Decorating
Ever Thought of Doing This With Your Rugs?
Combining a selection of rugs can give a room an extra dimension. Take a look at these ideas
Rather than lay a single rug in a living, dining or bedroom scheme, designers and homeowners are opting to put together different rug materials, patterns and even styles layered one over another. But why follow their lead? And what effect will it have on the overall feel of your space? These homes will give you ideas to steal for your own rooms.
Free up time
Rugs can be practical as well as decorative additions. A highly polished wooden floor is a high-maintenance feature, so laying rugs on this type of surface can reduce the hours spent cleaning.
Of course, the designers could have stuck with a solo rug in this room, but the second, geometric pattern gives the seating area a more intimate scale. Here, the top rug is a flat-weave design on which it’s easy to position a fine-legged coffee table stably.
Browse rugs in the Houzz Shop
Rugs can be practical as well as decorative additions. A highly polished wooden floor is a high-maintenance feature, so laying rugs on this type of surface can reduce the hours spent cleaning.
Of course, the designers could have stuck with a solo rug in this room, but the second, geometric pattern gives the seating area a more intimate scale. Here, the top rug is a flat-weave design on which it’s easy to position a fine-legged coffee table stably.
Browse rugs in the Houzz Shop
Collect the full set
The floor’s the fifth wall in this scheme, with a vibrant collection of rugs underneath the dining table bringing colour and pattern to the room.
The rules to follow to get the look? The rugs shouldn’t be matching, but they should have elements in common, so a big group of different designs works as a whole. Here, all are geometrically patterned, the scales of the designs are similar, and the warm reds plus neutral colours link the set.
Remember that the usual rug-under-a-dining-table rules still apply: diners should be able to push back their chairs without the legs falling off the edge of the rug. Likewise, once the chairs are pulled in, each should ideally sit level, or at least have the front two and back two legs level with each other.
The floor’s the fifth wall in this scheme, with a vibrant collection of rugs underneath the dining table bringing colour and pattern to the room.
The rules to follow to get the look? The rugs shouldn’t be matching, but they should have elements in common, so a big group of different designs works as a whole. Here, all are geometrically patterned, the scales of the designs are similar, and the warm reds plus neutral colours link the set.
Remember that the usual rug-under-a-dining-table rules still apply: diners should be able to push back their chairs without the legs falling off the edge of the rug. Likewise, once the chairs are pulled in, each should ideally sit level, or at least have the front two and back two legs level with each other.
Take a fresh line
A large rug in front of the sofa is teamed with a runner and a cowhide in this apartment. They make the space cosier, of course, but you could argue that one large rug would have done the same job. The layering of different shapes and designs, however, and the disruption of the room’s strict geometry by angling both runner and cowhide, make the space a whole lot more relaxed than it would have been with a perfectly aligned, single rectangular rug.
Hide rugs are really durable, but what if you don’t like the idea? There are plenty of realistic-looking faux versions, so you can have the shapely outline without the natural history.
A large rug in front of the sofa is teamed with a runner and a cowhide in this apartment. They make the space cosier, of course, but you could argue that one large rug would have done the same job. The layering of different shapes and designs, however, and the disruption of the room’s strict geometry by angling both runner and cowhide, make the space a whole lot more relaxed than it would have been with a perfectly aligned, single rectangular rug.
Hide rugs are really durable, but what if you don’t like the idea? There are plenty of realistic-looking faux versions, so you can have the shapely outline without the natural history.
Celebrate ageing
This living room has an eclecticism that makes it feel comfortable and homely: the sofa has midcentury style while the rugs that warm the painted floorboards have an antique look.
Opting for a pair rather than a single floor covering adds to the idea of a scheme filled with treasured pieces and keeps the look casual. Note, too, how injections of colour, from the pink of the throw to the faded brights of the cushion and smaller rug, energise the space.
This living room has an eclecticism that makes it feel comfortable and homely: the sofa has midcentury style while the rugs that warm the painted floorboards have an antique look.
Opting for a pair rather than a single floor covering adds to the idea of a scheme filled with treasured pieces and keeps the look casual. Note, too, how injections of colour, from the pink of the throw to the faded brights of the cushion and smaller rug, energise the space.
Bulk up
When you find the perfect design and colour of rug but it only comes in too small a size, this is a potential solution. The blue rug builds on the same hues in the upholstery around the bedroom, while the plain, neutral rug beneath is generous enough to allow feet to be warmed by it as they step out of bed.
If you choose a neutral rug for a scheme along these lines, be sure to check the undertones in the design. Here, cool blues and greys are a subtle part of the larger rug, so it pairs perfectly with the smaller one on top.
When you find the perfect design and colour of rug but it only comes in too small a size, this is a potential solution. The blue rug builds on the same hues in the upholstery around the bedroom, while the plain, neutral rug beneath is generous enough to allow feet to be warmed by it as they step out of bed.
If you choose a neutral rug for a scheme along these lines, be sure to check the undertones in the design. Here, cool blues and greys are a subtle part of the larger rug, so it pairs perfectly with the smaller one on top.
