12 Living Room Rug Ideas for a Chic Living Space

Your living room floor looks too plain and lacks something to bring it to the next level? The right rug could be the perfect solution for this! Whether you want to add drama to your space or just get some texture and warmth, the appropriate rug can be the answer.

So, take a look at our top 12 living room rug ideas and find the right one for you.

Large Light-Colored Rugs

If your living room is light and airy, and you want to keep it that way, we recommend choosing a neutral color scheme for your rug.

A large rug in neutral colors (e.g., beige, white, cream, etc.) will disperse light better and make the room appear larger at the same time.

Light-colored rugs are especially effective in a minimalistic Scandinavian living room with sleek, simple lines. They’re also one of the great rug ideas for a living room that’s on the smaller side.

Natural Fibre Rugs

Natural materials are having a huge comeback in the world of rugs. They’re sustainable, easy to clean, affordable, and can last for a really long time.

That’s why woven rugs made of jute, sea grass, sisal and similar materials have recently gained so much popularity. They also make for subtle decor with a dose of sophistication.

For the best results, place a jute rug in your living room and pair it with lots of cozy decor pieces.

For example, you can add a snug throw blanket to your sofa, braided or knitted pillow covers, wicker wall decor, a charming pouf ottoman, etc., and you’ll surely get that natural but stylish look.

Layer Your Rugs

Want your living room to appear as if professional designers had something to do with it? Try layering your rugs! By doing this, you’ll get much more texture and depth, which will make your living space appear warmer and more luxurious.

The best way to go about this is to place a smaller fur rug/sheep hide/cowhide on top of a simple flatweave rug that’ll serve as your base. This is also one of the most eye-catching ways of incorporating a sheep hide or cowhide rug in a living room.

Round Rugs

A rectangular shape may be a prototypical shape for a living room rug, but it certainly isn’t the only one available. Choosing a simple, large, round rug can help you elevate your living room and make it more visually attractive.

A round rug in a living room can also make the whole space look much softer, especially if you have a lot of furniture with sharp edges. And, if you have a sofa or other furniture in a unique shape you want to highlight, a round rug will work perfectly.

Unique Shapes

Are simple round and rectangular rugs just not interesting enough for you? Then a rug in a more unusual shape might suit your taste better.

A rug with a more unusual design like this is impossible not to notice. It’ll make your space visually more interesting and draw lots of attention.

Though it’s a common practice to choose a larger rug for your living room to anchor your furniture in place, you can make an exception when it comes to this small but effective rug. You can place it under your coffee table and use it as a statement piece.

For the best effect, combine it with an L-shape sofa or layer it over a wall-to-wall carpet.

If you style it the right way, it can also turn out to be one of the best rug ideas for a small living room.

Matching Rugs and Cushions

If you already have a fully furnished living room and aren’t keen on changing your furniture but still crave change, there’s a simple solution for you. Keep your trusty, colorful, patterned rug and match it to the cushions on your sofa.

Don’t panic if you can’t find cushion covers with the exact same pattern. The color palette is the key here! Getting cushions that feature the dominant colors on your area rug will work just fine. The colors themselves will do wonders to connect the space.

This way, your rug will successfully blend into your living room.

Abstract Design and Interesting Colors

Need something to make your simple living room instantly liven up? Try a large modern living room rug with an abstract pattern that looks like drip painting artwork.

This rug will make your space look artsy and undoubtedly increase its visual appeal. And since it comes in interesting colors, it can be the pop of color your space needs.

Green Rug for a Natural Look

The COVID-19 pandemic made us all realize how important nature and the great outdoors are for peace of mind. So, why not bring a piece of the outdoor world inside and get the same relaxing effect within the confines of your home?

To achieve this, choose a large, soft, green rug that mimics the lushness of neatly trimmed lawns.

This is one of the best rugs for your living room if you crave to create an ultimate relaxation haven in your home. After all, green is a soothing color that can promote a sense of calm and harmony.

Green goes excellent with blush and gold, so make sure to add some furniture or details in those elegant colors. And don’t forget to round the whole natural esthetic by introducing some creative plant displays and turn your living room into a true green oasis.

