When I think back to how ignorant I was about bathroom rugs, I cringe. I mean seriously, why would you put a small piece of fabric on your tile floor? Your tile floor is expensive, it looks great…and seriously who needs another place to launder? !
Alright, hold the judgement – hear me out. You might think you don’t need a bathroom rug either – but trust me on this. Six o’clock in the morning.
Forty weeks pregnant with your second child. Stepping out of the shower and onto freezing cold ceramic tiles will quickly change your mind.
It was about three months ago that I was waddling around, running late (Amara decided she wanted to wear her breakfast that morning) and had to shave my shower time down to the bare minimum.
As soon as I stepped out of the shower, slipped on the wet tiles trying to get away from the cold FAST – I realised that sheer moment of panic. Trying to grab something to keep myself from falling while pregnant didn’t sit right with me. How had I been so foolish about bathroom accidents?
That day, while Amara napped, I spent way too many hours pouring over bathroom rugs. Mission: find the perfect rug and buy it RIGHT NOW. Picking out bathroom rugs while pregnant is one thing.
But when you have a toddler who loves to think the bathroom is their personal splash zone? Yeah, that’s a game changer. Now you need towels that can not only handle the normal splashes and wet spots, but the extra fun a three year old can throw at you when they are learning how not to splash water everywhere but the bathtub.
And let’s not forget the endless toys dropped on the floor, puddles of bubble bath, and random accidents when kiddos get too excited for the “big” toilet. My very first rug was this adorable grey soft cotton rug from Dunelm. It was beautiful.
It was so cozy. And before I knew it – it smelled like a wet washcloth. Ewww.
Moral of the story – cotton does not like damp areas. Not when you are constantly cleaning up muddy foot prints and unidentified sticky spots all day long. Lesson learned.
Rug sizes also surprised me. I bought this itty bitty mat thinking it would be just fine – but it didn’t even cover enough space to walk out of the shower. Completely useless when you are trying to towel wrap yourself and keep an eye on your toddler running towards the still-wet bathtub.
Now I buy larger rugs – usually around 60x90cm because you need to rug where ever you stand in the bathroom. The type of material is so important when you are washing your rugs multiple times a week. Quick drying cotton/pol blends that are still fluffy have been my jam.
I recently purchased this bamboo rug from Next and it’s been amazing. Bamboo has natural anti-microbial properties and it actually dries after being washed. It was pricier than my other rugs, but it hasn’t collected that funky smell that other rugs tend to get after a few months.
Those memory foam rugs? Great idea, but don’t buy them unless they have a waterproof liner. Some lady on Instagram wiped out on me and told me about mold that grew on her bathroom floor from the moisture trapped under her memory foam rug.
Gross. Hint. Hint.
Colours used to bore me – beige, grey, white. Blah. And boy do they show every stain.
Don’t get me wrong – neutrals are great but don’t be afraid to spice it up. I took a chance on this gorgeous navy rug that didn’t match anything else in my bathroom, and it legit changed my space. It made me love being in the bathroom.
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Felt like I was using it on purpose, you know? Instead of it being some generic bathroom picked out by my landlord. A pop of colour can really transform your space.
So I thought bathroom rug placement was a given. Nope. I did some wrong.
You obviously need one right by your shower as you step out. Hot towel anyone? Then one by your sink while you are standing at the counter brushing teeth etc.
I put one little one by the toilet, but gave up on that because between cleaning up poo with a toddler that won’t quite go, and cleaning a rug a toddler won’t keep from stepping on – was just crazy. Why battle that? The part that completely caught me off guard was the laundry.
When you are washing your rugs almost daily because toddlers touch everything and there is extra moisture everywhere, you want rugs that can stand up to machine washing over and over. I always read the care instructions on rugs now. If it says hand wash only – or some crazy nonsense, I don’t buy it.
I have enough laundry as it is with kiddos – I don’t have time to be worrying about special wash cycles. Buying two identical rugs was one of the best decisions I made. That way I can rotate them so I always have one soaking while the other is available for use.
It seems like a nice luxury, but when you are desperate you will use the clean dry rug and not step on cold tile God willing while the other is in the wash. The texture of rugs surprised me. Thicker, fluffy rugs are amazingly comfy – but they are also a slipping hazard.
With kiddos that like to grab on to anything they can reach, and me losing my balance from pregnancy – I don’t need that. I stick with low pile rugs for safety reasons and ease of cleaning, but they just aren’t as cushy. As soon as the kid begin independently using the bathroom, safety is key.
Non-slip backing on rugs is a must. You don’t want to rug sliding around while kids run around the bathroom barefoot. I stick with rugs that have rubber backing now.
If I already own a rug that’s starting to slip, I add these rug grip pads to the bottom. They are a game changer and totally extend the life of your rugs. Budget wise – you definitely don’t need to spend a lot of money.
But you also shouldn’t buy the cheapest you can find either. If you opt for the cheap route, those rugs will autumn apart or start smelling within a few washes. And we just aren’t friends anymore.
I find that mid-range is best.
Maybe $25-$40 for a decent sized rug that will actually hold up to kid traffic. I love bathroom rugs.
Crazy thing that you just throw on the floor? Yes, that. They are a small change that can make your space feel complete.
We went from a chilly and-uninviting bathroom to a cozy one that we actually enjoy spending time in. Soft rugs wipe down easily which makes bath time with toddlers less painful. And let’s be real – who doesn’t love the feel of fluffy rugs under their feet while enjoying those extra long showers that are soon to be a thing of the past with this pumpkin growing in my uterus.
Baby #2 is coming and I’m already working on making our bathroom more user-friendly for me. Late night feedings and nappy changes will be happening before we know it. I want absorbent rugs that don’t slide, are easy to clean and soft enough to kiss tired feet, but durable enough to handle whatever life with kids throws our way.
It’s crazy how much thought you can have about what goes on your bathroom floor, but when you find the right rug – it’ll make your life that much easier.
