It’s time to talk about the one element in a room that keeps it grounded…the RUG! Whether revamping your living room, bedroom, or even outdoor patio, understanding the various types, sizes, and materials and considering the trends and your unique style can give you the ambiance you’ve been looking for. Rugs are pivotal in transforming any space into a cozy and stylish room. Investing in a high-quality rug for your home can be wise for several reasons: the quality, longevity, and cohesiveness it invites into your space. Here is our guide for how interior designers elevate spaces with rugs.

Why You Need an Area Rug

Rugs are versatile and transformative elements in interior design. Beyond providing comfort, warmth, and protection for your floors, rugs bring aesthetic and practical advantages to your living spaces. They define areas within open floor plans, reducing echoes and noise while adding a layer of softness underfoot. Rugs also play a pivotal role in enhancing a room’s aesthetics, coming in a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures to complement your decor style and create a cohesive look. They can anchor a space, be a focal point, or tie the look together. With their ability to evolve with changing seasons and design trends, rugs are indispensable in creating an inviting and functional living space.

Rug Patterns, Design, and Color

When interior designers select rugs for each space, they consider the room’s purpose, the size of the rug, its shape, and its pattern. They also consider the room’s flow and traffic patterns. For high-traffic areas, we look for durable, easy-to-maintain rugs that can withstand the traffic (meaning a white rug might not be the best option where the family walks regularly). Our favorite material for these areas is polypropylene. They have a shorter life than a wool rug but won’t break the bank.

The choice of color goes beyond just visual appeal; a rug can evoke emotions and add to the overall ambiance. Whether it’s the warmth that deep reds and golds make, the tranquility and sense of calm that soft blues and greens infuse, or the timeless nature of neutrals, each color palette carries its narrative. Curating these hues harmonizes with the existing decor, enhances architecture, and reflects in your unique personality. 

What is the Best Rug Placement

As mentioned earlier, choosing the right rug size is essential for achieving a balanced and visually appealing interior. When considering a rug for your space, it is crucial to ensure its dimensions are proportional to the furniture and the room. In the living room, a well-sized rug anchors the furniture arrangement, with the front legs of the sofa (or couch) and accent chairs resting on the rug. This connection between all furniture pieces and the rug helps to create a unified look and adds cohesion to the design. 

Similarly, in the dining room, a rug should comfortably accommodate the dining table and chairs when they pull out. Not only does this prevent scratches from the chair legs, but it makes sure your proportions are correct. For bedrooms, a large rug that extends beyond the bed’s sides and the foot of the bed adds a touch of luxury and comfort. Choosing the right rug size is fundamental to interior design, ensuring your space is visually appealing and well-balanced.

Knowing When to Invest in Luxurious Rugs

With our trained eyes as designers, we’ve explored a range of rug prices. Some of our ultimate favorites include the Ultra Vintage Collection from Unique Loom, Stark, and contemporary rugs from Jaipur Living. We understand that sometimes, rugs can be quite an investment, not just in terms of money but also in the effort needed for upkeep. High-quality rugs often come with a higher price tag for various reasons—luxurious materials like silk or wool, the age, and even the complexity of creating them. Handmade rugs can take skilled artisans months or even years to craft. The dedication and meticulous attention to detail in crafting these rugs contribute to their higher cost.

The design and style of the rug can also impact the price. Intricate patterns or the use of rare and unique materials can add to the value and, consequently, the cost of the rug. Look for a rug with quality materials and design, making it a worthwhile and valuable investment for any home.

What Rugs Are Trending in 2023

So far this year, we have attended the High Point Spring Market and the Atlanta Market over the summer. We saw many indoor and outdoor rugs by top rug makers and were impressed with their creativity, color, and overall design. Overall, texture continues to be a big focus in interior design trends, and we saw that with rugs made from materials like wool, sisal, and jute. Rugs were seen in many neutral and light colors. Light-colored rugs increase the brightness in a room, create a foundation for the space, and complement the furnishings in the room, allowing you to add pops of color through the accessories. Want more design trends? Check out 2023 trends in our HPMKT blog.

Need Help Designing Your Home? Gracious Home Interiors Full-Service Interior Design Charlotte, NC 

Hiring an interior designer to create a design and style your home is worth the investment. With an eye for design, extensive education, and hands-on experience with home furnishings, designers have vetted vendors and products to ensure your investment in your home is worthwhile. We know furniture, including rugs, can be a large portion of your budget. We help you discover rug styles, materials, patterns, and source rugs that complement and enhance your indoor and outdoor living spaces.

Common Rug Mistakes

As a season interior designer, we’ve seen almost every common mistake regarding rug choices. A few mistakes we see are:

• The rug is too small and looks disproportionate to the furniture.
• Picking a rug that is too bland for the space, neutrals are all the rage, but if everything is too neutral, your room can look dull or overly monochromatic.
• A rug allows for adding a different texture, but if textures blend too much with your furniture, it won’t stand out.
• The rug pattern does not work with the other pieces in the room.

About Gracious Home Interiors

How can Gracious Home Interiors help you select the perfect rug for a unique living space? Our ultimate goal is for you to enjoy an exciting design experience and a beautiful home. Our comprehensive interior design processes allow us to design spaces that tell your story and serve as the backdrop for a lifetime of unforgettable moments. A well-chosen rug can effortlessly tie together your home’s interior design, creating a warm, inviting feeling and look that reflects your style. One thing is sure– investing in high-quality rugs will undoubtedly enhance the beauty and comfort of your home’s design. Contact us today!