Sink deep
Wall-to-wall shag pile is very 1970s; in the 2010s, long, luxurious pile comes in the form of a rug like this one into which you can enjoy sinking your feet as you watch TV. The designers of this scheme haven’t wasted the silky texture under the seating, but kept it in front of the sofas and chair only. They’ve used a second, patterned rug to define the entire seating area and add warm accent shades.
To keep a rug like this in top condition, ban outdoor shoes on it, and always set your vacuum to a high pile setting and avoid using the brush heads.
More ideas for 1970s glamour
Wall-to-wall shag pile is very 1970s; in the 2010s, long, luxurious pile comes in the form of a rug like this one into which you can enjoy sinking your feet as you watch TV. The designers of this scheme haven’t wasted the silky texture under the seating, but kept it in front of the sofas and chair only. They’ve used a second, patterned rug to define the entire seating area and add warm accent shades.
To keep a rug like this in top condition, ban outdoor shoes on it, and always set your vacuum to a high pile setting and avoid using the brush heads.
More ideas for 1970s glamour
Cross the border
A natural-fibre rug – think jute or sisal – makes a beautifully contrasting textural pair with a Berber rug. In this room, the natural floor covering helps make the Moroccan-style rug feel sufficiently generous for the seating area, sizing it up by creating a border around the more luxurious design.
It’s a strategy worth bearing in mind if you’ve moved house and found a new room makes a favourite rug look stingy.
A natural-fibre rug – think jute or sisal – makes a beautifully contrasting textural pair with a Berber rug. In this room, the natural floor covering helps make the Moroccan-style rug feel sufficiently generous for the seating area, sizing it up by creating a border around the more luxurious design.
It’s a strategy worth bearing in mind if you’ve moved house and found a new room makes a favourite rug look stingy.
Provoke interest
In a black-and-white scheme, it’s important to think about how to create decorative variety in the absence of colour. In this living space, positioning a hide rug on top of a grey rug on top of the floor covering gently varies the textural and tonal palette.
When you’re combining rugs, think about the pile height. Here, the larger rug has a short pile, so adding the hide on top doesn’t create a trip hazard or unattractive edge in the heart of the room.
In a black-and-white scheme, it’s important to think about how to create decorative variety in the absence of colour. In this living space, positioning a hide rug on top of a grey rug on top of the floor covering gently varies the textural and tonal palette.
When you’re combining rugs, think about the pile height. Here, the larger rug has a short pile, so adding the hide on top doesn’t create a trip hazard or unattractive edge in the heart of the room.
Treat feet
Many of us prefer a slightly yielding floor surface in a bedroom to appeal to our sense of comfort. Committing to carpet isn’t compulsory, though, and rugs can cover the area beside the bed and the remaining circulation spaces.
Layering them, as in this teen bedroom, means it’s possible to use the shapes that fit the different areas of the room, and even different colours and motifs, but still create a cohesive look.
Rugs are also less of a long-term commitment than carpet. Here, when the tastes of the room’s owner change and the feature wall is repainted, the pink, zebra-pattern rug can be swapped for a new, coordinating design.
Make it easy for your teens to be tidy
Many of us prefer a slightly yielding floor surface in a bedroom to appeal to our sense of comfort. Committing to carpet isn’t compulsory, though, and rugs can cover the area beside the bed and the remaining circulation spaces.
Layering them, as in this teen bedroom, means it’s possible to use the shapes that fit the different areas of the room, and even different colours and motifs, but still create a cohesive look.
Rugs are also less of a long-term commitment than carpet. Here, when the tastes of the room’s owner change and the feature wall is repainted, the pink, zebra-pattern rug can be swapped for a new, coordinating design.
Make it easy for your teens to be tidy
Go wild
This room’s neutral scheme is given a lift with an animal skin-style rug centre stage. The print plus natural fibre rug below is an unexpected pairing that’s glamorous yet sophisticated.
A footstool is a softer alternative to a coffee table in this space. A decorative tray ensures there’s no worry about spillage from a jar of fresh flowers if you’re using upholstery instead of a hard surface for display.
Tell us…
Like the idea of layering rugs? Share your tips in the Comments section.
This room’s neutral scheme is given a lift with an animal skin-style rug centre stage. The print plus natural fibre rug below is an unexpected pairing that’s glamorous yet sophisticated.
A footstool is a softer alternative to a coffee table in this space. A decorative tray ensures there’s no worry about spillage from a jar of fresh flowers if you’re using upholstery instead of a hard surface for display.
Tell us…
Like the idea of layering rugs? Share your tips in the Comments section.
A big rug can take up a substantial portion of a room refurbishment budget, so laying out two smaller versions can be a money-saving way to ensure a scheme has individual style.
In this room, the positioning allows the armchair to be linked to the sofa, because there’s a rug under both. Without the staggered pairing, the chair would seem to float away, or the seating would need to be closer together, making the room feel cramped.
If you’re trying this trick, make sure the rug designs have linking elements, but aren’t the same, to avoid the look of offcuts.