I actually had my hands on the CB2 branch mat on the way to the checkout then turned and ran it back again...too many places for all the detritus of life that just finds a home in my home. Unwelcomed! The slated wood is ideal for the reasons stated. Finns have used them in sauna for decades with ease. They feel great underfoot, too.

I've been noticing a wooden bathmat trend, but haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet. Our bathroom is too small to keep a regular rug and a bathmat out at all times, so we just put down a terrycloth bathmat when needed and have a simple World Market terrycloth rug the rest of the time.

Sorry...I like plushy soft!

This may be a very silly question...but don't they get mildewy at all? Our bathroom is poorly ventilated and I like to stick to machine-washable rugs and shower curtains to keep the mold and mildew quotient down.

I'm wondering about mildew, too. Love the look but I worry about all the water that would pool on my floor.

Just a tip... We just moved into an older house with floor air vents, and our air return grill is right in the middle of the hallway, so we put this wood bath mat from Target over it. Much easier on bare feet, and it breathes!

http://www.target.com/Hexagon-Wood-Bath-Mat-Brown/dp/B001FXN8NM

Pretty, sure. Practical, probably. Maybe it takes some practice, but I have jammed my toes on a friend's wooden shower "mat" waaaayy too many times going into the shower to recommend these.

I use a woven dragon grass, hand-woven mat bought on clearance at a Pier 1 over 20 years ago. It doesn't mildew and just needs to be shaken out a couple times a month. It feels really good stepping out of the shower - like a quick foot massage. I got the idea from the one that had been at my front door for almost five years. Both are still in great condition and wouldn't give them up for anything.

I tried the Ikea wooden bathmat a few years ago, and abandoned it. It looked great, but I kept slipping on it. Plus, I lived in a student's dorm with a very old, broken air vent, so the wood got mildew in a matter of months.

I still love the look and the feeling, but for it not to be gross like mine was, you have to have a great ventilation system.

my bathroom is too small and i'm afraid of stubbing my toe on the side of it !

When I was growing up my dad had a sandalwood bathmat in his bathroom; you would step out of the shower and the warm water dripping off you would make this heavenly sandalwood vapour rise up and envelop you. Over the 10 or 12 years he had it, it never got mildewy.

I've had a teak bathmat for a few years and love it. It doesn't slip, and has never mildewed (I spray it with a water/vinegar mix about once a week). Comfortable to step on as well. I wouldn't go back to the cloth variety again.

I wonder if it could be hung on the wall for a cool-looking piece in between showers/baths?

I am with Susan on this one. When I get out of the shower or bath, I don't want to step on hard, cold thing. Plushy soft is great! But, I wouldn't mind hanging them up as a wall piece. =)

I am looking to get one of these since my flooring in the new bathroom is going to be black stones which are quite cold feeling at first. I don't want to slap a $2.99 ikea rug on them, rather keep with the overall spa feel. Something a little different and nice all at the same time :)

I'd be afraid of it slipping away from under me as I hopped out of the bathtub. What about the dripping water? Where does it go?

"...and though it has a tendency to collect build-up underneath..."

What type of "build-up" are we talking about?

I do like the way wooden mats look. But I'm also concerned about the puddles of water etc that would get on the tile floor below.

I have some similar to the C&B. No mildew issues as it's made of something that's mildew resistant. I just can't stand the look of regular, towel like bath mats. Have never found one I didn't hate :o\ but maybe someone here has recs for ones that are cute and unfussy?

If there isn't a drain under it I would not recommend them. Way too much work.

I've been thinking about getting this for my shower. The shower has this humongous ~6" drain that I loathe stepping on. I am thinking something like this would solve my problem, but I am worried about slipping issues as well.

They look wonderful, especially when they are brand new, and add a spa-like feeling to a bathroom. But I prefer plush cotton rugs. They are so much nicer under foot and I just throw them in the washer twice a week.

i had one a few years ago. one day while cleaning the floor, i turned it over and there were tiny little bugs crawling over the bottom, no mildew, but bugs. into the trash it went. we have a regular mat and never had the bug problem again.

I admit to having no mat in my bathroom at all. I don't feel I need one, the bathroom is not too big and I always dry my feet before stepping out of the shower. If I have to step on the floor, the flooring is peel-&-stick tiles (slate imitation) and they actually feel quite pleasant.
But my main reason is I have two dogs, and dog hair finds its way absolutely everywhere, even in the bathroom where the dogs never go. I have enough of cleaning up bust bunnies all over the house and I feel I don't need to provide them with additional places to hide.

I saw a bamboo bath mat at T.J.Maxx and almost bought it because I've been trending toward bamboo and natural materials lately, but I hesitated and put it back because I thought it would be uncomfortable. It would look tidy, though.

I have the oval one above and I put a small hand towel underneath. Every two weeks I throw that thing in the wash. No puddles, and a spa-like atmosphere.

We got a bamboo one from Target as a wedding gift and we LOVE IT. I was worried about functionality, but I find it works even better than traditional mats. Never, ever, ever again will I have a nasty cloth bath mat.

I haven't had any "build up" issues like some comments mention, but then again we sweep and mop our bathroom twice a week.

Plus it looks beautiful.

I love my wooden bathmat! I am not a huge fan of the large solid plank ones, but the flexible (wooden tile) mats are wonderful. I picked up two at the Marshalls in Harlem for less than $20!