Choosing the perfect rug isn’t just about covering your floors—it’s about infusing your living space with your unique style and personality. It’s about finding that one piece that speaks to you and ties everything together to create a home that truly reflects who you are. Whether you’re drawn to the rugged charm of industrial lofts, the cozy simplicity of minimalism, or the vibrant energy of eclectic design, there’s a rug out there waiting to become the heart of your room. There are core factors and elements within these rug designs that are to be considered to simplify your shopping experience. This article explore the different design styles and ways to navigate choosing the best kind for yourself. Let’s explore the rug styles that can turn your house into a home that’s unmistakably yours.
1. Industrial
If you like an industrial look with a masculine, metallic and exposed brick appeal, there are a few rugs you can opt for. To embrace the gritty charm of industrial aesthetics, a shaggy rug can be your go-to choice. A shaggy rug tends to have high pile and have a fluffy appeal. What makes it set well in an industrial setting is the way it breaks up the flat surfaces and enhances the light in the space. The high pile of a shaggy rug would contrast the flat surfaces of concrete walls and floors of the space. Moreover, the shadows created by the pile of wool adds an element of depth to the otherwise geometric setting.
Another great option for industrial spaces can often be a hand-tufted rug in a wool and viscose blend. While you have full freedom in choosing which design compliments your furniture, this combination adds dimension using light and shine to the space. No matter the style of the rug, it’s best to opt for a darker hue to enhance the raw allure of the space. The matt-ness of the surfaces is contrasted well with the shine of viscose in your rug. It can be the statement piece while also enhancing the rugged backdrop.
2. Wabi-Sabi or Japandi
For lovers of all things natural, earthy, and wabi-sabi, a purely jute or jute & wool rug is your design soulmate. The flatness of the rug with its organic textures often brings about the curves and smoothness of a Japandi style space. Not to mention, with minimal furniture often set at a low height in spaces as such, a slim natural rug aligns with its low height counterparts. If you’re not loving the dryness and natural appeal of the jute, some great options in this design style using yarn work include flat-weave, bamboo, or hand-tufted rugs with a low pile. Fortunately, you can get a lot more colour and design variations with the latter kind. Any of these rugs can create a harmonious fusion of Japanese as well as Scandanavian elements in a space.
3. Eclectic or Maximalist
If this is you, you best opt for a hand-knotted rug. You clearly enjoy the brightness and free spirited aspect of life. A hand-knotted rug allows you to create designs with greater fineness and specificity. Any design of any fineness is possible especially when your rug is created over months to years by skilled artisans (as long as your wallet allows it). A hand-knotted rug is bound to steal the spotlight with its riot of colours and patterns, creating a visual masterpiece that reflects your vibrant personality. A hand-knotted rug can be an investment, however, so if you’re not looking to break the bank, a hand-tufted rug in any colour of your choosing (ofcourse!) can be a great alternative. These are also completely customizable and can offer a similar appeal- with the only caveat being that you designs would have to be more on the bold side rather than the fine side.
4. Art Deco
Art Deco lovers, we all know your weakness is greens and golds and anything fancy. To truly indulge in the glitz and glamour of art deco, you best opt for deep jewel shades of a viscose hand-tufted or silk hand-knotted rug (it really depends on how much you’re willing to spend). Both would give a similar appeal in terms of quality while the only limitations being based on the kind of designs you’re looking for. Your floor would showcase the opulence and sophistication you seek. Any jewel tone shade can make your space look elevated, especially a deep mustard, rust like orange or a dark purple. It’ll look expensive, so naturally it’s for you!
5. Contemporary
For the modern mavericks embracing contemporary styles, a hand-tufted rug is for you. Simple as that. You can play with patterns, experiment with textures, and your rug would mirror the avant-garde essence of your space. You can go for a geometric, simple or textured design or even go for a solid. The clarity and simplicity in designs of hand-tufted rugs reflect the essence of a contemporary home. It’s truly a Goldilocks kind of rug. It’s not too much, it’s not too little, it’s just right.
6. Minimalist
If you’re a minimalist, you’re most likely happy with a solid coloured rug or maximum two colours in one article. Dedicate your energy to the texture of the rug instead! Keep your minimal colours while you hone in on a textural rug that plays with light and shadows to add depth to your space. It would create a serene oasis that can in fact complement a minimal aesthetic. A hand-loomed or hand-tufted rug would be best for this. With the design simple and the textures unique, these kinds of rugs would do your home and wallet, both, justice. These come in combinations of high and low piles that can add just the right amount of texture without overwhelming the simplicity of your space.
7. Rustic or Farmhouse
Whether it’s farmhouse charm or rustic elegance, go for a flat-weave rug- in either cotton or wool. In this realm, the whole rainbow is your oyster and you can pick colours that truly bring you comfort. These rugs can add warmth to a space if that’s what you are going for, but they can also add a layer of coolness to a space, depending on the weather as well as the furnishings surrounding the home. For an added touch of coolness, however, opting for a jute or jute & wool rug is ideal, especially if you’re in a warm and dry area.
Bonus Tip: Woven runners in foyers and kitchens of such designed spaces add a touch of sophistication that you wouldn’t normally expect. From the very first steps inside, the house feels like home.
8. Mid-Century Modern
If you love mid-century modern or cabin aesthetics, your ideal choice is to embrace the luxurious feel of hide, leather or fur rugs. Without doing too much but doing it all, they add that Ralph Lauren appeal to the space instantly. It’s posh, it’s playful, it’s plush, it’s perfect! If you’re trying to be conscious, go for a faux option. It’ll look about the same, but you won’t have to feel guilty doing it.
This may be a specific design choice, so if animal elements are just not for you, the best alternative is to go for a hand-knotted Persian design style rug in a deep colour. It seem anti-intuitive to mix the fine textures and colour combinations of the rug to a wooden mid-century modern home, but it really can do wonders to the space! It can bring out the colours and make the smaller elements of the space fit within perfectly.
That’s not all!
Click here for part 2 of the article covering design styles that we may have missed here…
