Does carpet belong in the bathroom?

While it is highly unusual to find a carpeted bathroom these days, carpets were a popular floor covering choice for the smallest room of the home in the 1970s and 80s. On one hand, carpet in the bathroom makes sense, as it is soft, warm and comfortable to step onto on those icy-cold winter mornings. On the other hand, it hardly seems practical with all the splashes and spills that are inevitable in a bathroom. It might be lovely to step onto as you get out of the shower, but how does it dry out and how do you prevent mould?

It may be a surprise to learn that carpet in bathrooms is making something of a comeback, with new types of carpet specially designed to cope with the high humidity levels. Bathroom carpets are designed with a special waterproof backing that prevents water from soaking through the carpet into your underlay and onto the floorboards underneath. While this goes some way towards helping with the excess water, is it enough and how does the carpet itself dry out after it has been splashed with water? Fibres can be coated with special treatments to help repel water, meaning spills can simply be blotted up with a dry cloth or towel in the same way as you should be doing with your laminate or vinyl floor anyway.

If you like the idea of carpet in the bathroom but aren’t convinced – and we have to admit that we aren’t either – there are other options that can provide you with warmth and comfort and are more practical. A big thick, soft bathmat is the perfect way to achieve the feel of carpet under your feet when you step out of the bath or shower; what’s more, unlike carpet, it can simply be hung up to dry out afterwards. If you have a large bathroom, you might like to consider a rug. This can be as large as you can fit in your bathroom and will deliver the comfort of carpet but can be hung up for drying and cleaned more easily. Many thinner rugs can be machine washed, just like a bathmat, so there is no need to worry about it getting dirty or unhygienic.

While bathroom carpets might be enjoying a slight increase in popularity, they are still a bone of contention for many people and there are definitely more practical and hygienic options.