I Hate Bath Mats, so I Swear By This Living Room Staple Instead
I’ve never liked the tile in any of my rental bathrooms. Usually, I’m stuck with dated builder-grade styles held together with dingy, yellow-tinted grout. At the same time, I’m too lazy to lay down peel-and-stick tile, especially since my husband and I now have to move every two years for his job.
Of course, I can’t bear to leave things the way they are, so to transform my bathrooms, I cling to my ultimate renter-friendly hack that requires minimal effort. Similar to a living room, bedroom, or any other large room, I invest in a rug and make it the focal point of the space.
That’s right, I’ve elevated the idea of the traditional bath mat — gone are the days of settling for a tiny floor covering that only fits your feet and slides around anytime you use it. Previously, I’d even tried the quick-drying bath stone and the slatted wooden bath mat that’s supposed to give your bathroom a spa-like feel. Both options were practical and aesthetically pleasing, but they ultimately didn’t cover enough ground to hide the unappealing tile underneath.
After hours of searching for jumbo bath mats online, I also realized that most were much smaller than what I wanted, averaging around 20×30 inches (think the flimsy, folded-up white mats you typically find in hotel bathrooms). Yes, there are certainly thick and plushier ones on the market, but they pale in comparison to a hefty rug that covers up most of the bathroom floor.
I know what you’re thinking: Won’t the moisture and water ruin a bathroom rug and make it too damp? Thankfully, that’s where Ruggable’s machine-washable, water-resistant rugs come into play. For my substantial primary and guest bathrooms, I went with the Provence Toile Delft Blue Rug and Juliet Sage Green Rug, which I bought at over double the dimensions of a standard bath mat. They’re both actual rugs and sized accordingly, but that does make them a little more expensive.
Provence Toile Delft Blue Rug
Ruggable
$289
Buy Now
As far as maintenance goes, I throw my Ruggable rugs into the washing machine once a week to keep the bathroom as fresh as possible. I’d also suggest getting one of the brand’s rug pads, too. Otherwise, you’ll spend every day moving the rug back to where it’s supposed to be.
All in all, thanks to this simple upgrade, I now have a cozy, more personalized bathroom that’s no longer plain and boring. Plus, I don’t have to compromise on upkeep because the rugs are a breeze to clean. I highly recommend making the switch to washable rugs for your bathroom, especially since you have way more sizing and pattern options than regular bath mats!
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Pottery Barn — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
