Bathroom Rugs - yes/no?

28 days ago

I’ve seen a number of posts here with the basic advice that one should not have rugs in bathrooms other than in front of the tub/shower. Asking some questions based on our situation to gain perspective.

Our master bath has a marble floor. Even when getting out of the shower/tub and using the absorbent stone floor mat we have, sometimes moving from the tub/shower to the vanity can be a bit slippery. Also, if we had a rug in front of vanities, it would help with preventing water/lotion/sprays/etc from landing on the marble. I don’t want to cover the beautiful marble floors but also obsess a bit on protecting them. Is having a rug in front of a vanity common? No? I feel like I grew up with a rug in front of a vanity always. But that was a long time ago and people seem to be abandoning that concept?

Powder Room has a hardwood floor. Water dripped on the floor when washing hands can leave water spots. Would you consider a rug in front of the powder room vanity? I see so many posts saying “no rug” in a powder room.

Toilets. Appears to be a controversial topic. Definitely getting that contour rugs are out. Most of the posts I see say - no rugs at all and that a rug in front of a toilet is a sanitary issue. But….going along with the “drops of stuff on marble and hardwood” theme shared above in the master and powder….would you consider a small rectangle rug that is washed often? Our other guest baths have non-marble tile flooring to perhaps less of a concern with those toilets other than grout.

Thanks in advance.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Rho Dodendron
28 days ago
There have been no rugs in any bathrooms in my house for the past 40 years. Folks are getting SO picky now. I grew up in a house with a communal cup in the bathroom that matched the soap dish. Unsanitary. Then I was warned bar soap is also unsanitary so liquid soap that everyone pushes the same dispenser is better. Now I read cloth towels are gross and full of germs. Rugs are a trip hazzard.
Clyde Kalvin
28 days ago
We use bathmats in front of each sink. That is it. I do not like standing on cold tile when I wash up. They get washed every saturday.
Related Professionals
Traverse City Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Mankato Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Miami Bathroom Remodelers · Lafayette Bathroom Remodelers · Abilene Bathroom Remodelers · Huntington Bathroom Remodelers · Lima Bathroom Remodelers · London Bathroom Remodelers · Lake City Tile and Stone Contractors · Great Bend Tile and Stone Contractors · Elizabethtown Tile and Stone Contractors · Owensboro Tile and Stone Contractors · San Antonio Tile and Stone Contractors · Bemidji Tile and Stone Contractors · Yuma Tile and Stone Contractors
Valinta
28 days ago
Since you have marble slippery like ice bathroom floors you need a bath mat with non-slip backing, but a low pile that can be easily laundered and hung to dry due to the backing. So you need at least 2. Dry yourself and your feet thoroughly after bathing. If you still need a rug by the vanity buy a 3rd or 4th rug. As for the powder room, hang towel right next to the vanity so no drips if people need to reach for towel with wet hands. I would check with flooring person to see if PR floor needs a heavier finish to avoid drip marks.
No rug near the toilet ever!
S M
28 days ago
We have a mat outside shower door and a runner in front of vanity.
Theresa Peterson
28 days ago
I’ve seen a number of posts here with the basic advice that one should not have rugs in bathrooms other than in front of the tub/shower.

No, no, no. Solid no.

This is the Pinterest-effect, the idea being "look at my gorgeous floor, perhaps with a pattern -- I'd never cover it up with a fluffy bath mat, as this is all about the look". But bathmats are practical -- they're warm underfoot and they absorb water that otherwise would become a slip-hazzard.

No, no, no. The most solid of noes.

Then I was warned bar soap is also unsanitary so liquid soap that everyone pushes the same dispenser is better. Now I read cloth towels are gross and full of germs. Rugs are a trip hazzard.

Common sense says nothing's wrong with bar soap or cloth towels.

BUT as my grandmother neared 100 and fell on a regular basis, her doctor instructed us to remove throw-rugs from around the house. She didn't like it, but we did it.

That is it. I do not like standing on cold tile when I wash up.

Totally agree -- I don't particularly like my tile floor because it is So Very Cold underfoot. I much prefer the linoleum in my kitchen. Everything expensive isn't automatically better.

Additionally, I do not like stepping out of the shower and creating a drippy floor, which I will soon walk through in my sock-feet.