The Surprising Reason Fuzzy Toilet Seats Were Once So Popular
When was the last time you walked into a bathroom and were met with a carpeted toilet? I honestly can’t recall a recent instance, but as a child of the ’90s, I was very likely to have the occasional run-in with a funny, fuzzy toilet lid cover. I even have a very visceral memory of walking into my friends’ grandma’s bathroom and sitting directly onto a rug-covered toilet seat (it honestly still haunts me a little).
The iconic fuzzy toilet seat cover is likely an extension of the 20th century obsession with carpets and matching textiles. It wasn’t just about adding a curtain that complemented the wallpaper; it was about the curtain featuring the exact same print as the wallpaper and carpets — and possibly the couch, too. Bathroom rugs and their matching toilet seat and lid covers were another avenue for people to lean (perhaps a little too far) into this design craze.
When Were Fuzzy Toilet Seat Covers Popular?
“Toilet seat covers were iconic in the ’70s,” says James Pearse Connelly, an Emmy Award-winning set and celebrity interior designer. “Back in the ’70s, we saw a decadence to decorate the bathroom with the same styles of the living room — think ruffled shower curtains, shaggy rug throws, and really bold wallpaper that were all the rage at that time.”
But while so many retro home decor pieces from that era have come back in style (hello, mid-century modern), the fuzzy toilet seat and lid cover craze stayed behind. According to Connelly, the trend officially fell out of favor in the ’90s, but its downfall started in the ’80s when people said goodbye to shaggy accessories (at least for a while).
Why Do People Use Fabric Toilet Seat Covers?
Believe it or not, fuzzy toilet seat and lid covers (and their matching rugs) were once considered functional bathroom decor. “The purpose of a fuzzy toilet seat cover was to provide a washable surface that could help cover up the germ-prone area of a toilet seat, while also being comfortable and decorative,” says Connelly. “They were designed to be easy to clean and help keep things a bit more hygienic.”
Essentially, the whole point of fuzzy seat covers is to provide a more sanitary situation — but do toilet seat covers really protect against germs? There actually isn’t a lot of evidence that suggests so. While you can wash standard toilet seat and lid covers regularly, common bathroom bacteria can still form (just think about how gross your bath mat gets, even with regular washing), and you obviously still need to give your toilet a good scrub regularly to prevent mold, mildew, and other gunk from building up.
People who love this fuzzy accessory for its overall comfort aren’t in the wrong — sitting on a rug is a lot more comfortable than a cold ring of porcelain. But other options don’t involve subjecting your tushy to a strip of stinky fabric. Wood toilet seats are a fantastic alternative and considered a little more durable compared with porcelain. However, they’ll need proper maintenance and cleaning to ensure they remain sanitary since wood is more porous and can attract more debris.
Round Wood Closed Front Toilet Seat in Natural Oak with Chrome Hinge
Home Depot
$32.60
Buy Now
Will Fuzzy Toilet Seats Come Back?
Fuzzy toilet lid covers still exist today (if you really wanted to, you could order one on Amazon and carpet your toilet this week), but as far as trends are concerned, they’re probably not poised to make a comeback. “There’s absolutely no need for toilet carpets or seat covers,” Connelly says. “I’m in the middle of renovating an entire house back to its 1985 glory, and I’ll admit, I’ve considered bringing back some fluffy finishes for the bathroom — but I think it’s over; I just can’t shake the ick.”
While you can appreciate the history of fuzzy toilet seat covers, Connelly ultimately suggests only using them for a good laugh, or if you want to go all out with Christmas decor (there are some hilarious options, like this Santa set and this reindeer set). That said, it all comes down to your bathroom preferences, and you may even have a fuzzy toilet seat cover if you live in an older home, but just make sure you’re taking the necessary cleaning precautions!
Further Reading
I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
