Should Bathrooms Have Rugs?

Bathroom rugs function as a useful accessory to help you absorb dripping water after having a shower or bath.

They can also serve as a decorative item for your bathroom; you can use them to complement the colors of your towels or overall bathroom design.

Rugs can serve as a source of warmth and comfort rather than having your feet on cold tiles after a bath.

In case you have a wood décor in your bathroom, using a rug can reduce the amount of water seeping into your design.

Water all over your bathroom floor tends to create unsafe zones that could cause falling or accidents.

Using bathroom rugs, you can dry your feet to avoid making a mess of your bathroom floor.

They are available in different sizes, colors, and materials; before we settle on whether or not your bathroom should have one, let’s take a look at the materials used to make rugs.

The Different Types of Bathroom Rugs

Bathroom rugs are made from a wide variety of materials; each of them comes with unique attributes or features that distinguish it from the rest. Granted that rugs can absorb water, getting the right one that dries fast enough is the best rug for you.

This helps you avoid creating breeding grounds for harmful microorganisms; here are a few of the best materials for rugs.

Chenille

This is traditionally a synthetic material made from rayon and olefin, but sometimes cotton is the main constituent, and cotton chenille has the same benefits and drawbacks as cotton.

Generally, chenille is very durable and can handle constant exposure to water without incurring any damages.

This option is highly sought after and perceived as one of the best kinds of bathroom rugs.

Microfiber

Microfiber is widely used as a synthetic substitute for several fabrics, as it is designed to absorb any moisture it comes into contact with.

This material happens to last for a very long period, and it is one of the softest materials used to make a bathroom rug.

However, individuals with sensitive skin could be affected by some of the synthetic properties of microfiber.

These properties tend to trigger the skin allergies of some users, although you can opt for rugs made from hypoallergenic microfiber, which is a much safer alternative.

Cotton

This material is highly absorbent and capable of drying off moisture in wet environments with ease.

Cotton is one of the most natural materials to clean and comes in a wide variety of designs to choose from.

Some cotton rugs can be washed in the machine, making maintenance a whole lot better for you.

The disadvantage of cotton rugs is that they quickly start to wear out when being exposed to water regularly. Hence, they are ideal for your bathroom if it doesn’t get wet all the time.

Polyester

When looking for a very durable material to withstand high daily traffic in your bathroom, this is the one you need to go for when aiming for resilient bathroom rugs.

This is why most homeowners opt for bathroom rugs made using polyester; they are quite affordable and ideal for a big family.

Bamboo

This is an inexpensive material with effective absorption features; this kind of rug can complement the general design of your bathroom.

One important thing to note is that bamboo rugs don’t offer your feet comfort since they aren’t soft.

However, they are slip-resistant, with some models coming with an extra finish on the surface to resist any buildup of mold.

Nylon

This is the most durable material you can get for your bathroom; you don’t have to worry about slipping in the bathroom when wet, nylon offers the best slip resistance amongst other materials in the market.

Nylon rugs can be washed in a washing machine or by any effective maintenance process.

It doesn’t absorb quite as efficiently as cotton, but water molecules tend to dry more quickly on this material.

Should Bathrooms Have Rugs?

Placing a rug in your bathroom can serve you with many benefits; this depends on which material the rug is made of.

They could also serve as simple decorative items in your bathroom to spice up your whole design.

You can use the rugs to dry off your feet when wet in the bathroom; this allows you to prevent mildew and bacteria from growing in corners of your bathroom floor after being riddled with water.

Each bathroom differs in terms of size and style, but we recommend that you get a rug to add physical and visual warmth to your bathroom space.

Cleaning Tips for Bathroom Rugs

Rugs tend to get dirty after a certain period of use; it’s advised that you take proper care of them before they turn into the perfect breeding grounds for mold or any unwanted developments.

You can take the rug outside to shake off any dirt on them; most rugs even comes with a care tag containing cleaning methods to assist you in making sure they are properly maintained.  

Some rugs are made using materials compatible with machine-washing; such materials include nylon, cotton, chenille, polyester amongst others.

The machine’s high heat helps you kill any forming bacteria, but you should make sure the settings are adjusted to precisely what the material can handle.

You can also hand-wash to extend the lifetime use of your rugs.

It should even be noted that some materials like bamboo are strictly hand-wash only.

Conclusion

Based on the size of your bathroom, you can either get one or two rugs to use; they could either be big or small depending on your preferences as well as the bathroom space you have to work with.

Buying a rug size that could overwhelm your bathroom isn’t advised, instead, make the proper measurements and buy according to the size of your bathroom.

Small-sized bathrooms can consider getting a rug that’s no larger than 17 x 24 inches in size.

You can place this kind of rug in front of your shower stall, bathtub, or bathroom sink.

You can procure a rug size of 21 x 34 inches to use in a medium-sized bathroom.

Rugs with dimensions of 27 x 45 inches are ideal for large bathrooms, they cover up just the right amount of space, leaving an adequate amount of floor open.