Discover how to effortlessly mix and match rugs to create a cohesive look and feel in your home.
Area rugs play a crucial role in home decor, offering more than just warmth underfoot. Coordinating area rugs thoughtfully in our homes, especially in open-concept homes, can add beauty and cohesiveness and create a seamless sense of flow to our living spaces.
Let’s explore easy yet impactful methods for coordinating area rugs and discover where to find complementary options. In the post below, I’m sharing some of my favorite sources. Here are key insights to effortlessly achieve that designer aesthetic through mixing and matching rug choices
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Before understanding the art of pairing area rugs, we need to cover the essentials, especially in an open floor plan. Here’s what you need to know about using area rugs in a room, setting the stage for successful rug styling.
Protection for Flooring: Area rugs act as a protective barrier for underlying flooring, protecting it from scratches, spills, and wear and tear. This is especially important in high-traffic areas or in busy households where floors are prone to damage.
Comfort Underfoot: Area rugs provide a soft and comfortable surface to walk on, especially on hard flooring materials like wood or tile. They add a layer of cushioning, making the room more inviting, comfortable, and less noisy.
Defined Zones: Area rugs help define specific areas within a room, such as seating areas in living rooms or dining spaces, especially in open-plan layouts. By visually delineating these zones, rugs contribute to the flow within the space.
Easy Decor Updates: Area rugs offer a convenient way to update and refresh a room’s look without the need for major renovations. By simply swapping out rugs, you can instantly transform the ambiance and style of your space.
Texture, Color, and Style: Area rugs are essential for adding texture, color, and style to a room. Rugs contribute significantly to the overall aesthetic and atmosphere of the room.
Area rugs play a crucial role in home decor, offering more than just warmth underfoot. Mixing and matching area rugs thoughtfully in our homes can add beauty and cohesiveness and create a seamless sense of flow to our living spaces. Let’s look at simple yet effective ways to mix and match area rugs. Here are 7 tips to achieve that designer look by mixing and matching rugs effortlessly.
Choosing The Right Size Rug
When adding an area rug to a room, it’s important to consider the rug’s size in relation to the room’s dimensions and the furniture in it.
A common rule of thumb is that the rug should be large enough to encompass the main furniture grouping in the space, such as a sofa and chairs in a living room or a dining table and chairs in a dining room. Ideally, a rug should extend beyond the edges of the furniture to anchor the seating area and create a cohesive look.
It is also important to make sure that there is enough space between the rug and the walls of the room to maintain balance and proportion. A rug that is too small can make the room feel disjointed and visually shrink the space, while a rug that is too large can overwhelm the room and make it appear cluttered.
Using The Same Area Rug
Using the same rug in two areas of your home might be a smart idea. It’s not only a safe way to decorate a space, but it also simplifies the design process. Once you find the perfect area rug, why not use it again in your home? The same area rug can make two areas feel unified.
When a rug extends across multiple rooms or areas, it visually expands the floor area, making the space feel larger and more open. This is particularly beneficial in smaller homes or rooms where making a space look and feel larger is a priority.
My best advice if you like the cohesive look of using the same rug throughout some areas of your home is to choose a solid rug with texture, like sisal.
Texture is a great way to add interest to a space without adding a pattern. And a sisal rug is a wonderful choice when you want to decorate with the same rug.
Sisal Rugs Best Picks
Area Rugs Add Texture To A Space
An area rug’s primary advantage lies in its capacity to add visual interest and depth to a room. Regardless of the layout, all spaces can be enhanced by rugs boasting diverse textures, particularly in homes with open concepts that feature fewer walls and more expansive areas. Texture adds a sense of coziness and warmth to a home. This is where jute rugs shine, offering a neutral base that blends seamlessly while providing much-needed textural richness.
I love using jute rugs in our home. They are a blank slate of texture that works with any style and color story.
Using Color To Mix And Match Rugs
One of the most effective ways to mix and match area rugs in a home is through thoughtful color coordination. By carefully selecting rugs that have elements of the same color story, you can create a cohesive and unified look throughout your space.
Select one dominant color to serve as the anchor for your rug selection. This color should be prominent in the room’s decor and will help tie the various rugs together visually.
Once you’ve established your dominant color, look for rugs that incorporate complementary colors from the same color family. These could be shades that are slightly lighter or darker than your dominant color, adding a bit of interest while still working with the overall color palette.
Remember, they will be separated and in different areas of the home, so you don’t have to get too matchy-matchy. Rugs can be a bit different as long as there is some coordination between them.
Mixing Rug Patterns
Patterns play an important role in interior design, tying spaces together and adding personality to a room. When it comes to mixing and matching rugs, patterns can create movement and interest in our living spaces. Here’s how you can use patterns in rugs to create beautiful integrated spaces.
Determine Your Space’s Mood And Style
Before selecting rugs with patterns, consider the overall mood or style you want to create in the room and choose a rug style that works best. Are you aiming for a modern and minimalist look, or do you prefer a more traditional and ornate feel?
Personally, I like the idea of rugs that have the same mood working together in a home. However, considering these rugs will be in different areas of a home, I think we can get creative and mix different styles.
Even though the styles of these rugs below are different, they can be mixed and matched to look cohesive in a home.
hobnail handwoven performance rug | millie gold charcoal rug | poly 1 area rug
celine cheetah rug | traditional area rug | ottawa rug
5 Steps For Finding Your Unique Decorating Style And How To Use It will help you understand the decor you love and how to put your style to work, helping you decorate your home.
