7 Ways to Dress Up Your Bathroom Floor With a Mat or Rug
See how designers are ditching the basic bath mat for a more fun or sophisticated floor covering
Morgan Province
February 8, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Enjoying a life of travel around the world and writing fun stories along the way. In my spare time, I plan my dream home on Houzz, read all kinds of books, and cuddle with my two Westies.
Houzz Contributor. Enjoying a life of travel around the world and writing fun stories... More
Wall-to-wall carpeting in your bathroom might not be a popular choice, but who says you can’t have an area rug in there? Recently, we’ve seen a lot of interior designers using diverse and bold mats and rugs on their clients’ bathroom floors. This could be the simple update you’re looking to try too. Check out these seven ideas, and comment at the end of the story to share which one you think would work best in your home.
1. Pop the cork. To kick off the list, let’s start with a material that reminds us more of happy hour than of bathroom design: cork.
Not only does cork add a rustic feel to a room, but also it provides a cushion for your feet. Cork is a sustainable material, a fact that designers and homeowners find appealing. You can even make your own mat out of bottle corks (like the one pictured here).
Not only does cork add a rustic feel to a room, but also it provides a cushion for your feet. Cork is a sustainable material, a fact that designers and homeowners find appealing. You can even make your own mat out of bottle corks (like the one pictured here).
Or you can take cork a step further by using it as the flooring material for all or part of the floor. Before you do, though, have a flooring professional check your room’s moisture levels. Proper sealing and placement will be needed to ensure the cork will be a long-lasting option.
Cork Flooring 101: Warm Up to a Natural Wonder
Cork Flooring 101: Warm Up to a Natural Wonder
2. Play with patterns. As with any other room in the house, a bold rug works best when the rest of the room is neutral or minimal in style. The boldness may be in the size of the pattern or color choice.
“In terms of the scale of a patterned rug, we like a pattern that is large enough to see from the entrance of the space, but still has interesting detail once up close,” says Holly Conlan of Wake + Loom Design.
“In terms of the scale of a patterned rug, we like a pattern that is large enough to see from the entrance of the space, but still has interesting detail once up close,” says Holly Conlan of Wake + Loom Design.
If you are not sure which color rug to use, pull a color from other bathroom elements. If you have fallen in love with the rug first, take color cues from the rug to choose fixture finishes and accessories.
Still want a bold pattern but not sure which one? Some designers say that black-and-white patterns are like blue jeans — they go with everything.
17 Gorgeous Ways to Work In a Patterned Area Rug
Still want a bold pattern but not sure which one? Some designers say that black-and-white patterns are like blue jeans — they go with everything.
17 Gorgeous Ways to Work In a Patterned Area Rug
3. Go big. If your layout is more open, a large area rug may warm up the room. If the colors are neutral, find a bold hue or pattern (as mentioned under No. 2). If you already have a bold focal point in your room, select a rug in a complementary color.
How do you know what size rug you need? Sydney-based interior designer Luisa Volpato offers some advice.
“Before you go shopping, use masking tape or newspaper to map out the ideal rug size on your floor and see how your furniture will fit,” Volpato says. “When in doubt, go slightly bigger — it’s always easier to tuck more of the rug under furniture than it is to make a small rug fill a big space.”
11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them
“Before you go shopping, use masking tape or newspaper to map out the ideal rug size on your floor and see how your furniture will fit,” Volpato says. “When in doubt, go slightly bigger — it’s always easier to tuck more of the rug under furniture than it is to make a small rug fill a big space.”
11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them
4. Take a trip into the woods. Ditch fabric and go with a more natural look on your bathroom floor. It is a common belief that wood and water do not mix, but that is not true if done right.
“Wood is used on decks and docks, where it is constantly shifting between wet and dry (and getting snowed on),” says Mark Clement of MyFixitUpLife. “So why not use it [as] the shower floor or in another bathroom area?”
Choose a bath mat that is finished and sealed, and regularly wipe up any extra water that collects under the mat.
