Styling a room around a rug

More often than not, a rug is an afterthought when it comes to decorating a home. Surprisingly choosing the right rug can transform a room, changing the look and feel of the space. It is also a great starting point when working with a blank canvas. Personally, we couldn’t think of a better way to influence the design and style of a space, so we thought we would share with you a few points to consider when styling your room around a rug.

Firstly, it is important to think about what size and shape your rug will be. Scale is everything, so it is important to take into consideration the dimensions of the space and furniture, the purpose of the space and what will sit on your rug. Think of it as an anchoring point that brings your later chosen pieces together. If you are considering a round rug for example, this may influence particular pieces you choose for the space. Not only can round rugs help soften a space, but it is often the focal point of a room, so you don’t want to select furniture that is too big and covers it completely. Instead, the furniture should just sit on the edge, giving the eye somewhere to rest and making the rug the centrepiece.

Colour and pattern are often a good indication of the style of the space. With so many varying interior trends, a rug is often a great way to set the style of a room. Whether you favour a sleek contemporary feel or a tribal/ boho look, there is always a rug to suit. For a chic luxe feel you may want to go with the muted tones of hand-woven wool rug. Or if you are looking to make a statement, something bright and colourful is great way to express your style and set the tone for additional furnishing. In this instance similar and/ or contracting coloured cushion or perhaps a lounge in a colour tone of those in the rug to really create cohesion.

Pile and texture are so important when it comes to styling a space. That’s why it’s so important to take into account what the purpose of the room is. Will it be a high traffic area and who will be using the space eg. children and pets? Or is it a more formal space where there will be limited foot traffic? We suggest if you live in a busy household like ourselves, then manmade fibres are a more practical choice. Not only are these are a lot easier to keep clean, but are less likely to shed and are a more affordable option. On the other hand, if luxury is your middle name, then we say don’t hold back on fibre. With so many options to choose from the choice is yours! And with texture there is everything from silky flat weaves that are perfect for modern and scandi styling, right through to rich, shag pile tribal options that add a more relaxed feel.

As you can see, a rug can really have a lot to say in determining the overall style of a space, not surprising when you consider it’s quite likely one of the largest physical items in the space. For this reason some careful thought about overall use, furnishings and of course the end goal of overall style are a great place to start when getting the look underfoot.