Is it time to try something new and add character, dimension, and a creative element to your living space?
Perhaps you’re considering a bold, beautiful rug….and that’s an excellent way to improve the look of any room.
How do you choose the right rug? Will it be too much? It can be overwhelming when you start exploring your options for a statement rug. But don’t stress.
Fortunately, the design experts at Lawrence of La Brea (a celeb and design enthusiast favorite for sourcing incredible rugs) shared some of their top tips for choosing the right rug for your space.
Here’s what you should know about selecting the perfect bold rug for any room.
Take Your Time
While you shop and consider your options for a statement rug, there’s no need to feel rushed into making a decision. In fact, it’s probably best that you take your time to decide.
Feel free to take pictures and save images as you browse social media for inspiration. Sleep on your favorites before you buy so you can be fully confident that it’s the right choice.
Choose the Right Size
It’s essential to select the rug size that makes sense with your space when you’re adding something bold to your design scheme.
If you want a rug that covers most of the floor, limit the coverage: allow at least a few inches of space between the edge of the rug and border pieces like large sofas or shelves.
Smaller pieces like accent tables and armchairs can be thoughtfully placed either fully or partially on the rug to help a bold rug blend into the existing design concept.
Take measurements before you shop so you’ll have an exact idea of how big of a rug you should select.
Don’t Be Afraid to Make a Statement
Does most of your furniture and decor feature neutral colors, natural materials, and subtle tones? There’s nothing wrong with that, particularly if you’re concerned about your space looking too chaotic.
However, adding a bold statement rug probably won’t disrupt the mostly-neutral aesthetic you love (and might even enhance it).
Go with a rich color or pattern that compliments the style of your furniture and decor, like an emerald green shag rug to accent your mid-century modern vibe or an ethnic-inspired pattern to bring out the character of your antiques.
Choose Patterns Wisely
Just because you find a patterned rug you love doesn’t mean it’s right for the space you’ll be using it in.
The best approach to incorporating a patterned rug into your design scheme is to choose one that shares some color and style similarities to the furniture and decor you already have.
Consider the colors in your wall art, decorative pieces and accessories, or even your plants (if you have them). Draw inspiration from those tones: take photos and refer to them while you shop to find a rug that has a similar color profile.
Designate Zones in an Open Floor Plan
If you’re working with an open floor plan, you may not need to worry about a bold rug being too much in your space.
Why?
Statement rugs can help create the feel of separate spaces (living room, dining area, entryway) without sacrificing the openness you love about your home.
You can opt for matching rugs in different sizes to create a more cohesive aesthetic or mix and match different rugs to give each area a unique feel: use your intuition to guide your decisions.
Create a Visual Pathway
Rugs can help make the mundane areas of your home more inspiring and uplifting.
Consider using bold rugs in seemingly unremarkable spaces such as long hallways or breakfast nooks to add pops of color or serve a functional purpose (like sound reduction in apartments).
Experiment with Texture
If going with a bright color or bold, unique pattern doesn’t feel comfortable for you or your space, you can still make a statement with a beautiful rug.
Try a more neutral or soft color you feel confident and love, but be brave with the texture. Opt for a high-pile shaggy rug or a handmade rug with purposeful imperfections that add dimension and character.
Conclusion
Understandably, you might feel nervous about investing in a statement rug, unsure of how it might impact the look and feel of your home.
But with these professional insights, you can feel confident as you explore your options and begin using bold, beautiful rugs to enhance your space!
