Ten Fabulous Ways To Add Rugs To Your Home

One of the first things I consider when planning a room design for myself or for a client is the inclusion of a rug. There are so many ways to use rugs both indoors and outdoors and different reasons for using them. I actually think that rugs are one of the most underutilized décor elements in homes. Part of the reason is that homeowners are unsure how to use them, what size to purchase, and the various rules for incorporating rugs. In this post, Ten Fabulous Ways To Add Rugs To Your Home, I’m sharing some of the basic rules and ten beautiful and functional ways you can use rugs in your home.

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All photos are mine unless otherwise indicated.

Ten Fabulous Ways To Add Rugs To Your Home

1) Area Rug In A Seating Area

An area rug in the center of a seating area is one of the most common uses for a rug. However, most of the time when I decorate a room for a client, they do not have an area rug or they have chosen the wrong size or placement for the rug. If you have any hard surface flooring like hardwood or tile, I recommend adding a rug to your seating area. Almost every seating area can benefit from the addition of an area rug.

An area rug ties the disparate elements of the seating area together to create a cohesive and well-defined area. Without a rug, the furniture may appear to be floating or aimless. An area rug can also break up large expanses of hardwood or tile and can help set the colour palette for your room design. A rug can add flair and style and make a personal statement about your décor tastes. Finally, a rug provides comfort, for babies to crawl on, toddlers to sit on and play, and a space for older kids and adults to sit on the floor and gather around a coffee table for games night. The soft feeling of carpet underfoot is comforting and can also dampen ambient noise by absorbing sound.

This beautiful rug in our family room ties the colour palette together and provides some much-needed pattern to the room. It also hides dirt really well, which is important for our busy family room. It’s from Rugs USA.

I love the area rug we have in our living room. It’s a 100% wool rug from Boutique Rugs and is warm and cozy underfoot. The pattern is a neutral tone-on-tone that seems to work with my décor throughout every season. Here I have decorated the space for Valentine’s Day.

Size And Placement

An area rug generally should sit underneath the front legs of all couches and chairs in the seating area. I personally prefer the rug to be even larger, extending halfway under each couch and chair. However, standard sizes and economic constraints must also be considered. Rug prices jump significantly between an 8’ by 10’ size and a 9’ by 11’ or 12’ size. Most seating areas will need at least an 8’ by 10’ size to feel cozy.

2) Layered Rugs

Layered rugs work best in a seating area, front porch, or when using an area rug over carpet. The trick to layering rugs is to use one very plain neutral rug (like a sisal rug) with a patterned rug that picks up the colour of the neutral rug. In our living room, I used this sisal rug from Crate & Barrel with a patterned rug from Rugs USA. Layered rugs give a sense that decorating has occurred over a long period. It’s a classic look that I personally love.

I often use layered rugs on our front porch too because in a small space every inch matters. It’s a great way to add some extra style to a tiny area. I like to use a patterned rug on the bottom and a welcoming rug with text on top. A coir rug is a good choice for the top since it is hard-wearing and good at removing dirt from shoes before entering the home. A buffalo check mat is a good base for farmhouse decor.

I have also seen decorators layer rugs on carpet. Rugs are an opportunity to add colour and pattern to a space and this applies to carpeted rooms too. If you don’t like your carpet, or if there is a damaged area of carpet, a rug can cover this up.

3) To Define A Dining Area

The dining area is one of the most contested places for a rug if rug placement can be considered controversial. Many people do not want a rug under a table because of the almost certain risk of spills. I was sceptical before adding rugs under our dining room and kitchen tables, but we honestly have had no issues in over three years even with three boys. The key is to choose a patterned rug that can disguise small stains and to choose a synthetic fabric that can be easily spot cleaned. Alternatively, you could choose a washable rug, but I would find it impractical to move the table and chairs and put the rug through the washing machine every time there was a spill.

Always center the rug under your table, and the table should be aligned to be centered under the overhead light fixture when possible. A general rule for rugs under dining tables is that the rug should be large enough for the back legs of the chairs to rest on the carpet when the chair is pulled slightly back from the table. Try sitting in a chair and then mark the position of the back-most leg(s). In our dining room, I was able to follow this rule.

