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Professional home stager Jason Saft says he uses a wool rug rather than a traditional bath mat in staged bathrooms, including a Brooklyn Heights apartment featured in Apartment Therapy’s Styled to Sell series. The approach is a design suggestion, not a universal recommendation; the report does not address how the rug handles repeated water exposure or what care it requires.
Professional home stager Jason Saft used a wool rug instead of a traditional bath mat in a Brooklyn Heights apartment featured in Apartment Therapy’s “Styled to Sell” series, presenting the choice as a way to make a bathroom feel softer and more like a decorated living space. His recommendation is based on staging and design preferences; the report does not establish that wool rugs are more practical or safer than bath mats for everyday use.
In the series’ fourth episode, Saft stages a pre-war apartment with an oversized primary bathroom. The room’s size gave him space to use a larger rug alongside a skirted swivel chair. He described the goal as creating a “big, dreamy bathroom” rather than relying on the usual small mat beside a tub or shower.
Saft said the texture underfoot was part of the appeal. “I love a big, wool rug in the bathroom,” he said in the video, adding that he wanted someone stepping out of the tub to have their feet land on something “soft and delicious.” The comment explains his design reasoning, but the example comes from a staged home rather than a report on long-term household use.
Apartment Therapy noted that smaller wool flatweaves can be found in sizes around 2 by 3 feet or less, including through vintage sellers and Etsy. That may make the look possible in a smaller room, although the article does not provide product testing, prices or guidance on how a particular rug performs when regularly exposed to water.
A Softer Look Beyond the Bath Mat
Saft’s suggestion offers readers a different way to think about bathroom decor: a floor covering can contribute to the room’s overall style, rather than serving only as a designated mat beside the shower. A wool rug may bring in texture and a more residential feel, particularly in a larger bathroom where a standard bath mat can look undersized.
But the design idea leaves practical questions for anyone considering it at home. Bathrooms involve splashes and humidity, and the source does not explain how often the rug should be cleaned, whether it needs a non-slip backing, or how it should be dried. Saft’s example is a staging choice, so readers should not take it as proof that a wool rug is suitable for every bathroom or household.
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The Brooklyn Staging Example
The advice appeared in the fourth episode of Apartment Therapy’s “Styled to Sell”, where Saft staged a pre-war apartment in Brooklyn Heights. Its unusually spacious primary bathroom shaped his decision: he had room to use a rug as part of a broader furniture-and-decor arrangement. That setting matters because the option may look different in a compact bathroom with limited floor space.
Saft also described a wider design aim: making bathrooms feel less sterile and more connected to the rest of a home. He encouraged using artwork in bathrooms, while cautioning that the art medium matters. According to Apartment Therapy’s account, he said canvas pieces could stand up to steam or water. The article does not offer further details about placement or the conditions under which artwork would be exposed.
Everyday Use Is Not Tested
The source reports Saft’s staging preference, not a comparison of wool rugs and bath mats in daily use. It does not specify a rug’s water resistance, drying time, cleaning routine, lifespan or slip resistance, and it does not say whether Saft uses the same approach in his own home. The article also gives no guidance on whether particular rug constructions are better suited to bathrooms. Readers considering the idea should check care instructions and floor grip rather than assume every wool rug will work in a wet area.
Practical Details Before Replacing a Mat
The source does not announce a product launch, new safety guidance or a follow-up test. Its next step for readers is a design decision: compare the rug’s dimensions and care requirements with the bathroom’s layout and how the space is used. Saft’s example shows how a rug can support a more decorated look, but performance in a real bathroom remains unaddressed in the report.
Key Questions
What alternative to a bath mat did Jason Saft use?
Saft used a wool rug in the staged primary bathroom of a Brooklyn Heights apartment featured in Apartment Therapy’s “Styled to Sell.”
Why did Saft prefer a wool rug?
He said he wanted the bathroom to feel less sterile and give someone stepping out of the tub a soft surface underfoot. This is his design rationale, not a finding from product testing.
Can a small bathroom use the same idea?
Apartment Therapy noted that smaller wool flatweaves are available in sizes around 2 by 3 feet or less. Whether one suits a particular bathroom depends on the available space and the rug’s care and grip features, which the report does not assess.
Does the report say wool rugs are safe for wet bathroom floors?
No. It does not compare slip resistance, drying, water exposure or cleaning needs. Saft’s example concerns staging and appearance, so the report does not establish that any wool rug is safe or practical for every bathroom.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
