The $9 Small Bathroom Staple That My Guests Love Me For

Like most apartment dwellers, my bathroom is quite tiny. Its compact size makes it a challenge to feel like I’m in a comforting or luxurious space; not to mention the concrete floors that don’t exactly create the coziest atmosphere. I do my best to add touches that will distract from its petiteness, like bright towels and patterned shower curtains, to give it some much-needed color and vibrancy. 

With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted an extra dose of comfort (and style!) for my upcoming overnight guests to make sure my bathroom felt more like a cute boutique hotel and less like a cramped apartment. Because one of my bath mats needed updating, I figured this could be a small yet significant way to make my bathroom feel like the sanctuary it’s supposed to be.

Although I liked the size of my blue bath mat, it never felt super plush and the color didn’t match well with my new flower shower curtain. I set out in search of something new, with a pretty sage color in mind — but that ended up being way harder to find than I anticipated. After searching high and low, I finally came across this seemingly fluffy bath mat. I was impressed by the dozens of size and color options, including that elusive sage I was hunting down. Once I felt it in person, I knew this would be the luxurious touch my bathroom was missing. 

The high-pile chenille is much fluffier and more absorbent than my previous bath mat and, unlike my old mat, this one has a textured rubber backing to hold it in place. The 24-by-17-inch size fits perfectly in front of my shower, whereas my old one bunched up by the edge of the toilet, making the room look even smaller than it is. Now when my mom and sister stay over on Christmas night and my best friends from New York spend New Year’s Eve with us, I can feel confident that they’re getting a cozy experience in my home that just might rival any trendy hotel.

Buy: Gorilla Grip Absorbent Chenille Bath Rug, $8.72