The bathroom, in addition to its basic - hygienic function, has many additional functions. At the same time, it is a place of rest and relaxation, beauty salon, laundry, as well as a storehouse of various and very necessary things. That is why it is so important that in the bathroom everything is subordinated to the issues of our comfort and comfort.
In many respects it depends on the right choice of sanitary ware and furniture, but the role of accessories should not be underestimated. We sometimes do not pay attention to these useful trifles, but without them staying in the bathroom would not give us so much pleasure. After all, it is not by chance that we sometimes spend less time choosing a curtain for a shower, soap dish or towel holder than to more serious acquisitions. One of such not primary, but, nevertheless, extremely useful elements of an interior of a bathroom is a rubber rug.
Purpose
Probably hard to find a bathroom that would do without it. In addition to the fact that some rugs are a real work of art and can decorate a room, they also perform several important functions.
Their main purpose is to prevent slipping. Rubber base provides a reliable grip floor mat, so you can safely leave the bath, not afraid to slip on a smooth tiled floor. Often, rubber mats are placed on the bottom of the bath or shower tray.
Not every bathroom is equipped with underfloor heating. But it's so nice to touch bare feet not of cold tiles, but of warm, pleasant surfaces!
The fluffy bath mat on the rubber base is designed to make your feet warm and comfortable. In addition, the textile surface absorbs moisture perfectly.
Some rubber mats can perform the function of a foot massager, thanks to its rippled surface. Such mats usually put both a bath or a shower and combine hygienic procedures with foot massage.
Finally, rubber mats for the bathroom can serve as grounding elements for household appliances. They make it safer to use household appliances, such as a hair dryer or an electro-epilator, near water.
Alternative versions of bathroom mats read our other article.
Tips for choosing
When choosing a rubber mat for a bathroom you need to focus only on your individual preferences. Surely you want it to not only perform its basic functions, but also fit into the interior of the room. Try to choose a mat so that it blends in color with the color scheme of the room or, conversely, creates an advantageous contrast. In order not to make a mistake with a choice, you can buy a transparent mat, it will look great in any bathroom.
It is worthwhile to pay attention to the shape of the rug. In the bathroom, decorated in a marine style, the most important place is a rug in the form of a shell or dolphin. Simple geometric shapes fit the modern interior. The material of which the rug is made is also important. The most popular materials are rubber and silicone. They do not differ much: rubber mats are slightly less slippery, and silicone ones are slightly more elastic. For the rest of their characteristics, they are almost identical. There are several varieties of rubber mats for the bathroom, each of which has its advantages.
Types
Baby
Of course, for bathing a child you can use the usual "adult" rubber mat. It is also securely attached to the bottom of the bathtub and protects against accidental falls. But nevertheless the rug created specially for children, for certain will please your kid.
These mats adhere well to the bathroom with suction cups that are located on the back of the rubber product. The child can do as much as necessary on it with his legs and hands - the mat does not budge. The outer side of the rubber mat often has a massage surface - all kinds of relief elements not only provide easy massage, but also help the development of fine motor skills.
Children's rug is able to entertain your baby while swimming. They are usually very bright, with an interesting design. You can find rugs with pictures of famous fairy-tale characters, cartoon characters or comics. Some rugs are produced in the form of marine creatures - fish, dolphins or frogs. The child will look with interest at such a rug and will not even notice how the bathing procedure so unpleasant for many kids will pass.
Massage
We have repeatedly mentioned the massage properties of some rubber bath mats. Let's talk about them in more detail.
Such mats are made from rubber or silicone. They lie on the bottom of the bathtub or shower. The massage effect is created thanks to special convex elements - bubbles, incisions, etc. Contact with the relief surface enhances the flow of blood to the feet.
This foot massage has a small therapeutic effect:
- prevents flat feet;
- strengthens the muscles of the legs;
- through certain points on the feet affects the internal organs.
Anti-vibration for washing machines
In the bathroom you can often see a washing machine. Unsurprisingly, because our apartments do not have much space to accommodate this very small unit. Very few people have a special room for washing, ironing and drying, so usually a washing machine is installed in the kitchen or in the bathroom.
For many, the presence of household appliances in the bathroom does not cause any discomfort. But some washing machines can go during laundry to wash in the middle of the room, while producing an incredible roar.
Many people find the solution to this problem in the use of antivibration rubber mats. These are large enough mats that fit directly under the washing machine. They are soft and embossed, so that the vibration from the operating centrifuge is absorbed, and the washing machine remains in place. Such mats not only reliably keep the unit from traveling through the bathroom, but muffle the sounds that it emits during work. In addition, rubber mats save the floor under the washing machine from damage.
Unusual mats on the rubber base
Fans of natural materials in the interior design will appreciate the bath mats, which are made with the use of natural raw materials.
The bamboo mat is the right choice for those who appreciate the naturalness combined with comfort and beauty. Bamboo fiber was recently considered in our country a real exotic. But today, at least one thing, made of this amazing material, certainly is in every house. From the bamboo canvas produce almost everything, from socks and ending with fillers for pillows and mattresses. Bamboo things took root in the bathroom. Towels and bathrobes from bamboo were first brought from the southern countries, and then they appeared on the shelves of shops. Bamboo fiber looks great, it is very soft and pleasant to the touch and, moreover, excellently absorbs moisture.
The pebble mat is another interesting solution. It will look great in the bathroom, decorated in the style of the SPA-salon or the sea resort. Rounded pebbles of different sizes create a massage effect and cause a sensation of walking along the beach. And if the bathroom is heated floors, then the feeling that you are walking on the sun-warmed seashore, will be even stronger.
In the stores you can find rugs made with the use of natural stones, or created from synthetic synthetic materials. Natural products, as a rule, are more expensive, but the sensations are given quite different. In order not to spend too much money, you can make a real pebble mat yourself.
How to make a rug in the bathroom with your own hands?
In order to make a pebble bath mat yourself we will need:
- pebbles, it can be collected on the city beach, brought from a vacation or bought in a store;
- piece of rubber cloth, you can use for this old linoleum;
- is a good universal adhesive.
Let's start with the preparation of pebbles. Stones should be thoroughly washed and dried. Then cut out from the rubber band that you have available a shape and size suitable for the piece. Then you can start laying out the pattern. You can arrange the pebbles in a mess, as if it's a carved piece of real sea coast. In this case, no preliminary preparation is needed, just lay out the stones in random order. If you are thinking about creating an original ornament or decided to even lay out a pebble picture, it is better to sketch a pattern on paper, and then try to recreate it from the stones, while without glue.
Stick the stones to the rubber simply: glue the bottom side of the pebble with glue and press it against the rubber for a few seconds. Having finished work, we give our rug a day for the pebbles to be firmly fixed on the base.
Another way to make a bath mat with your hands, in which stones are attached with a sealant, you can look in another article.
Care
Caring for a rubber mat for a bathroom is not difficult even for a child. They are usually made of high quality materials and therefore with a minimum of care will last several years.
- Rugs need to be dried periodically - you can hang it at night on the side of the tub or dryer.
- If the mat is rubber, after all water procedures, wipe it dry with any rag or sponge.
- Some manufacturers add antibacterial and antifungal components to their mats, but for the prevention of one to two times a month you can wash the rug with soap under hot water.
- If the mat with a textile surface, as it is soiled, you can wash it in a washing machine in a delicate mode.