The Best Thing I Ever Did for My Kid’s Bedroom Was Add a Play Mat That Looks Like a Designer Rug

In a house with hardwood floors and with a little girl who is learning how to walk, play mats have quickly become a necessity in our world. My daughter is at the stage where she loves to move and explore, but, of course, along with that comes lots of stumbles and bonks. There are so many soft surfaces and play mats on the market, and I knew we had to start adding several to various rooms of our house during these toddling times. 

I found that many of the options on the market come in bright colors with cutesy, child-friendly patterns. While these are fun, I wanted to see if I could find something that could integrate into our overall design aesthetic. That’s when I discovered the play mats from Totter + Tumble. Finally, I found a safe play mat that looked more like a designer rug than a children’s toy. 

Their options are stylish yet practical, and I swooned over the gorgeous patterns and colors available. The collections range from grays and neutrals, to bolder reds and blues. Plus, the play mats come in four sizes to fit various rooms and uses throughout the home. There’s standard, compact, round, and even a runner. The best part is that all the mats are reversible, so you get two design options. This means that you can change up the look of a room simply by flipping the mat over. 

I selected a design from the Morris & Co. collection from Totter + Tumble. I loved the nature-inspired patterns that integrated perfectly into our home nestled on a wooded lot. On one side is the Blackthorn pattern set on a deep Oxford Blue background with florals in jewel tones. This is the side I typically have facing upward. When I want something a bit more neutral to blend with the light wood floors, I flip it around to the side with the Standen pattern. It is a small-scale leafy design in a warm ochre hue. 

The high quality and recyclable memory foam is not only safe for my daughter to play on, but it is also very easy to clean. I have found it is a comfortable surface for diaper changes now that she is a bit too wiggly to use the changing table. I even found an unexpected use for this new play mat. It happens to be the perfect amount of cushion and grip for me to use during my weekly Zoom Pilates class! I like the look of our mat so much that I will likely keep it as part of our home decor long after my daughter is past the toddler phase.