Get Rich Texture With Shag Rugs

Shag rugs are some of the safest choices when it comes to picking a rug for the living room. They’re soft, cozy, modern, and look inviting. And they can definitely add some texture and warmth to your living space.

If you pick one in a neutral color (e.g., beige, white, cream, etc.), there’s no interior design style you can’t combine it with. It’ll be able to warm up any space — from modern Scandinavian to traditional farmhouse-style living rooms.

Vibrant Boho Look

Persian and Oriental rugs are currently some of the most popular living room rugs.

They’re genuine pieces of art that come in bright colors and intricate patterns and have a lot of character. Therefore, they’re excellent accent pieces for a colorful and vibrant boho living room.

We recommend pairing your exotic Oriental rug with simple but colorful furniture and lots of decorative greenery.

Modern Geometrical Patterns for Trendy Spaces

Modern rugs with a geometrical pattern are one of the most fashionable options for modern living rooms. So, you can’t go wrong if you choose any of the thousands of geometrical designs on offer.

Intricate linework or carefully assembled geometric mosaic — the choice is all yours.

Placing this type of rug in your living room as a focal point will get the place a bolder look, and it can even add a necessary pop of color if you opt for a colorful one.

Bright-Colored Showstopper

The easiest way to make your all-white/neutral-colored living room more lively without having to get new furniture or go through the arduous painting process is to get a large bright-colored rug.

By choosing one of many colorful modern living room rugs out there, you’ll get a color pop in your room and make the space more visually appealing.

Adding a bright-colored rug is particularly handy for adding visual interest in rented spaces where you’re stuck with the owner’s furniture, and hanging large pieces of decor (e.g., paintings) is often out of the question.

Conclusion

The market abounds with a wide array of quality rugs that can brighten up any room, so it would be a shame not to choose at least one to make your space more attractive and textured. Vintage-looking, asymmetrical, neutral, colorful — the choice is all yours.

FAQ

Does a large rug make a room look bigger or smaller?

A large rug can make a room appear bigger, especially if it comes in some of the lighter colors. It can also make the room look more cohesive.

On the other hand, smaller rugs can make the room look choppy, incohesive, and, thereby, smaller.

How do I know what size rug to get?

Size matters when it comes to rugs. So, remember — bigger is always better. A small rug can “chop” your living room and make it look incohesive.

It’s recommendable to go for rugs 8′x10′ to 9′x12′ in size. Naturally, the actual size will entirely depend on the size of your living room area.

Make sure that the rug is 6″–8″ longer than your sofa on all sides and that it’s large enough to anchor the furniture (there should be at least 18″–24″ walking space between larger pieces of furniture on the rug).

Also, remember to leave at least six inches (ideally 18″) of empty space between the rug and the wall.

What does “flat woven rug“ mean?

Flatweave rugs aren’t knotted like most other types of rugs. Instead, they’re created by using a loom (they’re woven).

They’re typically made of wool, silk, linen, or cotton, and they’re much thinner than other rugs. They lay flat and have no pile (the fibers sticking up).

What’s great about flatweave rugs is that they’re lightweight, can easily be rotated and moved, and are easy to maintain. That’s why they’re excellent for high-traffic areas.

Why are distressed rugs popular?

The appeal of a distressed rug is the same as that of a stylish piece of furniture from an antique shop.

Distressed rugs look like they have a story to tell, and they can give a touch of vintage esthetic to your home while keeping it trendy. They’re also incredibly easy to combine (unlike brightly colored ones or those in abstract shapes).

Are Oriental rugs out of style?

Absolutely not!

These beautifully crafted rugs have been around for centuries and are here to stay. Their instantly recognizable motifs and patterns are a welcome addition to any space, personal or commercial.

Besides the powerful esthetics, their popularity lies in their exceptional quality.

Typically, Oriental rugs are hand-woven and, therefore, a highly sought-after decorative item of luxury in the world of interior design.

Because of that, they’re also very expensive. However, there are also more affordable machine-made ones that are equally as stylish.