There’s something incredibly satisfying about stepping out of the bath or shower onto a dry, comfy bath mat.
But bath mats dirty easily from regular use and become worn and tired over time, spoiling the aesthetic of the room.
If you’re in a constant battle with your bath mat to keep it looking clean and new, these five bath mat alternatives offer a practical solution to all your problems.
5 Great Bath Mat Alternatives
Bath mats play an important role in keeping your bathroom or wetroom floor dry and free from pooling, reducing the risk of slips and accidents.
Yet for all their practical benefits, bath mats can be slightly underwhelming as an important design element.
If you’re looking to replace your rather dowdy bath mat with something striking and unique, we’re here to help. From antique rugs to walk-in wetroom designs, discover our favourite bath mat alternatives that will transform the look of your space.
1. Turn Your Bathroom into a Wetroom
Wasted too much time washing grimy bath mats? Can’t find a design that suits your taste?
If you’re thinking about a bathroom renovation, a full wetroom installation might be the answer. Not only will your bathroom benefit from a fresh, modern facelift, but you’ll prevent the floor from getting wet and reclaim all that time you’d normally spend scrubbing a dirty bath mat.
Whether you go for a stylish half-tiled bathroom or tile the entire walls, a brand new wetroom will transform the entire space into a relaxing wash zone featuring a doorless walk-in shower offering easy access for all users, including those with mobility issues.
Once you’ve chosen the right wetroom drain for your wetroom floor, you can take a shower without worrying about another soggy bath mat. And with so much flexibility in terms of modern wetroom designs, you can be as bold or subtle as you like and let your creative flair shine.
While installing a whole new wetrooms might be at the extreme end of bath mat alternatives, they’re the perfect solution for those already considering a bathroom upgrade.
2. Get a Wooden Duck Board
Nobody likes a cold, clinical bathroom – most of us prefer a cosy, calming space that resembles a zen sanctuary.
A reliable way to create a relaxing space while taking the starkness out of your bathroom theme is to embrace eco-friendly natural materials. By laying a wooden duck board on your bathroom or wetroom floor, you’ll add elements of warmth and cosiness to your surroundings.
Bathroom duck boards are not only an affordable bath mat alternative, but they also come with non-slip surfaces for added safety and are perfect companion in feng shui wetroom designs.
Water-resistant wooden duckboards are also an ideal choice when you’re looking to create a minimalist design with a rugged edge.. They won’t collect dirt or mould and, because they’re made up of slats of wood, water drains away easily, providing extra grip when you step out of the shower.
3. Install Underfloor Heating
You could do away with bath mats once and for all by laying underfloor heating in your bathroom or wetroom.
Underfloor heating is popular in many modern bathroom and wetoom designs as a means of delivering constant heat that rises from the floor upwards, eliminating cold spots and requiring less energy to run than traditional radiators. Underfloor heating also offers full flexibility and can be incorporated into bathroom and wetrooms with either solid floors or timber floors.
And on top of those benefits, underfloor heating also means you might not need a scruffy bathmat ever again. It may be one of the more luxurious bath mat alternatives, but many homeowners are opting for underfloor heating in their bathroom or wetroom. When combined with non-slip flooring, your floor will be safer to access from the shower or bath, and the warm floor surface can dry up any drips and moisture so that water doesn’t pool.
4. Use Stone Bath Mats as an Alternative
The traditional thick, cloth bath mat may have had its day. Stone bath mats have emerged as a new trend in bath mat design, offering greater durability and longevity than standard cloth options that require regular washing and quickly degrade.
Most stone bath mats are made from diatomaceous materials which are ultra-absorbent and soak up water like a sponge. Not only that, but they are quick drying, hard-wearing, odour-resistant and easy to wipe clean with warm water and mild detergent.
While stone bath mats may cost a little more than fabric options, they typically last longer and won’t need washing or replacing as often as traditional bathmats do. These bath mat alternatives also come with non-slip backing to stop them sliding around on a damp tiled floor, making them a perfect fit for Scandinavia-inspired Hygge-style wetrooms with their emphasis on calming, natural materials.
5. Lay a Thick, Washable Rug
There was once an unwritten hygiene rule that said you should never use a thick floor rug in a kitchen or bathroom because it collected too much dirt and grime. These days, machine-washable rugs are widely available and relatively inexpensive, offering a great bath mat alternative.
Large and narrow bathrooms in particular benefit from a rug as a stylish, practical option. Whether you lay a runner-style rug along the length of your bathtub or place a thick rug in the centre of your wetroom, these popular flooring options provide luxury and warmth where it’s needed. Not only that, but their size means any drips will be quickly absorbed, reducing the risk of slips and accidents.
As well as enhancing you interior space, thick floor rugs are also a great option for modern outdoor wetrooms and bathrooms that offer relaxation and luxury in the open air.
Looking for more bath mat alternatives for your bathroom or wetroom?
At CCL Wetrooms, we offer a complete wetroom design and installation service to suit any layout or project. Contact us today to discuss your specific requirements.
