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Professional home stager Jason Saft used a wool rug instead of a conventional bath mat while staging a Brooklyn Heights apartment, according to Apartment Therapy. His suggestion is a design choice, not a universal bathroom rule; the report does not address rug safety, cleaning, or performance in wet conditions.
Professional home stager Jason Saft used a wool rug instead of a traditional bath mat while styling a large bathroom in a Brooklyn Heights apartment, according to Apartment Therapy. The choice reflects his preference for making bathrooms feel softer and more like decorated living spaces, but the report does not establish that wool rugs are safer or more practical than bath mats for everyday use.
Saft’s recommendation appeared in the fourth episode of Styled to Sell, a series in which he stages homes for sale. The featured property was a pre-war apartment in Brooklyn Heights with an oversized primary bathroom. Apartment Therapy said Saft added a skirted swivel chair and a wool rug as part of a design intended to make the room feel spacious and inviting.
“Never use a bath mat,” Saft said in the episode, explaining that he likes the idea of stepping out of a tub onto “something soft and delicious.” His comment describes his staging preference; the story does not present it as professional safety guidance or report a comparison of different floor coverings.
The article notes that wool rugs come in smaller sizes, including flatweaves around 2 by 3 feet, and says smaller options may be found through vintage sellers or Etsy. It also reports that Saft favors artwork in bathrooms and said canvas pieces can withstand steam or water. The source does not provide product testing, care instructions, or independent verification of those claims.
A Softer Look for Staged Bathrooms
The idea matters mainly to readers considering how a bathroom should look and feel, particularly in a home being prepared for sale. A rug can bring color and texture into a room that often relies on hard surfaces, while a traditional bath mat is usually chosen for a practical purpose near a tub or shower. Saft’s staging choice highlights that decorative impact was the priority in this particular room.
That distinction matters before copying the look at home. A bathroom rug may suit a spacious room or a carefully styled listing, but the report does not say how Saft would handle daily water exposure, laundering, or the risk of slipping. Those practical questions are relevant for households deciding whether to replace a mat, especially in frequently used bathrooms. The article offers a design idea, not evidence that every wool rug is appropriate beside a wet tub.
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The Brooklyn Heights Staging Project
Apartment Therapy’s story centers on a single staging project rather than a product launch, safety advisory, or broader change in home-design standards. In the episode, Saft worked with a pre-war Brooklyn Heights apartment whose oversized primary bathroom gave him room to use furnishings beyond the usual bath mat. The wool rug appeared alongside a skirted swivel chair as part of the room’s overall presentation.
Saft’s stated design approach is to make bathrooms feel less sterile and more connected to the decorated areas of a home. He also recommends artwork, with a caution about choosing a medium suited to a bathroom environment. The article’s writer said the idea made a wool rug appealing for her own apartment, but that personal reaction is not evidence of how well the choice performs in other homes.
Everyday Use Questions Remain
The report does not say whether the wool rug was intended for regular use or only for the apartment’s staged presentation. It also provides no details about the rug’s backing, resistance to slipping, ability to dry, cleaning requirements, or performance after repeated exposure to water. Saft’s quoted advice is a design opinion, and the article does not cite independent testing or safety guidance.
It is also unclear whether Saft applies the same approach in smaller bathrooms or homes with different layouts. Although the article mentions compact rug sizes, it does not evaluate which materials or dimensions work best near a shower, or whether a rug should replace a purpose-made bath mat in any particular household.
Consider Fit Before Replacing a Mat
The article describes no follow-up announcement or change in Saft’s staging work. Readers interested in the look can use the example as inspiration, but should check a rug’s care and floor-grip details and consider how much water reaches the area before placing it beside a tub or shower. Apartment Therapy’s report supplies no product recommendation or test results, so the choice remains a matter of design preference and household needs.
Key Questions
What did Jason Saft use instead of a bath mat?
He used a wool rug in a staged bathroom in a Brooklyn Heights apartment, according to Apartment Therapy.
Why did Saft prefer a wool rug?
Saft said he wanted the room to feel softer and more inviting, describing the sensation of stepping onto something “soft and delicious.”
Does the report show that wool rugs are safer than bath mats?
No. The article reports a staging choice and does not compare rugs and bath mats for slip resistance, drying, or safety.
What rug size does the article mention?
It says smaller wool flatweaves can be around 2 by 3 feet or smaller, including options found through vintage sellers or Etsy.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
