Bathroom Mats: How To Choose

Bathroom mats can put a great finishing touch on your bathroom design. With the wide variety of colors, materials and textures available a bathroom mat can enhance the ambiance of your bathroom, making it a comfortable and safe place to attend to personal needs.

Styles of Bathroom Mats

Bathroom mats go a long way toward achieving safety and comfort in a room where you are often barefoot. In addition to keeping your feet warm in winter months, a bathroom mat cushions your feet while standing on hard ceramic or stone floors. Bathroom mats with non-slid backing also help prevent falls, a common problem where standing water can making for dangerous footing.

Bathmat styles range from simple cushy comfort to decorative features that finish the look of this often-small room. One type of bathroom mat that is gaining in popularity is a rubberized fabric that is spongy and comfortable to the step, while readily absorbing water.

Carpeting materials like fluffy shags are also easy on the feet. You can also find woven rag rugs that are cozy and create comfort in the room. Standard cotton rugs, however, are decreasing in popularity because they slide around the floor and bunch up, making them easy to trip over.

Another bathroom mat that is gaining in popularity is the sisal rug, an eco-friendly choice that should be waterproofed for bathroom use. Cork is also a great bathroom mat material because it is secure under foot and is made of natural materials.

Choosing the Right Mat

Choosing the right bath mat is matter of balancing safety features with design and comfort  goals. If safety is a primary concern, choose a mat with a rubber backing that will not slide around the floor. Also pick a mat that allows for secure footing and does not become dangerous when wet or damp.

If you're looking to comfort your bare feet, find a mat that is thick, soft to the touch and easy to stand on. Consider soft fabrics, carpeting or even a rubberized fabric.

Another consideration when choosing a bathroom mat is its shape and size. Since most bathrooms are long and narrow, bathroom mats that are rectangular in shape make the most sense. Round bathroom mats can break up a boxy space, especially in a small, square bathroom.

Taking the time to choose the right bath matt will help make your bathroom a safe, comfortable, stylish environment.