Bath mats: choose the perfect option

The design of any room requires the placement of accents not only through the arrangement of basic furniture and appliances, but also the choice of some useful and attractive parts that complement the interior. For the bathroom, such a practical accessory is a rug, represented by a large variety in the modern market.

Any floor covering in the bathroom, even the most practical options, including the heated floor, will not be able to provide that feeling of comfort for the feet, which gives a rug when you step on it after taking a shower or bath. In addition, the decorative component of this product is another feature due to which bath mats are widely popular.Today, bathrooms and toilets are a rarity, where there will be no floor mat.

Due to the large range of products to purchase goods in almost every household or construction supermarket is not difficult. However, the choice of products should be based primarily on the conciseness of the presence of such an accessory in the room, as well as the justification of the money spent on the product, which, in addition to visual appeal, acting as an ornament, should perform functional tasks.

Requirements for bath mats for each consumer are individual. But there are general characteristics of the product, due to which the mat fulfills its purpose.

It has several basic functions.

• High security. Becoming on a soft mat after water procedures, there is no risk of slipping on the wet base of a tile or linoleum floor. In addition to personal safety, the presence of a rug will protect objects from accidentally falling to the floor, such as a hair dryer or a glass bottle with a cream or other body hygiene product, from damage. That, in turn, will save the floor, eliminating the presence of cracks and other deformations associated with the impact of objects on the surface.

• Another feature of the rug related to safety is that the product is a kind of electrical current insulator. This function is very important in the bathroom, given that water is an excellent conductor for it.
• Decorative accessory for the room. Competently selected products that meet all the characteristics presented will help with the interior decoration of the room. And the possibility of purchasing rugs in a set, for example, for the location of another near the toilet or washbasin, will serve as an additional advantage in selecting the optimal combination of all items and accessories in the bathroom.

• The maximum anti-slip effect of the product is ensured by the presence of suckers on its wrong side.

Their main tasks are reduced to the following points:

• prevent sliding on the surface directly in the bath or shower itself when taking water procedures;
• provide comfort for the skin by stepping on the cold base of the unheated bath or shower.

Taking into account the above features of the product and the area of ​​its operation, the following mandatory parameters can be distinguished:

• moisture resistance and quick drying on contact with water;
• lack of propensity of the main raw materials to deformation when wet;
• easy and quick cleaning with conventional detergents;
• if the edges of the purchased product are sealed with threads, then the strength and flatness of the seam will be of great importance, since the quality of the entire product will depend on its quality;
• A solid structure, regardless of the material from which the mat is made, will ensure reliability during use as well as product durability.

In the process of making rugs used different materials. Based on the type of raw material, the cost of the goods is determined, and the functions that it will perform depend on it. Most often the consumer is interested in how soft the product will be with tactile contact.

The most popular natural material is cotton. This is due to the environmental friendliness of raw materials. In addition, it is pleasant to the touch and keeps warm well.The product can be of any shape and color with different lengths of pile. There are models with a pile of 5 mm or as soft as possible rugs, the pile of which reaches a length of 25 mm. There are models with extraordinary nap, which is formed from large diameter threads. You can stop your choice on one or another variant by testing the product for your sensations from the touch of the material and the nap to the body.

Among the natural products are bamboo bath mats. The visually attractive top layer made of viscose adds visual appeal. They perfectly absorb water, and by durability they are ahead of all analogues made of wood. The disadvantages of products from natural raw materials include the fact that the products dry for a very long time after use, and some models lose their original shape and brightness over time. However, such defects will not be so significant, if the bathroom is operated less frequently, for example, in the morning and in the evening, then the products will have time to dry out.

A little unconventional, but widely used material for bath mats is wood. Such products are made of their small rails. This unusual accessory is very easy to clean, it dries quickly and looks very elegant in the overall design of the bathroom. Wood products are durable, since the components of the product are necessarily processed with special water-repellent agents. They do not lose their attractiveness for a very long time even with constant contact with moisture.

Not so long ago, synthetic rubber mats were the only option for sanitary facilities. And today products from this raw material are popular because manufacturers are working to improve rubber mats, offering customers a wide range of textures and shapes of products.

Rubber and rubber products have positive characteristics, among which are the following:

• preservation of the original form for a long period of operation;
• all sorts of stains from cosmetics are very easily removed from the base, in contrast to the textile analogues of products of this line;
• most of the products contain antibacterial substances.

The saturation of the color gamut of rubber-based products is provided by special pigments having a high level of resistance to loss of color.

Acrylic products are very pleasant to the touch, has high performance properties and an attractive appearance. Raw materials are hypoallergenic, so the use of such bath mats is not prohibited in homes where there are children. In addition, manufacturers combine acrylic with other materials, as a result of which polyacryl mats can be found on sale. Such products have good performance. Silicone non-slip mat with suction cups is the perfect solution for the bathroom. Its advantage is the unique structure, due to which water does not accumulate inside and on the surface of the product.

Among the goods on a synthetic basis, the nylon mat is considered the most durable. It is resistant to deformation and acts as an insulating material from the electric current. However, for rooms where regular contact with water is expected, this option is not entirely acceptable, since nylon practically does not absorb moisture, leaving puddles on the base of the product.

