5 Living Room Rug Ideas to Instantly Cozy-up Your Space

Rugs are every interior designer’s best friend. It can change the whole atmosphere of the room in an instant, lift it up, make it appear warmer and more interesting. It is also an easy solution for separating two areas and making them distinct from one another.

If you are looking to spice up your home, or even if you have just begun furnishing your new living space, start looking for beautiful rugs to showcase your taste and your floors. If you need help with deciding what to do with your rugs and how to incorporate them into your space, just read this article.

Make two rooms out of one

Many of today’s modern houses and apartments are open-plan, or at least have a joint living and dining room. Obviously, you want the rooms to be coordinated, but still feel like separate areas. This is where rugs come in handy. They have the power to visually separate spaces, and even contain spaces within them. Choose rugs that are separate and match with the individual furniture sets, but make sure that they have something in common, so that they do not clash completely. It can be a similar accent colour, pattern or design. You can achieve great effect without having to buy expensive décor.

Define your colour scheme

Many interior designers would advise you to first get a rug you love, then build your room’s colour scheme around it. You can do that by introducing at least two of the accent colours on your rug in furniture or décor. You can also paint an accent wall or the entire room according to the colour pattern of your rug. A great solution would be placing a rug with complementary or even contrasting colours and décor or accent pieces that match one of those colours. If you already have your furniture, you can always do it the other way round or get a neutral-coloured rug.

Think of it as art

Make your small living room seemingly larger by placing a rug that is a few inches smaller than your room and you can still see some flooring on the sides. What is more, you can consider your rug as a proper work of art, especially if you buy it hand-made from a local artisan. It may cost you a bit, but you will have a colourful, one-of-a-kind piece of art displayed across your floor. Take care of it and you can pass it on to the next generation.

Make it a statement piece

If you are following today’s interior design trends, then it is probable that most of your furniture and walls follow a neutral colour scheme. Even if that is not the case, laying a statement rug will only do you good. Our eyes need a vibrant piece to break the monotony, and placing such a piece on your floor may be a better option than painting your wall or decorating with wallpaper.

This way, even if you eventually decide to renovate you can simply switch out the rug or move it somewhere else. There are truly stunning rugs in NZ that would be a proper breath of fresh air in your living room. Imagine a neutral room with a deep blue oriental rug as its focal point. Throw in a few blue pillows and a dark throw over your couch, et voila – you have a stylish comfortable room in just a few easy steps.  

Improve the temperature and acoustics of your room

There is nothing better that can add a warm and cosy feeling to a room than a decadent wool rug. Rugs visually soften the entire aesthetic of the room and make it seem more comfortable and homely. Rugs also provide some softness underfoot, while showcasing your hardwood flooring. They are much easier to remove than carpeting, which makes them practical for changing seasons.

Place a wool or polyester rug during the cold winter months for added warmth, and in summer replace them with plant-fibre rugs like jute or sisal for a cooler feeling under your feet. Layering multiple area rugs is even more effective in winter. Rugs also break draught, and provide some insulation. They, in addition, create better acoustics, especially in larger rooms prone to echo, in turn making it feel fuller and more comfortable.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, when choosing your area rug, do not be afraid of texture and colour. They are its own work of art that adds character to your room. They can make an otherwise plain, neutral space come to life with its design and pattern. Not only that, but you can visually manipulate space and make it seem bigger or separate, depending on your needs. They truly give functional décor a new meaning. Who would have thought a rug can do all this?