay in place!
Most people already know a few different types of bathroom rugs and even have a preference for a certain kind. However, sometimes you find yourself needing a different type of rug for a new bathroom.
Whether the cause is that you’ve moved into a new house and have to adjust to the new space, you have remodeled your bathroom and the previous rug no longer matches the new look, or you simply want to branch out and try something new, this is definitely the right place for you!
What to Look For In a Bathroom Rug
There are specific qualities to rugs that are favored for bathrooms. Since bathrooms are typically tiled because it’s easier to clean up water and less likely for mold growth, which is great! But, that also makes them very cold. After a nice, relaxing bath or shower where steam still clings to your skin, stepping down onto the cold tile is a shock to your skin. Choosing a rug that will keep your feet warm is a must!
Although it is easier to clean water up on a tiled floor, that doesn’t mean any of us want to. Picking a rug that will absorb water saves you a lot of hassle. Keeping the floor in your bathroom dry will save you future complications. Moisture causes mold growth and the worst part is you might not even know it’s there! It can grow beneath the tile, in your ceiling – especially if you have drop tile – or in the walls.
Each place can become a breeding ground for mold if you aren’t careful.
Other than absorbent material and making sure your feet are warm, something to always consider is the rubber backing of any bathroom mat. Whether it be inside the shower or tub, or on the floor, anti-slip backing is important! No one wants to slip on water or a slick rug and end up hitting their head on something.
Oftentimes, people consider slip resistance to be a primary function of bathroom mats and rugs.
Last but not least, if there are a lot of people in your home and your bathroom is used more often than not, choosing something that is durable for high foot traffic is something to keep in mind. Spending money on something fancy only to have it fall apart from frequent use is a disappointment I’m sure you’d like to avoid.
And, of course, you can’t forget the size and shape, color and amount that you want for your bathroom. Some people prefer their rugs to blend in with the style of their bathrooms while others want a pop of color that draws attention right away. Which one are you?
Bamboo Rugs
As you can probably guess, bamboo mats are less for the soft comfort and more for bathroom décor or to prevent slips. But if you take a closer look at the bamboo, you will realize that the wide spaces between the slats keep the mat from getting soaked by water like others might.
These spaces allow the water to evaporate rather than sitting on the floor underneath your rug.
Cotton Rugs
Cotton bath mats are known to be durable, they absorb water, and they are nice and soft on the bottom of your feet! Not only do they take care of excess water, they also dry quickly and that can easily make them one of the best bath mats you can find.
As opposed to nylon or bath and shower mats, 100% cotton rugs can be a bit pricey. Check out websites like amazon.com or even ebay.com to find the best prices and have quality rugs delivered to your door.
Nylon Rugs
Nylon, otherwise known as polypropylene, is made of synthetic fibers – which just means that the fibers have been manufactured instead of harvested from a natural source. Because of the availability, nylon rugs can be found in a variety of colors, textures, and shapes. This makes nylon a great choice for bathroom décor.
Polyester Rugs
Polyester is a material that does not absorb water, so if that’s why you’re shopping for a new bathroom rug this might not be the choice for you. While it won’t keep water from running along your bathroom floor, that means that it’s less likely for any mold to grow and it will dry exceptionally fast in comparison to other materials.
Chenille Rugs
Chenille rugs really hit the comfort factor! They are soft on the bottom of your feet and will certainly keep them from getting cold on the chilly bathroom floor. It is absorbent, so there’s no need to worry about mopping up water after a bath or shower!
Memory Foam
Practically everyone loves a little bit of memory foam in their lives. Whether it be your shoes, slippers, or your bed, there’s no doubt that memory foam is one of the most comfortable choices you can make! So, why not have it in your bathroom? For those of you seeking comfort, a memory foam mat could be the rug you never knew you needed.
Bath & Shower Mats
You’re about as likely to slip in the bath or shower as you are on the floor outside of them, so you should definitely consider an anti-slip grippy mat for the floor of your shower or bathtub. These are a great help when you have little ones, who are still having a hard time with their footing.
Though the common materials for these mats are rubber and plastic, we are starting to see an increase in diversity! You can pick from the classic, to bamboo mats, to the awesome loofa mats you can see in the picture above – and I’m sure those feel great underfoot!
High Traffic Rugs
If you have a full house, whether that be with children or adults, or both, you don’t want any of your new rugs getting worn down when you only just bought them. That is why you should seek out durable, high traffic rugs for your bathroom. Strong material is important when there are a lot of feet walking all over but how do you know which kind will last and which won’t?
To start, woven rugs are going to be on the more durable side of things. The tightly woven material has less of a chance to fray than a decorative or tasseled rug. Other durable options would be memory foam, plastic mats, or even bamboo mats.
Tassel Rugs
Tassels are fun and decorative, found on clothes, curtains, blankets and so much more. There is a wide variation of this style of rug, with long or short tassels, thick or thin, small or large, and countless color options! This is a great way to find whatever color and style you want to match the rest of your bathroom.
Woven Rugs
As with tassel rugs, woven rugs lean more toward the decorative side of things rather than having functionality. They are less absorbent than cotton bath mats but they could better fit the style that you’re looking for. Woven rugs are also less likely to fray or fall apart thanks to the tight weaving and strong material.
Decorative Rugs
Decorative rugs, like the soft one you see in this picture, are for looks and appearance. I wouldn’t recommend this for people with a busy household because of the possibility of them getting ruined by children, pets, or people who don’t know how to take care of rugs. These tend to require a more delicate touch, such as hand washing and air drying but with how great they look, you might feel like that’s worth it!
How to Take Care of Bathroom Rugs
Different rug material requires different types of care. The best thing you can do to prolong the life of your bathroom rug is to follow the care instructions on the tag – especially washing instructions. Washing and drying can either make or break your new rug, and since you want what you buy to be worth the money, washing instructions are key!
Certain rugs are machine washable, while other bathroom rugs have to be hand washed or require a more delicate touch. Then there’s the fact that the dryer can melt the rubber backing and plastic material on any bath mat.
How can you find out which is which? Generally, the care instructions will explain everything you need to know regarding washing, drying, and other ways it needs to be cared for. However, some tags are less informational and you end up ruining a perfectly good rug without knowing!
Rugs that are machine washable, on the delicate and cold water cycle, are cotton, memory foam, tassel, and woven rugs.
Bathroom rugs that are machine washable, on the delicate, cold water cycle and alone, are chenille and polyester rugs. The reason you’re advised to wash them without other items is because they do tend to shed when being washed.
Nylon, bamboo, loofa, rubber mats, and most decorative rugs are better off being hand washed instead of being run through the machine.
As for drying, none of these rugs should actually be run through such high heat. Otherwise, they’ll end up falling apart and the rubber backing will melt due to the temperatures. Select a no-heat cycle or allow them to be air dried on the back of a chair or outside on a railing. This will ensure that your bath mat or rug stays in good condition for as long as possible.
How to Make Every Mat a Nonslip Mat
Yes, you read that right: any rug can become a non slip mat! How? An underlay.
What is an underlay? I’m glad you asked!
Also known as rubber matting or non-slip rug pads, a rug underlay is a sheet of rubber mesh that you put on the underneath of your rug to keep it from sliding around. I have personally done this quite a few times, especially with kids and dogs running around and messing rugs up almost every day.
The non slip matting is incredibly easy to apply and can be found almost anywhere from Walmart to even Dollar Tree! Be sure to follow instructions for application and care for the kind you purchase and enjoy!