How To Choose The Right Rug For Your Living Room
Crafted by Berber artisans. Curated by decor enthusiasts
A beautiful rug can dress up and elevate the look and feel of a living room. It can create a bold statement, delineate one room from another, add color, depth, texture, and warmth to a space. A properly curated rug can absolutely transform a room and make a huge impact that truly ties a space together.
Choosing the wrong rug can make a room look incomplete, imbalanced, and awkward, so it’s an important decision that requires thoughtful intention and planning.
Below are 4 tips on how to choose the right rug for your living room.
Size
One of the most common mistakes people make is choosing a rug that is too small. For example, a small rug that fits just under a coffee table and nothing else looks like it is floating awkwardly in the middle of all the furniture.
If a rug is too small or too large relative to the surrounding furniture and space, it throws off the balance and cohesiveness of a room. A properly sized rug should enhance the overall aesthetic and scale of the furniture. Either all your furniture should be sitting on the rug, or at a minimum, the front 2 legs of your sofa and chairs should be on the rug.
Material
If your living room is a high-traffic area that gets a lot of use, then wool is the best material.
Wool is a natural fiber that is resilient, durable, hypoallergenic, environmentally friendly, soft, and warm. It has good heat insulation and has a natural ability to resist staining. However, it may be prone to shedding. Jute, sisal, and cotton are also great materials for rugs.
A wool rug can cost a lot more than other materials, but it is worth the investment if you want a rug to last for years to come.
Pattern
There are many patterns to choose from geometric to abstract, chevron, floral, oriental, ikat, and many more.
How do you select the right pattern for your living room? Look around at your furniture, pillows, drapes, lights, or accessories. Select a pattern that can tie into one of these items. For example, a geometric pattern that picks up on a pattern from the pillows or an abstract pattern that ties to a large, oversized artwork.
A patterned rug adds style, texture, and depth to any living space, whether it’s subtle or bold.
Color
The color of your area rug will set the tone for the entire room, so it's important to take time to decide. I recommend 2-3 colors. Determine what is the primary color in your room. Make sure the rug’s primary color or background color matches your room’s primary color. Match the secondary color in a rug to your sofa or accent chairs. Match the third rug color to your pillows, wall color, accents, or drapes in the room.
If your living room has carpet, you can still add a rug by layering it over the carpet. If your carpet, furniture, and color scheme are predominately neutral with subtle patterns, try this beautiful vintage Moroccan rug by Coco Carpets. It will add color, texture, and warmth to any room.
The right rug that is properly curated truly ties a space together and can transform a room from ordinary to extraordinary!
About Miss Alice Designs
Guided by the ethos of less is more, principal Alice Chiu creates spaces that are simple, clean, thoughtful, and serene with a modern touch. Whether you are a young family starting out, a tech executive, or empty nesters, Alice designs functional homes that nurture the soul. Since founding her firm in 2014, Alice’s mission has been to improve the quality of her client’s life through simplicity.
For inspiration and inquiries, you can find Miss Alice Designs here:
Website: www.missalicedesigns.com
Instagram: @missalicedesigns
Facebook: Miss Alice Designs
