Go Bold or Go Home
You know we love statement pieces, like upholstered headboards, graphic art prints, or throw pillows galore. And a great rug is probably the best place to start when planning a new interior makeover. Rugs instantly cozy up a room, make it feel complete, and sets the tone ALL without taking up any extra space! It’s the dream decor piece! But due to their price tag, we know how easy it is to put a new rug last on your list of priorities.
However, hear us out – A rug can truly make your room, and leaving it out can be a big interior design faux pas. Plus, splurging a little on a rug can allow you to tone down the other purchases without sacrificing your end goal – a thoughtful, specific, and well-curated space. That is truly the power a good rug has! Why? Because a statement rug instantly conveys what look you are going for (vintage, boho, minimal?), sets the main color scheme, and makes everything look more finished. Trust us, don’t skip the rug. And if we still haven’t convinced you, you’ll find even more ways to use a rug to complete the look below!
Of course if you are in a creative mood, we have some DIY rug options for you. Like this Matisse inspired cut out rug above! Or for something even simpler try this DIY “friendship bracelet” inspired rug that will keep your hands busy during your next Netflix binge.
But if you’re more in the mood for some online shopping, we feel you! Explore the links below to find the best affordable rug of your dreams.
Best Affordable Rugs to Complete Your Home
- Atrium Rug
- Hering Handmade Wool Rug
- Flatweave Figure Rug
- Painted Stripe Wool Hook Rug
- Veda Rug
- Lana Pastel Rug
- Flatwoven Faiza Rug
- Hand_Tufted Andrea Rug
- Bokhara Rug
- Nash Hand-Knotted Wool Rug
- Blokzijl Rug
- Zager Rug
- Reta Gold Handwoven Rug
- Beach Rug
- Chester Eco-Cotton Rug
- Handwoven Livia Rug
- Quentin Flatweave Rug
- Ikat Floral Dhurrie Rug
- Navy Grid Rug
- Bianca Mae Rug
- Pamela Wiley Arches Rug
- Angie Rug
- Emerson Rug
- Terttu Rug
- Delhi Multi Red Rug
- Shape Collage Rug
- Foti Area Rug
- Pranay Wool Rug
- Bowen Flatweave Rug
- Two-Tone Diamond Rug
- Checkmate Shag Rug
- Pranay Hand Tufted Rug
Why are Rugs Important in Interior Design?
Comfortability
Another reason why I love rugs is the comfort factor. The lush feeling of a soft texture under my toes is the best, especially in the winter when things get cold. Having a nice rug allows you to use your space better. I like being able to sit on the floor with kids or when I am crafting, and having a comfy rug makes it so much more inviting.
Additional to creature comforts, there’s a comfort found in the safety rugs provide. I can put a baby down on a rug and trust that they will be safe! Many parts of my house aren’t exactly child-friendly, but having a nice rug is an easy way to change that. Oh, and rugs totally protect your floors from getting scuffed up. If you do have messy messy kids and pets, I recommend checking out Ruggable – all of their rugs are machine washable.
Marry Color Schemes
From a design standpoint, flooring can make or break a room. Rugs allow you to control so much about the design of your space! For instance, I am trying to marry two color schemes into one space as I plan how to redecorate our new home. I’m working with warm gold velvet curtains, a grey tweed chair, and lots of blues and greens. The easiest way for me to make these pieces feel cohesive is to ground them with a rug that showcases those colors!
Ground your Furniture
That brings me to another great thing about rugs – they create cohesion, and a sense of grounding in a room. It can be difficult to figure out how to arrange your furniture, and sometimes the pieces just don’t quite mesh. A great way to create a visually pleasing composition in your room is to ground your furniture around a rug. Put the edges of the couch on the rug, and do the same with the armchair, whatever else. Now try to picture it without the rug – it just looks weird. The chair would melt into the floor and the coffee table would look like it was randomly floating. The key to creating a cozy space all lies within composition.
Texture and Pattern
Other design elements that rugs allow you to play with are texture and pattern. People tend to think a lot about color, but the best interior design tip I can give you is to think long and hard about texture. How will the texture of the rug look juxtaposed with your furniture textures? Your flooring? Juxtaposition is key! If your space is sleek and minimal, add some plush. If your space is a maximalist explosion, tone it down texturally with a smooth, low pile rug.
That doesn’t mean you have to tone down the pattern, however! The size of the pattern and the size of your rug will contribute greatly to how large the space looks. In general, pattern tends to make a space look smaller but that shouldn’t dissuade you from using it. Simple linear patterns, like stripes or dots, will expand your space. Intricate and visually demanding patterns will make the space seem smaller. This picture shows nearly identical bedrooms with rugs of different size patterns. From far away, the small patterns tend to look like one color. Bigger patterns make a bigger statement!
More Affordable Rugs we Love!
Jute rugs
Floral rugs
Neutral rugs
No matter where you live, what your budget looks like, or what your design preferences are like, a rug will go a long way towards making your space feel like home.
If you are on the hunt for an amazing outdoor rug, we can help you out with that too in our guide to choosing outdoor furniture!