Microfiber is a material consisting of fine polyester fibers. The advantage of microfiber is the ability to quickly absorb moisture. But given that the wet environment is favorable for the development of pathogenic microflora, such products are additionally treated with antibacterial compounds. The disadvantages of the material include the minimum thermal conductivity and resistance to temperature fluctuations. For warm electric floors in the bathroom, this option is not recommended.

Positively manifested themselves in the course of use in the bathroom mats made of polypropylene and PVC. They are well collected water and unpretentious in the care. The goods are sold in the form of whole rolled products or as finished cutting products.

For the ultramodern directions of bathroom design, “live” products are popular, which consist of small fragments of a certain type of soft moss. They are fixed to the base of foamed rubber. This original solution is not suitable for everyone, although natural gardening feels great in conditions of high humidity and minimum natural light,which is important for most baths. The product is unpretentious in care and copes well with moisture falling on it.

As another representative of the exotic in the design of bath mats stands natural stone. Such products look original in the general interior of the room, and also have a massage and firming effect. The disadvantage of a natural stone rug is not all a pleasant feeling during contact with cool material immediately after taking a warm bath. The way out of this situation will be a heated floor, which will help keep the stones at an optimally comfortable temperature. It is very easy to make such a product with your own hands, using smooth small sea stones and a rubber base with holes for moisture, it is sold in rolls in most business departments. For floors with any kind of heating is better to prefer latex.

As for the seamy side of bathroom products, manufacturers offer two options for products.

• Models with rubber base, the function of which is to prevent sliding on the floor surface and protection from moisture of the upper layer of the product.
• Products with latex base.

The disadvantage of the first option is the inability of the rubber to pass air, due to which mold and unpleasant smell from the product can develop on the inside out. Regular care will help to avoid such negative processes.

Before you buy a bath mat, you need to determine the exact location of its placement in order to choose the right shape based on the area. If the room is large, there will be no restrictions on the choice of forms. Then it will be based only on the taste preferences and style of the bathroom.

Rectangular rugs should be preferred if the room is decorated in a classic or modern style. Round products can visually smooth the sharp edges of the existing furniture, which will give the interior conciseness. Forms of rugs in the marine style, imitating the flora and fauna, will always be relevant for bathrooms. Products in the form of shells, fish, starfish and other options will decorate and enliven the interior of the room. As well as an interesting solution will be mats in the form of a drop of water or human foot prints, such products often come bundled with several products,what gives the chance to issue a rug with cut under a toilet bowl, the corresponding part of the room if the bathroom has the combined type.

In the assortment of many manufacturers there are products whose design is complemented by various applications, embroidery and other decorative elements. Based on the presence of additional decorations, the cost of the product itself increases. There are children's options with removable parts that have a beneficial effect on the development of the child.

As well as the shape, the size of the bath mat is determined from the calculation of the area of ​​the bathroom. Large rooms can have several products on the floor at once. The largest option is most often located near a shower or bath; it can be quite serious in size, for example, 120 by 80 cm.

For small rooms, the number of floor mats will be minimal with small sizes., for example, in the form of a square 50x50 cm or rectangular products 50x80 cm. Round products are usually made with a diameter of 45, 60, 80 cm.

Based on the hue of the main cladding material in the room, the color of the mats is usually selected.In harmony with the main accents, the accessory will look the most advantageous. But a rather bold and often successful solution will be the purchase of a rug, the color of which will differ from the overall range. Thanks to this technique, a dark bathroom without natural light can be diluted with bright colors.

Abstract drawings, green plants and ethnic motifs with yellow elements will be an interesting solution for the design of a room dominated by a deep gray color. This applies to those cases where there is a steel plumbing and accessories.

Experts, in order not to get confused when choosing products, are advised to proceed from what one wanted to feel at the sight of the rug. If the hostess of the dwelling makes the decision, then the image of delicate pink buds or strange lilac flowers will emphasize her taste, and every day will be pleasing to the eye. In order to add relaxing accents to the interior, you can dwell on the deep blue tones of soft rugs. Children's themes have always demanded a riot of colors and unusual shapes,therefore, a bright orange product in the form of a sun or a green crocodile will not make the space too heavy.

Among the manufacturers of bathroom mats leading position is Czech company Grund. Products of this brand are widely popular in forty European countries, and also present in the Russian market. The products are notable for their interesting design and high level of European quality, as they are produced on modern high-tech equipment. The range of products is represented by classic models and unique author products.

Among the other producers of this group of goods, such well-known foreign companies can be identified as Duschy (Sweden) and Banyolin (Turkey).

Renovate the interior of the bathroom will help bright green or yellow rugs with a large pile in the form of small and colorful rounded islands. By adding such expressive accents to the room, you can transform your familiar bathroom and breathe in a fresh new breath into the existing, but already familiar repair.

Multi-colored striped rugs, resembling pillows, will be a highlight in the design of a snow-white bathroom.It will always be pleasant to immerse yourself in a fluffy nap after taking a relaxing bath in the evening or after an invigorating and fresh morning shower.

How to choose a safe bath mat, see the following video.