I have been talking a lot about rugs lately. I just can’t help it! I’m so proud of my collaboration with Loloi that I’ve been wanting to share my project with everyone. Working together for the past year and a half on this with Loloi has been a dream, and I am so proud of what we have created together. But, for as much as I love talking about each collection, I want to make sure that you feel confident incorporating them into your home. So here’s my Rugs 101 lesson- everything you need to know.
Finding the Right Size Rug for Your Space
The first order of business when it comes to rugs is finding the right size rug for your space. It can be confusing to know what size to purchase before actually bringing it home. As a general rule of thumb, you want to buy the largest rug for your space while having about 18-24 inches free around your rug. This will help your space feel large, open, and inviting.
Although you can pretty much dream up any size you want, the most common sizes of rugs are 9×12, 8×10, and 5×8.
9×12 rugs are the perfect size for a larger-scale living room or a large open area. It is a nice way to cover and unify a complete space at one time. This size also works best under a king bed. It will sit directly under your bed and leave just the right amount of space to sink your feet into when you wake up in the morning.
8×10 rugs are also great for slightly larger areas like living rooms, dining rooms, and open areas. Think big, but not too big. They also fit nicely under a queen bed while still giving you a comforting border for those toes.
5×8 rugs are best for smaller living rooms. They won’t fit entirely under a couch, but they can be placed underneath a coffee table or even in front of a fireplace with two chairs for a cozy feel. 5×8 rugs also work well with twin beds with a cozy walk-around border.
Styling Your Rugs
You’ve found the size of rug you need and now it’s time to get styling. Area rugs are all about making a statement without being overwhelming. Think of it as adding a frame to the living space you are styling. Every room has its own unique set up so you’ll want to keep that in mind as you start adding in area rugs.
Living room
Living rooms are usually the more spacious areas of our house with all sizes of furniture. As you are styling your rugs, it’s good to know that bigger pieces like couches can be half on and half off your rugs. This will open up your spaces. Traditionally smaller pieces, like chairs and loungers, need to have all legs on the rug.
Dining room
When it comes to the dining room, your chairs should fit on the area rug even when they are pulled out from the rug. This helps ensure people aren’t awkwardly sitting off balance with two legs on and two legs off the rug.
Bedroom
There are a lot of different ways to style an area rug in a bedroom. I like making sure the area rug is large and under two-thirds of my bed with some of the rug hanging out at the foot of the bed. You could also pick out two smaller runners to place on each side.
PRO-TIP: To keep rugs right where you want them, make sure you put a rug mat underneath or use some rug tape. Doing this will keep the area rugs from slipping and moving around.
Layering Rugs
Layering rugs is another great way to style your space. One of my favorite layering rugs is the Natural Ivory jute area from the Colton Collection. This rug is a modern take on the traditional jute rug blending a softer cotton and jute blend. There’s lots of texture, but the colors are neutral so it can easily complement any other patterns or colors placed on top of it.
The reason I like layering rugs is because you can play more with color and texture. There are no hard and fast rules about how to position rugs when layering. It’s all about experimenting and finding what you like. In the end, you just want a beautiful setup that looks like one rug is framing the other.
Can You use Rugs on Carpet?
You’ll never guess how many times I’ve been asked the question, “Can you use rugs on carpet?” I totally get why a lot of us have this question. It makes sense to use area rugs in open-concept floor plans with flowing hardwoods to give some warmth and comfort, but what do you do in areas with carpet?
Are you ready for the answer? Drumroll…My answer is if you want to use an area rug on your carpet, then go for it! Area rugs are full of textures and patterns that can pull different design elements together. There isn’t a design rule floating around saying you aren’t allowed to use area rugs on carpeted areas. I used to do this all the time in the original Angela Rose Home before I redid the floors because I didn’t love the carpet. So if you want to use a rug on the carpet, I say do it!
Textures and Textiles
It is also important to consider the space you are using the area rugs in. Are your kids going to be playing on the rug? Is the area rug going to be in a high traffic area? Will you be using the rug indoors or outdoors?
When working with Loloi I wanted to make sure that we created a product that was durable and accessible to everyone. The Blake Collection is known for being soft and the perfect rugs for play areas and impromptu dance parties. The Aubrey Collection was designed to be not only beautiful but easy to clean. These rugs are great whether you have pets in your home or little people who tend to spill snacks and juice. And last but not least, The Colton Collection is super versatile. The textiles are great for layering, under high-traffic areas, or even used outdoors. Just keep your space in mind when looking at what the area rug’s texture and textiles are.
Rugs 101-Everything You Need To Know
I am confident that you are going to choose area rugs that will be beautiful and functional in your homes after this Rugs 101 lesson. I’m dying to see which pieces you choose and how you style them in your home so tag me @angelarosehome in your reveal photos. Make sure you are following me on Instagram and TikTok so that you can see how I am using these products throughout my home. Plus, I’m going to be sharing a ton of DIY projects in the latest Angela Rose Home!
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read the full privacy policy here.