In our kitchen, I chose a smaller rug because the eating area is between our kitchen and family room and is a high-traffic throughway. I didn’t want people tripping on rug corners while passing through several times a day. If you decide on a smaller rug like I did, then make sure the rug is thin and refrain from using a rug pad underneath so that chair legs don’t wobble or skid off of carpet edges.

4) Carpet Runners

Carpet runners are good for long narrow spaces like hallways or between a kitchen island and bank of cabinets. Kitchens with long stretches of cabinet can really benefit from the pop of colour or pattern that a carpet runner can add.

We use one in our kitchen to provide a soft surface to walk on in the most used space in our kitchen (fridge, dishwasher, sink corridor). This rug from Ruggable adds a little style and pattern to our kitchen décor that I love.

5) Kitchen Sink Mat

Many homeowners require a soft mat in from of the kitchen sink to create a more comfortable dishwashing and food prep area. It also serves the purpose of catching splashes of water that could create a slippery floor or damage wood flooring. We’re halfway through our list of ten fabulous ways to add rugs to your home.

6) Rugs In The Bedroom

If you don’t have wall-to-wall carpet in the bedroom, an area rug can be a nice way to add coziness. Stepping out of bed on a cold winter morning is much more approachable if there is a rug. If the rug is large then it can be centered under the bed with a border of a few feet of exposed rug around the bed.

A smaller rug can be used at either the head or foot of the bed.

7) Mudroom

Every mudroom needs at least a doormat just inside the door to prevent debris from entering the house. We like to have a larger rug in our mudroom to prevent slippery floors in the winter. A washable rug or one that hides dirt is a must for a mudroom. I also like the style that a rug adds to this space. If you’re curious about the mudroom cubby, I designed and built it and am sharing the free tutorial here.

8) Doormats

Any door that leads to the outdoors should have a doormat that is big enough for two people to stand on. I tend to use durable, hardwearing materials for this purpose. My recommendation is to choose the larger option for a doormat. Too often I see a tiny little mat in spaces that could easily accommodate something larger. You can see how I took an inexpensive coir doormat from IKEA and painted on a pattern with Fusion Mineral Paint here.

9) Front Porch

The front porch is the first peek at your home that visitors see. Therefore, it’s a great opportunity to make guests feel welcome and to share some of your style with the outside world. Choose a rug or doormat that fits the scale of your porch. I like to use layered mats on our tiny front porch.

10) Outdoor Seating Area

Just like the indoor seating areas we talked about at the beginning of this post, outdoor seating areas can benefit from an area rug to define the space and add style and comfort. Make sure to choose a rug designed for outdoor use that resists mold, mildew, and sun damage. Outdoor living areas can feel just as cozy and comfortable as indoor areas when rugs, seating, and other design elements are used.

A Few Common Questions

What About Washable Rugs?

Several companies have started selling washable rugs. Most notable is Ruggable for their beautiful designs, interchangeable system of rugs and rug pads, and excellent ease of washing. I recommend only using washable rugs in areas where there is a high risk of mess, such as the mudroom and kitchen. I wash our Ruggable kitchen runner every month to keep it looking brand new. Washable rugs allow me to choose lighter colours as I’m not afraid of a stain that would normally ruin the look of a rug.

Where Would I Avoid Using Rugs?

I don’t like rugs in bathrooms for obvious reasons, but most other spaces can benefit from a rug that is carefully chosen.

Natural or Synthetic Rugs?

Natural rugs tend to be more expensive than synthetic rugs and can irritate those who are allergic to wool for example. Wool rugs can shed for years after purchase but are durable and warm. Sisal and cotton rugs commonly change colour if exposed to the sun. Synthetics tend to be more affordable and washable. Never choose the least expensive rug, either for synthetic or natural fibers. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to rugs.

My Favourite Places To Purchase Rugs

• Boutique Rugs
• Ruggable
• Rugs USA
• Crate & Barrel
• Urban Barn
• IKEA
• Homesense

Some Of The Rugs In Our Home

Summary

I have used rugs in all of the above ways with the exception of rugs layered on wall-to-wall carpet. We don’t have much carpet in our home and the one time I did try it I found I was continually tripping on the corner. I really hope you have found my post, Ten Fabulous Ways To Add Rugs To Your Home, useful and that it has given you a little inspiration.