rug ideas for living room

15 Rug Ideas for Living Room Floor Spaces Decoration

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Brenda Nyawara

Brenda Nyawara is an editor at Archute. She is a graduate architect with a passion for edge-cutting ideas in design, fashion, art and modern world interests.
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Never undervalue the importance of a living room rug. The rug plays a significant role in the design of the living room. Most of the time, living room rugs cover most of the floor space and create a huge statement. Keep reading for some of the best rug ideas for living room spaces.

The best living room rug can soften sharp edges in a contemporary space, bring pattern to a neutral color scheme, and coordinate all of your accent colors. It can incorporate crucial design elements to give your space a personal touch.

We have many beautiful living room rug ideas for you to choose from, whether your living room needs a refresh or if you are beginning from scratch and seeking inspiration.

What is the Best Position to Place in a Living Room?

Ideally, in a living room, you should place the area rug in the middle of the room. At each edge, you should be able to see the same amount of flooring. Make sure your area rug is placed such that your furniture lies partially on top of it, and make sure the rug covers any high-traffic areas or walkways.

Best Rug Ideas for Living Room Spaces

1. Covering the Entire Floor of the Living Room

Image Source: elledecor.com

Rugs are perfect for hiding unpleasant vinyl flooring or used to hide a wide variety of sins. Go large and spend money on a rug the size of your entire room.

That way, no one will ever know what horrible flooring is underneath, and you can concentrate on creating the charming modern rustic atmosphere in your living room.

2. A Weathered Rug

Image Source: overstock.com

Area rugs' weathered trend is not only attractive but also wise. This design uses muted hues that won't overpower your space. The delicate black, gray, and white color scheme of the above rug makes it an outstanding element.

However, their real power is how effortlessly you can incorporate them into any design style.

3. Coordinate the Living Room and Dining Room Design

Image Source: nwrugs.com

Open floor plans harmoniously combine dining and living areas to create a cozy atmosphere. Finding a means to connect two spaces with open floor designs while maintaining each space's individuality is difficult.

The appropriate dining room rug may give your area a cohesive yet individual look. The simplest approach to connect your two rooms is through color. Either choose rugs with the same color or completely distinct designs in the same color.

4. Add a Coastal Vibe

Image Source: beachlifebliss.com

This rug unifies the room with its creamy ivory backdrop covered in a classic design enhanced by calming, subdued tones.

Additionally, the positioning of the rug halfway down the sofa shows off a striking pattern and gives the spacious living rooms a personality. The multi-textured surface also beautifully contrasts with the hardwood flooring in this area.

5. Consider a Patterned Rug for a Neutral Color Palette

A rug is a great way to introduce a little pattern into a living space if you like neutral decor. It won't provide as much of a focal point as a wallpaper, or a feature wall painted a bright color, but it will give interest to a room with straightforward decoration.

Image Source: apartmenttherapy.com

This striking monochromatic or striped rug lifts this formal living area, giving it a more modern appearance and adding some pattern to the big floor area.

6. Layering Up Your Living Room Rugs

If you're having a problem choosing one living room rug, why not consider two or even three? Depending on the size of your living room space, you can even use four.

Image Source: countryliving.com

Piling up your rugs may solve many design problems, and layering rugs is a simple way to add textures and patterns to your living space.

Image Source: tenjuneblog.com

The best advice for stacking rugs is to start with one huge area rug so that any additional ones you add on top will be grounded.

Keep this one very neutral and choose natural materials, like jute rugs. Then add your design by either placing a single little rug in the middle or having many rugs overlap.

7. Traditional Rug With a Modern Design

Image Source: houzz.com

A living room with only one style of design might eventually seem outdated and worn out. Choosing décor with a modern feel is a simple approach to design timelessly.

You can do this while designing a classic space. By making little changes to your primary style, your living space can be fascinating.

8. Consider a Vintage Rug for a Different Look

Vintage rugs are quite fashionable. Both contemporary and more conventional living spaces look great with vintage carpets. Your living space will have individuality and won't seem like it came straight out of a catalog with a mix of new and antique designs.

Image Source: rugsandbeyond.com

9. Choose a Long Pile Rug to Add Comfort

Image Source: ikea.com

A high pile rug is a way to go if your living room is on the smaller side or if you want to increase the comfort. Treat your feet to a luxuriously smooth rug underfoot.

Ensure your living room rug can maintain this softer, more relaxed aesthetic while still having a contemporary and bohemian look. Combine a cozy sofa and decorative pillows in a simple color scheme for a layered, warm look.

10. Add a Persian Rug for Improved Colorway

Image Source: overstock.com

Persian rugs make classic décor better, while distressed designs are wonderful for giving more modern settings a more relaxed vibe. This grand area rug would add a touch of luxury to any transitional or modern classic living room thanks to its midnight shade and silky, glistening texture.