“Wood is used on decks and docks, where it is constantly shifting between wet and dry (and getting snowed on),” says Mark Clement of MyFixitUpLife. “So why not use it [as] the shower floor or in another bathroom area?”
Choose a bath mat that is finished and sealed, and regularly wipe up any extra water that collects under the mat.
Wooden bath mats are great additions to rustic, farmhouse and Scandinavian design styles. They help the space feel more natural and warm, and it is as easy as laying down a fabric bath mat.
Houzz contributor Amanda Pollard has a recommendation if your bathroom has multiple finishes on your wooden accents.
“If you’re going to combine materials in a small space like this one, make the dominant wood lighter and use the darker version as an accent to keep things light and airy.”
Browse wooden mats
Houzz contributor Amanda Pollard has a recommendation if your bathroom has multiple finishes on your wooden accents.
“If you’re going to combine materials in a small space like this one, make the dominant wood lighter and use the darker version as an accent to keep things light and airy.”
Browse wooden mats
5. Try faux fur. Faux fur and hides add luxury and warmth to a bathroom. Go with a rug in one subtle color, or try a bold animal print. While you want to pick a rug that goes with the room design, most faux fur and hide rugs are versatile.
“I almost think of animal prints as a neutral,” says interior designer Shirley Meisels. “They are usually tone-on-tone, monochromatic or black and white, so they are a safe way to mix and match.”
“I almost think of animal prints as a neutral,” says interior designer Shirley Meisels. “They are usually tone-on-tone, monochromatic or black and white, so they are a safe way to mix and match.”
We’ve seen faux fur and hides in lots of rustic and glam bathrooms, but they can be incorporated into almost any interior style.
Because bathroom rugs are not permanent, you can change them seasonally. Use faux fur and hides in the winter, and then trade them out for lighter, brighter rugs in spring and summer.
Because bathroom rugs are not permanent, you can change them seasonally. Use faux fur and hides in the winter, and then trade them out for lighter, brighter rugs in spring and summer.
6. Run a runner. To create a walkway or cover a long, thin floor space, try a rug runner. While you see many runners in hallways, they can be a great addition to a bathroom as well. They cover the floor without creating a wall-to-wall carpet look.
Choose a width that is functional for your space. “For both safety and comfort, it is preferable to have both feet fall within the surface of the rug in a high-traffic area,” says Janell Beals of House of Fifty.
Choose a width that is functional for your space. “For both safety and comfort, it is preferable to have both feet fall within the surface of the rug in a high-traffic area,” says Janell Beals of House of Fifty.
On top of size, color and pattern, you need to also consider the material of your rug.
“When I am helping clients select rugs or carpeting for their homes, I always go to natural materials like wool, or natural-material blends like wool, cotton, jute, sisal,” says interior designer Anastasia Faiella. “Wool rugs are the best, because they are easy to clean, and, being an organic material, they look better to me while feeling good on bare feet.”
Browse runners
“When I am helping clients select rugs or carpeting for their homes, I always go to natural materials like wool, or natural-material blends like wool, cotton, jute, sisal,” says interior designer Anastasia Faiella. “Wool rugs are the best, because they are easy to clean, and, being an organic material, they look better to me while feeling good on bare feet.”
Browse runners
7. Create an optical illusion. This might be a trick answer, but we have to mention it! If you want the look of the rug without any of the upkeep, consider creating an inlaid “rug” made out of floor tile. This is a more permanent solution, but it adds elegance to any bathroom space.
Even with heated floors, you may want to add a small bath mat or rug to prevent your family from slipping when coming out of the tub or shower. Hang it to dry on a drying rack or on the side of the tub, just like you might a towel.
Your turn. Which rug idea do you think you will try in your bathroom? Tell us in the Comments below.
More
Read more bathroom stories and guides
Browse rugs
Your turn. Which rug idea do you think you will try in your bathroom? Tell us in the Comments below.
More
Read more bathroom stories and guides
Browse rugs
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The benefit of having a luxe comfort bath mat is that it pampers your feet with plush softness while providing a non-slip surface, adding a touch of opulence to your bathroom and ensuring safety and comfort with every step.