Mix Scale And Proportion
When mixing patterns in rugs, it’s also important to vary the scale and proportion of the designs. Pair a large-scale patterns with a small scale pattern to prevent the rooms from feeling overwhelmed. For example, if you have a bold geometric rug, balance it out with a rug featuring a more subtle pattern or a solid-colored rug like a sisal.
However, the further apart rugs are, say, in a living area and in a hall, scale and proportion become less important, and they can be tied together by color.
Why Scale And Proportion Are So Important is full of easy-to-understand, doable, and repeatable designer tips you can use in your home.
Balance Patterns With A Solid Area Rug
While patterns can add personality to a room, you might want to balance them with solid-colored rugs or furnishings to prevent visual overload. Incorporate solid-colored rugs to provide visual rest and create a sense of balance within the space. This will allow the patterns to shine without overwhelming your living spaces.
Types Of Popular Rugs
Finding the perfect area rugs to mix and match in your home depends on finding the right style of rug for each room. Here are some of the most popular styles.
Traditional Rugs: Traditional rugs feature classic designs and motifs that are often inspired by historical patterns and cultural traditions. They typically incorporate intricate details, rich colors, and sometimes even bold patterns, adding a timeless elegance to any space. Look for Turkish, Aubusson, Tribal, Oriental, and Persian rugs. Oriental rugs are the most popular in this category.
Transitional Rugs: Transitional rugs bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary elements that blend classic designs with modern, often neutral colors and textures. They offer a timeless appeal that suits a variety of decor styles, making them a versatile choice for any room.
Contemporary Or Modern Rugs: Contemporary rugs feature bold designs, abstract patterns, and often vibrant colors that reflect current trends in interior design. They add a modern and eclectic touch to a space, serving as statement pieces. Shag rugs and Sculpted rugs are a couple of examples of contemporary rugs.
Bohemian Rugs: These rugs are known for their eclectic, free-spirited designs characterized by vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and a mix of cultural influences. They often feature geometric motifs, floral designs, or tribal patterns, reflecting a sense of global wanderlust and artistic expression.
Flat Weave Rugs: Flat weave rugs are woven on a loom without a pile, resulting in a flat and lightweight texture. They come in a variety of patterns and colors and are known for their durability and versatility. Flat weave rugs are ideal for high-traffic areas and can be easily layered with other rugs for added dimension. Examples of Flat Weave Rugs are Kilim, Dhurrie, and Soumak. The area in which these rugs are made often gives them their names.
Washable Rugs: Washable rugs are designed to withstand regular washing and cleaning, making them ideal for busy households with kids and pets that are prone to spills and stains. They come in a variety of materials and styles and are easy to maintain for long-lasting freshness.
Hide Rugs: Hide rugs are made from animal hides, such as cowhide or sheepskin. They are wonderfully tactile and have natural variations in color and texture. Hide rugs add warmth and texture to a space and can be used to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
Indoor/Outdoor Rugs: These versatile floor coverings are designed to withstand both indoor and outdoor environments. Made from durable materials such as polypropylene, polyester, nylon, or synthetic blends, these rugs are built to resist fading, moisture, mold, and mildew, making them ideal for high-traffic areas, patios, porches, decks, and even entryways. They are also perfect for hallways, an entryway, and a dining room.
Other Things To Keep In Mind
- Today, almost any rugs can be combined, and seem mismatched. However, achieving this effortlessly chic mismatched look requires a bit of finesse. If boho isn’t a style you love, tread carefully.
- When mixing rugs, consider scale, color, texture, and style – these elements play a pivotal role in creating a pulled-together space.
- The further apart the rugs are in your home, the greater freedom you have to select ones that might not coordinate perfectly.
- The patterns and colors of your mixed rugs will significantly influence your home decor, shaping its overall aesthetic.
- Whether to choose rugs before furnishings or vice versa remains a timeless debate. Each approach has its own merits, and there is no hard and fast rule.
- Simplify your mix-and-match process by opting for rug collections, eliminating the guesswork.
- Ultimately, if a rug combination resonates with you, embrace it wholeheartedly! Your space should reflect your personal style and preferences.
Mastering the art of coordinating area rugs in your home will make decorating easier and elevate the look and feel of your home. With these expert tips and insights, you’re equipped to decorate your space with confidence and style. Embrace the versatility of rugs and let your creativity work its magic in your home.
FAQs About Mixing And Matching Rugs
Area rugs look best when they coordinate, but they do not have to match. In fact, as long as the rugs have an element in common, such as color or style. Recently, in the world of design, many rugs don’t seem to go together at all.
When choosing an area rug, consider both its size and style. The rug should be appropriately sized to define the area and complement the room’s aesthetic, ensuring both functionality and beauty in the room it is in.
An area rug should harmonize with a room’s furniture and accent decor. This is crucial for creating a cohesive and visually pleasing space. It ties together the elements of the room, enhancing the overall appearance and ensuring a sense of unity and balance in the design scheme.
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Rugs In Our Home
- Dining Room Rug
- Living Room Rug
- Foyer Rug
- Sunroom Rug- sold out
- Bedroom Rug– in champagne
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Happy decorating!
