A beautiful rug is the finishing touch that can tie a room together like a bow on a gift. It’s the understated, underfoot glue that pulls all elements of interior design into a cohesive, spectacular whole.
Yet when rugs come in such a dazzling variety of colours, patterns, materials, sizes, and shapes, it’s also one of the more difficult pieces to choose for the home.
When you’re spoiled for choice, how do you decide? Here’s your guide on how to choose a rug for every style and space.
Prefer a printable PDF? Download our guide to choosing the right rug here.
Getting the colour just right
Rug colours and patterns are a deeply personal choice. When you’re looking for how to choose the right colour rug for a living room or any other space, it will depend on the existing furnishings, and what you plan to introduce in the future.
For floors with cooler tones, such as an ashy timber or natural stone, it’s usually best to opt for a cool-toned rug as well. Similarly, warm timber tones in your flooring are best highlighted by warm, earthy hues.
If you already have a colour scheme in place through your furniture and décor, it should be an easy decision to stay within the same colour family. However, if you are starting from scratch, be sure to think ahead and consider the overall atmosphere you’d like to achieve, as the rug will form the basis of your interior design look.
One tip to keep in mind is to avoid stark block colour black or white rugs, especially in busy areas or in homes with pets or animals. These are typically much harder to keep clean and will quickly show any marks.
Warm and welcoming: The Laguna Pink Rug is a sweet and soft polypropylene pile rug that will add a glowing blush hue to brighten up any living area or bedroom with a soft pop of colour and a welcoming touch underfoot.
If in doubt, go bigger
Getting the right size for your space is one of the most important factors. If a rug is too small, it will look out of place in the room at best, and be a nuisance as pieces of furniture only partially fit on the rug at worst. That’s why, if you’re in doubt, always size up.
You will certainly need to measure your area at home to determine the right size before making a purchase. To give yourself an idea of how it would look, lay down bedsheets and fold them into the same size as the rugs you are considering so you can compare at home before investing.
The best material for your (life)style
Don’t underestimate the importance of rug materials, as they also play a role in fitting into your style and your life.
Polypropylene rugs are machine woven and hugely durable. They’re ideal for high-traffic areas such as entryways, and are perfect for homes with kids or pets as they are stain-resistant as well.
Wool rugs promise that cushioned, luscious look and feel for added softness and luxury in any space. It is naturally stain-resistant, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and renewable, and acts as a natural filter in the home.
Jute rugs are very on-trend right now thanks to their minimalistic style and chic organic weaves, which ensures they look at home in any room. This is an eco-friendly material as it’s highly renewable, and a budget-friendly material as well.
Just jute: The Atrium Polo Natural Rug is an understated piece that adds warmth, texture, and an organic shape and material to any indoor space. Try it under a round dining table or two-seater sofa.
Styling your rug for the space
Each room calls for slightly different styling to ensure the piece blends seamlessly with the space and the furnishings.
When considering living room rugs, they should be large enough that at least the front legs of the couch sit on top of it. In especially large areas, the rug should be big enough to sit underneath all of the furniture (such as the coffee table and armchairs) to frame the space.
Similarly, dining room rugs should be reasonably large. When choosing the right size rug for a dining room, be sure to find one that fits the table and chairs, even when the chairs are pulled back. You don’t want your guests tilted backwards if the back legs of the chair are off the edge of the rug.
Hallway runners are ideal for long hallways, as they add warmth and softness to an area that is typically devoid of soft furnishings. Be sure to find a rug that goes to the edge of the door frame, and don’t be afraid to place two end-to-end for especially long halls.
Bedroom rugs can truly add the cherry on top to your decor – under your feet. Opt for lush, thick rugs that extend 45-90cm on either side of the bed so you have something soft to step onto every morning. If your bed is too large for one rug, consider a runner on each side instead.