The right bathroom mat is right around the corner

Selecting the right rug for your bathroom should never be an off-the-cuff decision. Whether you're after something practical or decorative, here are some ideas for selecting bathroom mats and rugs to suit your home.

Adding a rug to a bathroom can serve a variety of purposes. For starters, a rug can protect bare feet from the unforgiving coldness of bathroom tiles. Choosing bathroom rugs with rubber backing can also help prevent accidents, particularly if kids are around.

But a rug also acts as a painting for the floor, according to Creswel Meyers, manager of Rugs Galore: "You hang pictures on your walls for decorative purposes, so why not enhance the floor of your bathroom in the same way?"

These days, the range of styles and types of rugs on the market is vast. And, as Creswel points out, people are making the most of the choices on offer. More popular options include traditional cotton bathroom rugs with rubber backing, polyester rugs with rubbing backing and woven polyprolene rugs.

"Synthetic rugs are always popular, as is a relatively new alternative called Moonwalk, which has been specifically designed for bathrooms," says Creswel. "It's a lightweight rubberised product, which equates to having a non-slip rug in the wetter areas of the home. It's decorative as well as being washable, so it ticks several boxes."

In a welcome throwback to the 70s, shaggy rugs are making a comeback, with three synthetic types of bathroom mats available: polyester, acrylic and heat-set. Creswel says the heat-set rug is especially popular because it's crush resistant, easy to clean and doesn't shed. "Everyone is going crazy for shaggy rugs at the moment," he says.

What people aren't so hot for right now, according to Creswel, are the standard cotton rugs without rubber backing, because they move around too much and tend to curl up at the edges. "Traditional woven rugs also aren't as popular now because they slip too much on tiled areas," he says. "People prefer rugs with rubber backing for the safety factor."

A round bathroom rug, on the other hand, tend to be chosen for decorative rather than practical purposes. "The area in front of most vanities is usually rectangular," Creswel says, "so most people go for a rectangular rug. It makes for fewer splashes on the floor, of course, when you choose a rug that fits an area well."

And in terms of keeping a bathroom rug in good condition, Creswel says to use common sense and air bathroom rugs once a week. Regular vacuuming also helps to keep rugs healthy.

To see a range of bathroom mats and accessories, find a retailer in your area: