How To Choose A Rug Based On Your Floor's Color (And Whether It Matters)

Choosing a rug can be daunting, especially if you want it to anchor your space. It might be tempting to use your existing floors as the initial guide. However, this may not be the ideal approach for every home. There are a few ways you can determine whether your floor's color should have a strong bearing on your choice of area rug. Allow yourself to choose a color that reflects your personal aesthetic, rather than adhering strictly to specific design rules, and that includes limiting your rug color choices to your floor's color scheme. If you prefer to contrast the floor color (maybe you inherited it from a previous owner), opt for contrasting rug colors to minimize the floor's appearance. Or, you can coordinate the colors if you prefer a less dramatic impact.

You may have thought that your rug choice should be heavily influenced by the color and finish of your floors, but this method might not be as straightforward as you expect. One of the most common mistakes people make when choosing a new rug is putting too much weight on the color of their floors, especially if they are neutral. Sometimes, breaking the rules of the dos and don'ts of styling rugs can actually be beneficial for your interior. That could even mean ignoring your floor color.

Wood and laminate flooring offer a clean slate when it comes to choosing a rug, so it's more important to consider the effect and style you want your home to radiate. Tiles, however, can be trickier — depending on their color and pattern. White or beige tiles are similar to wood or wood-style floors in that you don't have to worry excessively about matching their shade or even style. More deeply colored, patterned tile options require a bit more deliberation to prevent the floor-rug combination from becoming too distracting. A bright, solid rug can help keep the look balanced. Texturally, if your tiles are smooth, consider opting for a rug with a textured material and a textured color pattern, rather than a solid motif, to add depth and warmth.

The best technique for selecting your area rug comes down to defining the overall style of your home, rather than just considering your flooring. However, you can use your floors as one indicator. For example, dark wood floors have an inherently sophisticated, luxurious look. You can choose whether you want your rug to balance out the refined appearance with a lighter, more playful color scheme, or if you'd rather lean into the mature, polished style with darker hues. There are several tips for choosing your living room rug that you can follow, but the best approach is to opt for the rug that brings you the most joy.