TL;DR
Get cleaning gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
A viral Instagram video by Los Angeles-based interior designer Isabella Diane recommends shopping for a runner rug instead of a conventional bath mat. The idea offers more patterns and coverage, but how well a runner works in a bathroom depends on its absorbency, fit and suitability for a wet floor.
An Instagram video by Los Angeles-based interior designer Isabella Diane recommends replacing a traditional bath mat with a runner rug sized for the bathroom, a decorating idea highlighted in a report by Apartment Therapy. The approach can offer different patterns and broader floor coverage, though the source does not establish that every runner is absorbent or safe for use on a wet bathroom floor.
In the video, filmed inside HomeGoods, Diane advises viewers to skip the bath-mat and shower-curtain aisle and look in the rug section. Her suggestion is to choose a runner that fits the room proportionately, rather than selecting a standard bath mat by default. She presents the rug as a way to bring more color, texture and a room-like feel to a bathroom.
Diane says runners are available in different sizes at home retailers, including Walmart. In a wider or longer bathroom, a runner may cover areas near the shower, toilet and vanity; in a smaller room, a shorter one can sit in front of the shower or vanity. The exact coverage depends on the layout and the rug’s dimensions, so shoppers would need to measure their floor before choosing one.
Apartment Therapy notes that runners are sold in a wide range of designs and are commonly used in areas such as mudrooms, entryways and kitchens. Some may be absorbent, but that depends on the individual product. The article does not identify a single recommended material or model, provide testing results, or establish that ordinary decorative runners perform like bath mats when repeatedly exposed to water.
A Different Look for Bathroom Floors
The suggestion is a decorating alternative, not a reported change in bathroom-product sales or a proven replacement standard. It may appeal to people who find conventional bath mats limited in pattern, size or visual impact, particularly if they want a runner to coordinate with other rooms in the home.
There is also a practical trade-off. A rug that looks suitable may not absorb water well or stay in place on a smooth floor. Since bathroom floors can become wet, shoppers should check the product’s care instructions, absorbency and backing, and consider whether it can be washed and dried regularly. The visual effect alone does not confirm that a particular runner is appropriate for use after a shower.
Products Worth Considering
Levoit Vital 100S-P Air Purifier with Washable Pre-Filter
Samsung 85-Inch QN70H Neo QLED 4K Smart TV (2026)
Philips Hue Secure Wired Video Doorbell, 2K Resolution, Wide Angle View, Integrated Hue Lights, Two-Way Audio, Infrared Night Visibility, Bl
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Tip Starts in the Rug Aisle
Apartment Therapy’s report frames Diane’s video as a viral decorating tip and describes the central idea as rethinking where to shop when replacing a bath mat. Rather than searching only among bathroom accessories, shoppers can compare runners in the rug section, where choices may include different lengths, patterns and textures.
The advice is flexible rather than a one-size-fits-all product recommendation. Diane’s stated approach is to match the runner to the room’s proportions, while the report says smaller bathrooms may suit shorter rugs. The source names HomeGoods as the setting of one video and Walmart as an example of a retailer with runners in multiple sizes; it does not say that either retailer’s products are all designed for bathrooms.
“Don’t even think about shopping in this aisle for bath mats and shower curtains. Instead, get a runner rug that fits the space proportionately.”
— Isabella Diane, interior designer and Instagram creator
Absorbency and Floor Safety Vary
The report does not give product specifications, compare runners with bath mats, or identify which materials or constructions are suitable for bathroom use. It also provides no measurements for Diane’s own bathroom and no data showing how many people have adopted the idea. The description of the video as viral is not accompanied by view counts or other audience figures.
It remains unclear whether the suggested runners have non-slip backing, how they perform when wet, or how often they need washing and drying. Those details vary by product. A rug’s use in a kitchen or entryway does not, by itself, establish that it is appropriate beside a shower.
Check Fit Before Buying
Readers considering the idea can measure the available floor area, then check the runner’s dimensions, care label and backing before buying. They should confirm that it can be cleaned as needed and will not create a slipping or tripping hazard when the bathroom floor is wet. Retailer listings and product instructions may answer those questions, but the Apartment Therapy report does not provide a specific product endorsement or follow-up testing.
For now, the development is a social-media decorating recommendation, not evidence that bath mats are being broadly abandoned. Whether a runner works as a substitute depends on the bathroom, the product and the household’s needs.
Key Questions
What is the bathroom decorating tip?
Interior designer Isabella Diane suggests shopping for a runner rug instead of a traditional bath mat and choosing a size that fits the bathroom’s proportions.
Will any runner work after a shower?
No such conclusion is supported by the report. Absorbency and backing vary by product, so check the care instructions and whether the rug is suitable for a wet bathroom floor.
What size runner should I choose?
Diane’s guidance is to choose a rug proportionate to the room. Measure the available space and consider whether a longer runner or a shorter one near the shower or vanity fits the layout.
Does the report say people are widely giving up bath mats?
No. It reports on a viral decorating video, but gives no sales figures or adoption data showing that people broadly are replacing bath mats with runners.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
