The Ultimate Guide to Bathroom Rugs

A bathroom rug can bring style, safety, and comfort to your bathroom. They are specifically designed for use in bathrooms, with anti-slip properties to help protect you while using your bath and shower. Many bathroom rugs are also machine washable, allowing long term use whilst maintaining a great look. You can choose from a range of styles, with pedestal mats and bath mats offering different uses within a bathroom.

Finally, you can pick the pattern of your rug, with larger bathroom rugs in a variety of patterns and colours, complementing the aesthetics of your bathroom. In this guide from Rugs Direct, we’ll show you everything you need to know about this bathroom essential to make a purchase.

What Are Your Options in Terms of Bathroom Rugs

A traditional bath rug is placed outside of a bath or shower, offering both style and support. They are used to help dry yourself and also to avoid getting water onto your bathroom floor. While some brands contrast between the term bath rug and bath mat, in most modern websites the terms are used interchangeably. Another option for your bathroom is a towelling mat, designed to sit alongside a bath or shower specifically to absorb any water that has been spilt.

There is also a range of pedestal mats, which are a type of bathroom rug contoured to the curves of your toilet or sink. Sometimes called U-shaped bathroom mats, these serve two purposes, both helping to prevent any water from getting onto your bathroom floor, and also keeping the floor around your toilet and sink warm.

Why You Should Buy an Anti-slip Bathroom Rug

While there are clear aesthetic benefits to bathroom rugs, as we will cover later, they can also come with specialist features that enhance safety and usability.

If you are concerned about slipping on your bathroom floor, then buying a bathroom rug with anti-slip properties can be a great investment, giving you peace of mind about your safety. A bathroom rug with anti-slip backing will remain in place, even on a damp and slippery bathroom floor. Slips and falls are the second most common cause of accidents in the home, and a solid grounding by your bath or shower can help ensure comfort and stability. If your bathroom floor is made from laminate or tiles, a non-slip bathroom rug will anchor itself in place.

Non-slip bath mats can be backed in several ways, with combinations of PVC, rubber, or latex being the most common choices. Also available are non-slip underlays, which can be cut to the size of a bathroom rug and placed underneath them, in cases where they do not come with their own anti-slip backing. We have a high-quality anti-slip rug underlay available through our website. Whether your bathroom rug is small or large, you can measure and cut anti-slip underlay to the exact size, making it invisible when used.

Machine Washable Bathroom Rugs

Many bathroom rugs are also designed to be machine washable. This ensures that you can keep your bathroom rug in premium condition for many years. It’s important to wash your bathroom rugs regularly, as they will be absorbing a lot of water.

Style Choices For Bathroom Rugs

When looking to buy a bathroom rug you have a wide range of styles available to choose from.

Choosing the size and shape of your bathroom rug is an important first step. While traditional bathroom rugs are rectangular, there are circular options available, along with elongated runner rugs, designed to operate like a towelling mat and cover the whole side of your bath. In terms of size, a good rule of thumb is that the larger your bathroom is, the larger the rug you can use, with smaller bathrooms feeling cramped when large rugs are used.

A smaller bathroom rug can help give the impression of space, even in the smallest bathroom. Before you purchase your new bathroom rug, it can be a great idea to measure both your open bathroom floor and the side length of your shower or bath. This can help you avoid buying an unsuitable bath or shower mat.

Just as you can find a wide variety of styles for conventional rugs, from shaggy to traditional to modern, there really are no limits in terms of the look of your bathroom rug. Traditional block colour rugs made from materials like cotton or polyester can offer a great visual complement to your bathroom, or can be purchased in a bolder tone to give a splash of colour, creating an eye-popping focal point.

A shaggy bathroom rug can give a great relaxed look, whilst offering excellent absorbency. Stepping out of your shower or bath onto a textured deep pile bathroom rug can add a little elegance to your morning.

If you want something a little more modern, there are a great range of patterned bathroom rugs available. Stripes, mosaics, or even Persian style patterns are available as bath rugs, giving a uniquely contemporary look to your bathroom whilst keeping you safe. A vintage rug for your bathroom can help to create a striking contrast between classical and modern styles, such as an oriental rug. To get more information on rug colour schemes, we have a helpful article breaking down some methods and informal rules.

Many manufacturers offer sets of bath rugs and pedestal mats, allowing you to give your bathroom a unified look. A bath mat set can offer style and safety to your bathroom, with a matching bath rug and pedestal mat.

Choosing the Perfect Bathroom Rug

Choosing the perfect bathroom rug is about size, style, and safety. Looking at the space available in your bathroom, making sure you select a rug with anti-slip matting, and choosing a style that complements your bathroom will help you to ensure you make an informed purchasing decision. A quality, machine washable bathroom rug can be expected to last for many years.

Our Excellent Range of Rugs

Rugs Direct offers a wide range of rugs for use around the home. Whether you are looking for a large Persian style rug for your living room, a cosy bedroom rug, or even a sturdy all-weather outdoor rug, we’ll have a wide range of high-quality options available for sale. We sell fantastic area rugs, that can be placed throughout a home. We are based in the UK, offering free delivery nationwide. For more inspiration, take a look at some of our other articles.