Six Ways to Combine Area Rugs in an Open Floor Plan (2024)

FAQs

How do you match an area rug in an open space? ›

For a foolproof rug aesthetic, work within a consistent color scheme, but mix patterns and colors for a sense of complementary separation by allowing one rug to pull most of the visual weight. Using one splashy pattern and one solid rug is a clear way to center or divide functional areas.

Always work within a coordinated palette to tie disparate rug styles together. But you don't have to go with a monochrome color scheme — choose shades that play well with each other and complement the surrounding tones in the furniture and decor.

A consistent material and pile height can be used across all the rugs is a simple, safe way to coordinate multiple rugs. However, varying the texture can help set the two spaces apart from one another and add visual interest. Some coordination is still needed through pattern or color, though.

Combining textures is a great way to add visual interest to a space. Choose a rug with a bold pattern in one area and a highly textured rug in the other area. Linking the two rugs by color makes them feel unified without being repetitive.

Matching the overall design of the rugs for your living room and dining room links both spaces and creates a sense of continuity across rooms. But you don't have to make every aspect of the rugs identical.

The 18-inch rule - Regardless of which room you're dealing with, your area rug should never be closer than 18 inches to your walls or baseboards. Don't overpower the room by covering too much floor. Don't diminish the rug by leaving too much surrounding floor exposed.

Clashing colors is not truly desirable. Maintain the same color palette, but try to switch to different designs for your living room and foyer area rugs. It is also advisable to start with a natural rug, but no one will stop you from choosing bold colors and patterns.

One should be large and more dominant, and the others should be smaller and act as an accent. For example, a 9-inch by 12-inch rug would look great with a 6-inch by 9-inch rug layered on top. An easy rule of thumb: Make sure the top rug is about 2/3 the size of the rug underneath.

Whilst layering is encouraged, there's a limit to everything; so how many rugs is too many? Well, that's difficult to say as the number and positioning of rugs depends entirely on the size, theme and other furniture in a room.

Do all your area rugs have to match? ›

Whether you place two runners in the kitchen in matching patterns or opt to have a matching living room rug and dining room rug, anything goes. As long as you like it, there's nothing wrong with having your rugs match in the same room.

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.

Use these basics to get you started on your hunt: If your primary furniture, such as a sofa, is a solid color, consider selecting a patterned rug. Match the secondary color in a patterned rug to your sofa. Match the third rug color to your pillows, drapes, wall color or other accents in the room.

If you find a rug you really love, don't hesitate to incorporate that same rug more than once in your home. Whether you place two runners in the kitchen in matching patterns or opt to have a matching living room rug and dining room rug, anything goes.

The rugs don't have to match, but they should be tied together by color or pattern. For most average-size rooms, a rug should cover all but approximately 1 to 2 feet of bare floor between its edges and the walls. So that would mean at least a 10-foot square rug size for a 12x12 foot room.

It isn't essential to match the colour of your sofa to your rug to create a harmonious living space. You could introduce tones from your type of rug into other soft furnishings, such as cushions or curtains.