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Apartment Therapy reported on an Instagram tip from Los Angeles-based interior designer Isabella Diane: replace a traditional bath mat with a runner rug sized for the bathroom. The style idea is drawing attention, but absorbency, bathroom safety and cleaning needs depend on the specific rug; the report does not establish that people broadly are abandoning bath mats.
Apartment Therapy has highlighted a bathroom decorating tip from Los Angeles-based designer Isabella Diane: shop for a runner rug rather than a traditional bath mat. Diane shared the suggestion in an Instagram video filmed at HomeGoods, arguing that a runner can add more warmth and visual character to a bathroom; the report does not establish that consumers broadly are ditching bath mats.
Diane’s advice is to choose a runner that fits the bathroom proportionately, instead of starting in the bath-mat aisle. In the video described by Apartment Therapy, she says: “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.” The recommendation is about adapting a familiar home-decor item to a room where shoppers usually look for a product specifically sold as a bath mat.
The right size will depend on the layout. Apartment Therapy reports that longer or wider bathrooms may accommodate a runner across more of the floor, while a shorter rug could cover the area in front of a shower or vanity in a smaller room. Diane also mentioned finding runners in a range of sizes at home stores, including Walmart. The article does not identify one specific rug as suitable for every bathroom.
The visual appeal is the main point of the proposal: runners come in a broader range of patterns and designs than many conventional bath mats, and can make a bathroom feel more coordinated with the rest of a home. Apartment Therapy says some runners may be absorbent, as rugs are also used near kitchen sinks and entryways. That observation is not a product test, however, and absorbency will vary by material and construction.
A Style Choice With Practical Limits
The tip matters to readers who want a bathroom floor covering that feels like part of the room’s decor, rather than a purely functional accessory. A runner can offer more pattern and length than a small bath mat and may help connect the bathroom’s colors and textures with nearby living spaces. It also gives shoppers another category to browse when replacing an old mat.
But a rug’s appearance does not establish that it performs like a bath mat. The source report does not compare drying performance, grip, cleaning requirements or durability. Buyers should check the product’s care instructions and whether it is intended for a damp area. A rug that shifts on a wet floor could present a slipping risk; a nonslip backing or rug pad may help, provided it is appropriate for the floor and the damp conditions. The practical result depends on the specific product and how the bathroom is used.
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From Bath-Mat Aisle to Rug Section
Apartment Therapy’s report frames Diane’s suggestion as a decorating idea circulating through Instagram, rather than as a documented shift in shopping habits. The headline’s description of people “ditching” bath mats is not supported in the supplied article by sales figures, survey results or a measure of how widely the practice has spread. What is documented is the designer’s recommendation and the outlet’s description of the video as viral; no view count or other measure of reach is provided.
The distinction matters because a runner and a bath mat may look similar in placement but are not necessarily made for the same conditions. Some runners may be absorbent, as Apartment Therapy notes, but the report does not name a particular fiber, backing or model as tested for use beside a shower. Its central guidance is to consider a rug’s size and design, not a claim that all runners are safer or more functional than bath mats.
““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, as quoted in Apartment Therapy
How Well Runners Handle Bathroom Use
The supplied report does not provide independent testing or product specifications showing which runners absorb water, dry quickly, resist slipping or tolerate repeated washing. It also does not name a particular runner as a tested recommendation. Those details matter because products sold as rugs vary, and a pattern or size alone does not establish suitability for a wet floor.
It is also unclear how many people have adopted Diane’s idea. Apartment Therapy describes the Instagram video as viral, but provides no audience figures, sales data or evidence of a broader move away from bath mats. The confirmed development is coverage of an individual designer’s tip, not a measured consumer trend.
Check Fit, Grip and Care Instructions
The report does not announce a product launch, a new study or a formal follow-up. For readers considering the idea, the next step is to measure the intended floor area and review the rug’s label for material, washing guidance and suitability around moisture. Check whether it has a secure backing and whether an additional nonslip pad is compatible with the bathroom floor.
Further evidence of a wider trend would require information such as retailer sales, consumer surveys or additional reporting. Until then, the runner is best understood as a decorating option, with its everyday performance dependent on the specific rug and bathroom.
Key Questions
What is the bathroom decorating tip?
Interior designer Isabella Diane recommends looking in the rug section for a runner sized to the bathroom, rather than automatically buying a traditional bath mat.
Does a runner work in every bathroom?
No. Diane’s recommendation is to choose a runner that fits the room. A longer space may suit a standard runner, while a smaller bathroom may need a shorter rug near the shower or vanity.
Are runner rugs as absorbent as bath mats?
The report does not establish that. It says some runners may be absorbent, but performance depends on the rug’s material and construction. Check the product details rather than assuming every runner is designed for bathroom moisture.
Is there evidence that people are widely replacing bath mats?
Not in the supplied report. It describes a designer’s Instagram tip as viral but gives no view count, sales figures or survey showing that consumers broadly are switching.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