The Persian-inspired style has been modernized with colors ideal for today's homes. The high-contrast design on this area rug looks amazing in this living room, thanks to the neutral decor.

11. Create a Nook Using a Corner Sofa and a Rug

Image Source: abakusdirect.co.uk

This is another one of the best living room rug ideas if your living room is in an open concept area. A corner couch placed on top of a slightly larger rug creates the illusion that this space is separate from the rest of the room.

To finish off your little living room design, place a tiny coffee table in the middle.

Image Source: blog.northeastfactorydirect.com

12. Choose an Animal Print Rug

Animal print rugs are a marmite of the home decor world. While some people dislike them, others will love them. These animal rugs have surely made a trendy and fashionable return.

Image Source: luxurycowhides.com

The effortlessly chic vibe of the organic design lends to a living space. Cowhide rugs quickly convey a carefree, casual atmosphere, regardless of how the rest of the room is designed.

Additionally, they are a sensible option because of their small pile and unexpected stain resistance, making them ideal for high-activity areas like a living room.

13. Consider a Modern Moroccan Design

The pattern and lines of this area rug with a Moroccan influence provide life to this wonderful living space. It's ideal for anyone seeking living room area rug ideas.

Since it anchors the sofa without taking up too much room, the positioning, as seen above, works well when you have limited space.

Image Source: simply-moroccan.com

Thanks to the fringed borders, it has a delightful touch, highlighting the geometric pattern and high-low texture. This rug blends nicely with practically any contemporary color scheme because of its neutral cream and charcoal color combination.

14. Use Several Rugs to Zone Out the Space

Image Source: apartmenttherapy.com

You can use rugs to divide a huge living room or one that is part of an open-plan area into several zones.

Ideally, you place a different rug in each location with a different mood rather than using walls. For instance, if your dining room, kitchen, and living room are all open spaces. Add a rug and arrange your furniture around the living room to create a sense of separation.

Image Source: stylebyemilyhenderson.com

To draw attention to the various areas, you might add rugs to the remainder of the space. For example, the kitchen may have a low pile runner, and the dining room could have an area rug. Rugs give them a more distinct vibe while keeping your area open and breezy.

15. Consider Using a Statement rug

Image Source: furniture.com

The rest of your furniture should be relatively basic when you have a dramatic rug. You could wish to incorporate the rug's colors into your cushions, drapes, or other fixtures and accessories.

However, if you already have your furniture in place, you want to add a matching or neutral rug to complement the space.

You might consider going with an appealing texture or smooth finish for an extra touch of luxury. Try pairing a traditional rug with modern furniture, or vice versa.

How Do You Pick a Rug for Your Living Room?

The ideal rug will depend on where you intend to put it as well as how much use and abuse it will endure.

A shorter pile rug might work best if you're searching for the best area rugs to cover the whole of the floor in your living room rather than a smaller rug that fits neatly under a coffee table.

Look for carpets with a flat weave, such as a jute rug, that can withstand heavy use, won't show scratches and stains, and are much simpler to maintain. Here are the elements you should consider before getting a rug;

  • Size- Make sure the rug is appropriate for the living room floor.
  • Color- If your new rug includes at least two of your accent colors, it will look great.
  • Comfort: Pick a rug you adore, but it's also crucial that it's comfortable to walk on.
  • Maintenance: Examine the rug's cleaning and maintenance procedures before purchasing.
  • Design: Rugs come in different designs to match different spaces and living room rug ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Living Room Ideas

1. What rug size is good for a living room?

Rugs in living rooms often measure 8' by 10' and 9' x 12'. Ensure your rug is at least 6 inches wider on each side than your sofa. Usually, the rug is placed along the entire sofa length. If your living room permits it, leave 30 to 36 inches between major furniture pieces; if not, leave at least 18 to 24 inches.

2. Should the rug be lighter or darker than the floor?

Don't simply think about how black your flooring is; also, think about how dark your space is overall. If you are lucky enough to have a room that is light, airy, and flooded with sunlight, you get to choose any color you want. Deeper-colored carpeting will make a room appear heavier and smaller if it is darker.

3. Should a living room rug match a couch?

A rug in a solid color would look great if your main furniture is upholstered in a pattern or has a sophisticated design. A solid-colored rug should match the accent colors in the space, such as those found in artwork or vases, and should complement the color of your sofa.

4. How far should a living room rug go under a couch?

A living room rug should extend 12 to 18 inches beyond the furniture it sits below, according to a reasonable rule of thumb. This means that in a sofa and chair arrangement, the rug should protrude 12 to 18 inches past the ends of the sofa. Likewise, the rug in a dining room should go all the way to the back legs of the dining table and chairs.

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About the author

Brenda Nyawara

Brenda Nyawara is an editor at Archute. She is a graduate architect with a passion for edge-cutting ideas in design, fashion, art and modern world interests.
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