How to choose a rug for your living room

November 18, 2023 Sophie Clemson

At The Living House, we have to admit we are HUGE rug fans. Rugs feature in almost all of our design schemes. When used in the right way, a rug makes your living room feel complete, cosy and it brings it all together beautifully. But it can be tricky to know how to choose a rug and even harder to find THE rug that’s going to work perfectly in your own living room. There can seem so many things to consider like the size, colour, pattern, whether it’s hard wearing…. To help you avoid rug disasters, we’ve shared our top tips on how to choose the very best rug for your living room.

1 . Always check the size before buying a rug

2. How a rug can be a starting point for the design scheme

3. How to choose the right size rug for your living room

4. Practical and family friendly rugs

5. Use rugs to zone areas in your living room

6. Colours and pattern

7. Wall hanging rugs

1. Always check the size before buying a rug

Before buying a rug, we always recommend checking the size of rug you’ll need first. A great way to do this is by marking it out on the floor using masking tape. You will be able to create the shape, giving you an idea of how it will work in the room. This tip works well for testing out different layout options too. By marking out the furniture, you will get a sense of the flow of the room and how you will walk around the furniture.

2. How a rug can be a starting point for the design scheme

If you’re needing inspiration for your living room, taking a look at rugs can be a great starting point and give you some direction. If you opt for a rug with different colours, the rug can become your colour palette. You can pull out the accent colours from the rug to feature on the smaller pieces in the room such as cushions and accessories. It may also inspire the overall style of the room as you may be drawn to a more traditional rug than a contemporary option.

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3. How to choose the right size rug for your living room

The wrong size rug is one of the most common mistakes we see in living rooms and it can really ruin the feel of your room. Always ALWAYS go large when it comes to choosing the size of your rug. You want the rug to be large enough to fit under the two front feet of your sofas. This will help to anchor it. If your rug is too small, it can make the room look smaller as it draws your eye inwards. If your rug looks like it is floating in the middle, then it is too small for space, and it's time to size up. A large rug will create balance and bring the space together.

Read our blog on how to find the right rug size for more information.

4. Practical and family friendly rugs

Washable rugs are perfect for family living rooms. They are our go-to option when choosing rugs for family and pet friendly homes because they are so practical. You can simply wash the rug in your washing machine. There are lots of beautiful options out there right now. One brand we absolutely love is Ruggable. They are the home of washable rugs and have so many gorgeous designs, from traditional to contemporary. Washable rugs are not only practical if you have children, but for your pets mucky paws too. They can sometimes be more costly, but with the bonus of being able to wash them, they should last much longer.

5. Use rugs to zone areas in your living room

If you have a large living room that you have divided into two areas or functions, a rug will work perfectly to help zone it. Maybe you’ve added an armchair for a cosy corner reading nook? If so, place a round rug underneath the armchair to add texture and warmth to create a focal point, making it feel cosier. If you have a living/dining room, placing a rug under the dining table will help define the dining area. If you can have two rugs in your living room, don’t go for matching rugs. Instead choose two different rugs to create a more interesting and well put together look. Jute rugs are always a great option to mix with other designs. They bring in some natural texture, work with almost every colour scheme and style and are well priced.

Do you struggle to visualise how your room could look? We can help you, click here.

6. Colours and pattern

The rug in your living room will be a large item in the room, therefore, you want to get it right. Think about how the colours and pattern of the rug are going to work with the other elements in the room. Try to link the rug to the colour palette you are using, perhaps picking out an accent colour in the rug to use. Linking the colours of the room to the rug will create a flow. It always creates an interesting look when you mix patterns in a room. The same goes with the rug; you don’t need to go for a plain one. If you love to mix patterns, stripes always work well with different prints. Adding a striped rug with floral Roman blinds and check cushions is a timeless look that coordinates beautifully. However if you like a natural look, then opt for a jute rug that will add texture while still maintaining a neutral colour scheme.

7. Wall hanging rug

If you’re wanting a statement piece in your living room, you can try hanging a rug on the wall. Wall hanging rugs can make a beautiful feature and act like a large piece of art. A traditional style rug, in particular, can look amazing on the wall. If you have an expensive rug, hanging it on the wall can help protect it from any marks and stains. Be careful not to hang it near any direct sunlight, as this could cause it to fade.

If you want to avoid costly design mistakes, take a look at our affordable online interior design packages to give you all the help you need. Whether you’re considering a full redesign or a spruce up, we can take the stress away, and give you the confidence to move forward. Our online interior design packages are a flat fee and we can work to any budget large or small, saving you money along the way and ensuring you get the results you want and expect!