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Professional stager Jason Saft used a wool rug in place of a traditional bath mat while staging a Brooklyn Heights apartment, saying it gives feet a soft landing and makes a bathroom feel more decorated. His approach is a styling choice, not evidence that wool rugs are suitable for every bathroom; the report does not address their performance when wet or care requirements.
Professional stager Jason Saft chose a wool rug instead of a traditional bath mat while staging a pre-war apartment in Brooklyn Heights, Apartment Therapy reported. Saft said the rug offered a soft place to step after bathing and helped make the bathroom feel more like a decorated living space, though the recommendation was presented as a design choice rather than a tested safety or maintenance solution.
The rug appeared in the fourth episode of Styled to Sell, in which Saft staged the apartment. Its oversized primary bathroom gave him room to use a larger rug alongside a skirted swivel chair. The article describes the space as supporting his idea of a “big, dreamy bathroom.”
Saft said he does not use bath mats in his staging projects. He explained that he likes the feeling of stepping onto wool after getting out of a bathtub, describing the surface as “soft and delicious.” Apartment Therapy noted that wool flatweaves are available in smaller formats, including around 2-by-3 feet, and suggested vintage sellers and Etsy as places to look.
The design logic is to make a bathroom feel less sterile and more connected to the rest of the home. Saft also recommended adding artwork, while saying canvas pieces can withstand bathroom steam or water. The report did not provide product testing, care instructions, or a comparison of wool rugs and bath mats for wet-floor performance.
A Softer, More Decorated Bathroom
Saft’s suggestion offers an alternative for people who dislike the look or feel of conventional bath mats, or who want a bathroom to appear more furnished. A rug can bring in color, texture and a residential feel, while a smaller flatweave may suit a compact room better than a large design.
But the appeal described in the report is aesthetic and tactile. Readers should not take the staging example as proof that a wool rug will manage water, remain slip-resistant or be easy to clean in their own bathroom. Those practical details can vary by rug, floor surface, ventilation and how much water lands on the floor. Anyone considering the swap would need to weigh the styling benefits against wetness, drying and upkeep.
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The Brooklyn Staging Example
The advice came from a single staging project: a pre-war apartment in Brooklyn Heights with an unusually spacious primary bathroom. Saft’s choice was made as part of preparing that property for presentation, where furnishings and decor are arranged to shape how a room looks and feels.
That setting matters because the article’s example is not a general product review. Saft described his own staging practice and design preference; Apartment Therapy supplied the apartment details and examples of smaller rug sizes. The report does not say that homeowners should remove bath mats in every bathroom, nor does it establish that the same choice works equally well in a small, frequently used or poorly ventilated space.
“I love a big, wool rug in the bathroom.”
— Jason Saft, describing the wool rug in the episode
Practical Questions Remain Open
The Apartment Therapy report does not explain how the rug performs when repeatedly exposed to water, how quickly it dries, or how often it needs cleaning. It also does not identify a particular rug model, backing, treatment or care routine. There is no reported test comparing wool rugs with bath mats for slip resistance or moisture handling.
It is also unclear whether Saft’s approach is intended for everyday household use or mainly for staging. The episode shows a design decision in one large bathroom, not results from long-term use across different homes. Readers should check the maker’s care guidance and consider the conditions in their own bathroom before replacing a purpose-made bath mat.
Check Fit Before Replacing a Mat
The report gives no follow-up trial or additional product findings. For now, Saft’s recommendation remains a styling idea from a staging project. People interested in trying it can compare rug dimensions with their available floor space and check the item’s material and cleaning instructions before buying.
Whether the alternative works in daily use will depend on details the report leaves unanswered, including how the rug handles splashes and how it behaves on the bathroom floor. Any later guidance or testing would help clarify those practical trade-offs; the article does not announce a further update.
Key Questions
What did Jason Saft use instead of a bath mat?
Saft used a wool rug while staging a Brooklyn Heights apartment, according to Apartment Therapy.
Why did Saft prefer a wool rug?
He said it gives feet a soft landing after a bath and helps a bathroom feel more decorated and less sterile.
What size rug did the report suggest?
Apartment Therapy said smaller wool flatweaves can be found in sizes around 2 by 3 feet or smaller. That is a sizing example, not a recommendation for every bathroom.
Does the report say wool rugs are safer or easier to maintain than bath mats?
No. It does not compare slip resistance, drying time or cleaning needs. Saft’s comments concern styling and comfort, so those practical factors remain unaddressed.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
