Finding a Bath Mat that Matches Your Bathroom

Natural Warmth

A natural colored bathmat such as light dove gray, straw or cream woven from natural fibers can enhance a relaxing bathroom that contains other warm, neutral tones. Pair this bathmat with fluffy white towels, white honeycomb shades and a pedestal sink for a simple look that is beyond reproach. You can find natural shades trimmed in contrasting colors for a more dynamic look that sticks with the peaceful theme. This bathmat does not work well in period bathrooms, those with an edgy decor or bland bathrooms that could use an update, as it is too neutral to add the necessary contrast that would bring the room to life.

Carved Wood

Chic, modern bathrooms with a Japanese influence can feature an unusual bathmat made of wood carved into geometric patterns with a groove where water can drip through to the tile. This look is right for bathrooms featuring other outstanding materials such as black granite countertops, poured concrete floors and lush Egyptian cotton towels. A spare bathroom decor that would allow a carved wooden bathmat to shine might include nothing more than a potted orchid and a towel warmer.

Geometric Bathmat

A children's bathroom is a great place to have fun with a bathmat featuring a geometric design. Think: big pink polka dots on a soft turquoise background; a red, yellow and blue checkerboard; hot orange and black triangles. Choose a bathmat together with your kids so that they are excited to go in and scrub up. Pick towels based on the colors in this stand-out mat; orange and black towels can make the whole bathroom a fun place to be. By involving your kids in the process, they might become excited to pick out matching toothbrushes, soap dishes and shower curtains. This type of accessory-focused bathroom is best with a white background, including white tile walls and flooring, so that as the kids grow up and a new look is required, you can make the change easily. Then again, if you love to paint the walls, go for it. Each new bathmat can dictate the whole room's redesign.

Beyond the Rectangle

A tiny bathroom can look adorable with a small bathmat in a non-traditional shape, such as a flower bloom or a circle. Big rectangular varieties that must be folded under or folded so that they creep up the wall make the space seem smaller and less organized. You can also try cutting a bathmat to a smaller shape; be careful of cutting materials that will show frayed, raveling edges over time. Use a sewing machine to hem the edges if you have the skills. Try a mat intended to be a small decorative element near the front door or in a child's bedroom to expand your options.

River Rock Bathmat

A bathmat made of real or faux smooth, oval-shaped river rocks in various mineral shades is a perfect foil for a modern gray bathroom or any bathroom where you want to instill a feeling of nature. River rocks pair beautifully with the wet environment, and they feel soothing on the bottoms of your feet when you step out of the shower.

Tone-on-Tone Weave

A woven rug with a raised pattern can add dimension to a bathroom where a flat color would recede. This look is great for rooms where the bathmat is one of only a few colorful accents and the shower curtain is unpatterned or also patterned in a tone-on-tone style.

Grosgrain Ribbon Contrast

To make a simply outfitted bathroom outstanding, sew a trim of grosgrain ribbon in a color or sheen you find impressive—say, a hot pink and silver pattern from India, or red with white polka dots—to the edge of a solid bathmat. Use the same or slightly wider ribbon to trim a shower curtain that is the same shade as the rug. This personalized look is right for bathrooms where you may want to do an elaborate renovation but don't yet have the budget. Styling your bathmat to be a custom fit for your personal aesthetic can make the room feel complete, and may even inspire your eventual redesign.