Skip a Bath Mat — This Unexpected Replacement Makes Any Bathroom Look So Cozy

At Apartment Therapy, our editors are always on the lookout for clever ways to make even the most ordinary bathroom feel a little more luxurious (just like this ceiling-height shower curtain trick, for example!). We’ve seen just about every decorating hack imaginable, so it takes something truly unexpected to catch our attention. But an Instagram video that went bonafide viral for its ingenious tip has done exactly that, offering a surprisingly simple way to make your bathroom feel more sophisticated, cozy, and thoughtfully designed. The secret? Rethinking where you shop when it’s time to replace your bath mat.

Rather than browsing the bathroom aisle for a traditional bath mat, Los Angeles-based interior designer and Instagram creator Isabella Diane recommends heading straight to the rug section instead. “Don’t even think about shopping in this aisle for bath mats and shower curtains,” she said in her video filmed inside HomeGoods. “Instead, get a runner rug that fits the space proportionately.” Her idea is that a well-chosen runner can introduce a punch of warmth and cozy texture you’d typically associate with a living room or bedroom into your bathroom. It instantly makes this utilitarian space feel more like a beautifully decorated extension of your home.

In another video, Isabella notes that you can find runner rugs of various sizes at most home stores, including Walmart. If your bathroom is a bit wider or longer in its layout, a standard runner rug should be able to cover most of the space — including the floor in front of your shower, toilet, and vanity.

For smaller bathrooms, shorter runners can give you great coverage in front of the shower or vanity (where you need that cozy feeling most). “They will instantly elevate your bathroom, I promise,” Isabella told her followers.

Because runner rugs come in so many different patterns and designs, they’re more stylish than regular bath mats. And as they’re often used in mudrooms or in front of front doors and kitchen sinks, runners can be just as absorbent, depending on the model you choose to buy. If you want to snag Isabella’s exact look via her Instagram videos, Walmart’s runners come in a variety of different sizes, too. You can find an option that works best for your layout.

So instead of picking up a bath mat that just isn’t making the cut for pure aesthetics alone, opt for a runner instead. Like Isabella said, it’ll instantly elevate your bathroom — and give it that cozy finishing touch a bath mat could never bring to the table.