Neutral Living Room
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John Bessler
If you’re creating a neutral color palette, add a textured rug, like jute or wool, that complements the elements in your design. This works especially well in living rooms that have dark accent walls or furniture pieces. A lighter rug brightens the space and ties together other neutral elements in the space.
Create a Focal Point
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In a living room with complementary colors, add a rug that softens the look without matching too much of the overall design. Paired with browns and dark green colors, a beige rug (we like the texture of this Better Homes & Gardens Diamond Coast Area Rug, $240, Walmart) works well in this space because it fades into the background, keeping the focus on the couch. An area rug is also an easy way to define a space in an open-concept home because it provides a visual border around the room.
Patterned Living Room Rug
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For a modern look, consider adding a funky patterned rug to create the illusion of movement. In this living room, a bold chevron rug contrasts solid design elements and makes the room appear larger thanks to its pattern. Paired with playful, pixelated art and white walls, the rug energizes the space.
Striped Living Room Rug
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To draw the eye from one part of your living room to the other, try a striped rug. In this room, where busy textures and patterns are the primary elements, a striped rug allows the eye to move across the space. The gold tones in the rug match the coffee table and tie together the light fixtures and gold accents. Although there are quite a few patterns at play, the stripes act as a neutral to help ground the room.
Complement a Wall Color
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Kim Cornelison
One of the best ways to create cohesion in your living room is to match your area rug with your wall color. In a living room where shades of white and light gray dominate, a neutral rug that combines the wall colors with texture makes the space feel more cohesive. Rugs with lighter colors are also less distracting, providing a calm, cozy vibe.
Match Window Treatments
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Adam Albright
One of the easiest living room area rug ideas is to match carpeting with drapes. A matching rug can ground your design elements, especially in a smaller space with bold patterns. If your living room is on the playful side—think striking colors, funky patterns, and quite a bit of contrast—an area rug that matches solid window treatments can soften the look.
Soften a Space with a Shag Rug
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Carson Downing
In an otherwise bold living room, a plush area rug adds comfort and a place for eyes to rest. A high-pile or shag rug is not only cozy to the touch, but it also adds texture and contrast. A shag rug includes any tufted, woven, or knotted rug with a long, plush pile. Note that these styles can be more difficult to clean than low-pile options and may shed fibers.
Match an Accessory
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Brie Williams
If you’re not sure exactly which rug fits in your space, an easy solution is to choose a style that matches a single element of your design. Select a chair, pillow, or wall art, and look for a rug that matches the colors, patterns, or textures. Here, the black-and-white pattern on the chair and throw pillows perfectly complement the colors of the rug. Matching your rug with a statement piece (or two) creates cohesion that allows other elements of the room to stand out.
Layer Multiple Rugs
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If you’re looking to add texture to your space, consider adding more than one area rug to your living room. Similar to layering blankets or pillows on a couch, this makes your living room feel cozier and more inviting. A jute rug (like this Better Homes & Gardens Jute Natural Flatwoven Area Rug, $100, Walmart) makes a good foundation for layering rugs. Choose rugs that are similar in color or style to create a connection throughout the space, but don’t worry about them being the same size. You’ll be overlapping them anyway, so the more varied, the better!
Use an Area Rug in an Open Concept
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James Nathan Schroder
If your living space is open and airy, a large area rug in the center of the room can bring the space together and provide a focal point. It can also be especially helpful as the starting point for a living room furniture arrangement. This open living room’s furniture is intentionally gathered around the fireplace, with a neutral rug anchoring the design.
