It took me nearly 20 years and 12 homes before I believed in the power of a large rug.
Before that I thought carpets were just decoration or just something soft. If I thought my floors were beautiful, I wouldn’t use the rug. Or, if my floors are already soft – for carpet, I also didn’t see a need for a rug. It literally felt like a waste to me. If I decided to add a rug, out of respect for our budget, I always bought the smallest rug possible. I didn’t realize how much damage I was doing to our home.
until.
Until one day, I decided to look at my Pinterest board full of rooms I loved, and then compare it to my family room that I didn’t love. I realized that 100% of the rooms I installed had huge carpets on the floor.
What?!
My subconscious has been telling me that I actually like rugs, but I haven’t realized it yet.
Now, one of my major room purchases is rugs. For 80% of the rooms in our house — especially the bedrooms, living room, family room, dining room, and large bathrooms — I know that these rooms will never feel the same until they have rug. Big one.
Rugs are added in Step 3 of the decorating arrangement, (click here to download the printable decorating arrangement) after the furniture — because your seating, surfaces, and storage will literally tell you where to place your rug and how big it should be — and before almost everything else.
Below are the rugs I currently use in our home along with my unfiltered reviews:
Hawthorn Striped Wool Rug by Lauren Lees: Essential Bedroom. I love the way this rug looks, I always worry that rugs will be too dark, and this rug is light enough to make the room brighter, but not so light that it becomes dingy. I use this rug over a rug and it adds a fun graphic touch to our bedroom.
Amber Lewis x Loloi Honora grey/beige: family room. This rug surprised me. The price is amazing, it’s luxurious, it doesn’t wrinkle (we have the larger size) it’s wonderfully neutral while still adding interest and it cleans like a breeze with my little green carpet machine.
Sienna Hand-Knotted Wool Rug: Downstairs Bathroom. Design-wise, this is my favorite rug. I love the masculine lines and they are surprisingly soft and probably the best of all the rugs I own. We have a small size in our bathroom. I wish I could get it in a big, huge room, but it’s $$$$$.
Zebra print cowhide: cozy and family room (I have 2). A great layering piece if you’re like me and specialize in contrast and graphic interest but are obsessed with neutrals. Yes please.
5. Robin Wool Rug from Emily Henderson: Laundry room. Hi, I am still waiting for this product to be delivered. It’s a brand new font and I pre-ordered it, mostly because I only need a small size and I’m willing to be wrong. I believe I will love it and it will be fun on the diamond paved floor. There are no reviews yet as it is new, I will keep you posted.
6. Keyara Washable Spill-Proof Rug: Essential Bathroom. Don’t hate me, but I have absolutely hated the look and idea of washable rugs since they were launched. But I decided to try one. I’ve got quite the appeal. Does it look fake printed? 10000%, would it be okay? Yes.
7. Davina Damascus Sage – Liveables x Becky Owens: Gavin’s Room. This rug is good. I was in a hurry and needed a large rug that could be delivered quickly and although it is beautiful, I think it was not the right choice for my personal style.
8. White cowhide: bedroom essential. Our bedroom is huge and in order to expand the part where the sitting area is, I needed to put a rug over the first rug there – insert white cowhide. It’s basically like an invisible ghost that allows furniture to be put together.
9. Loloi Teagan Collection in Ivory/Sand: Office. This rug is a little more muted with cooler undertones in person. I really like the colours, they arrived with the wrinkles and most of them falling out, but it took a long time and some are still there. I also got a huge size – 10×14? Which means that for a cheap rug like this, it’s common for it to wrinkle. I’m still really happy with the design.
If you would like to see my rugs in my home, I just added a video of my home in the Cozy Community. I’m sharing each rug, how I placed it in my room and what it looks like in real life. If you are a member, you will be able to find this video in the Order of Decor Class in Stage 3 in the Academy of Home and in the Facebook group under Featured Posts. More about the class and community here.
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Rug Pads: I use these everywhere unless I’m placing a rug over carpet. This is my favorite.
The carpet in my house: Read more here.
I purchased three custom-cut rugs from the previous owners of our home, and here’s a clip of them. It was worth it!
Carpet Cleaning Machine: (I use it on upholstery too!) Works great.
Since I don’t have a house cleaner, I splurged and bought two vacuums: this super portable one, and this adorable big girl. I love them both.
Finally, someone on the Cozy Community shared this tip and I’ve been using it ever since: If you’re ordering a rug online and can’t look at it first, order a 2×3 rug or whatever smaller size they have (I’ll often order 3-4 options) and then you can See it in your room and ship it back easily and buy a large rug in the design and color you prefer. Brilliant.
Have you ever purchased a gorgeous rug or other decor – and it didn’t have the effect you had hoped?
You probably make great decorating decisions;
Just in the wrong order.
There are 5 stages to decorating and once you know them, every decision becomes easier.
