5 Rug Tips We Swear By
11/29 Design Tips

5 Rug Tips We Swear By

A few things you should know about rug placement

Rugs are the layer a space often needs to feel complete…

and we use them in nearly every room we design. The perfect rug can ground the space, create a “zone” in an open-concept home, add texture, pattern, color, and provide a soft place to land.

Finding the right rug for your space can feel overwhelming —there are so many styles to choose from, not to mention the range of sizes! Our team has received a lot of questions about rugs over the years, and after selecting hundreds of rugs for all kinds of rooms, we’re excited to share a few tips we swear by in this post.

No. 1: Don’t skimp on size  

Buying a rug that is too small for the space is one of the most common design “mistakes” we see people make, and chances are, you need a bigger-sized rug than you think you do to really fill the space well! While it may seem counter-intuitive, rugs that are too small can easily get lost in the room, making it feel smaller than it really is.

As a general rule of thumb, we like to make sure the rug touches the front legs of all furniture in the room, with at least 6″ on each side of the furniture.

For more tips on rug sizing, check out our guide here! 

From our Mountainside Retreat Project

Tried-and-true rugs we love

Quality, timeless rugs for every space.
Shop our favorite rugs
Tiaro Rug
Kazan Hand-Knotted Rug
Calistoga Rug
Gordes Shag Rug
Granada Indoor / Outdoor Rug
Torrance Rug
Grandby Rug
James Rug
Holburn Rug
Kyran Rug

No. 2: Rugs are still important in carpeted spaces 

One of the questions we get about rugs most frequently is whether or not rugs are needed in carpeted spaces, and the answer is yes! Although it might seem strange to put a rug in a room with carpet, a rug is still needed to ground the space visually. Plus, a rug can provide extra padding for an even more comfortable place to land.

From our Layered Coastal Netflix Bedroom Remodel

Hand-knotted & textural rugs

Enhance your space with a hand-crafted rug for years to come.
Hand-knotted rugs we love
Hamden Hand-Knotted Rug
Anya Hand-Knotted Rug
Evie Hand-Knotted Rug
Pembroke Hand-Knotted Rug
Millie Hand-Knotted Rug
Meridian Hand-Knotted Rug
Roslin Hand-Knotted Rug

No. 3: Always consider durable materials for high-traffic areas 

While sometimes people are hesitant about using rugs in high-traffic areas like mudrooms, entryways, dining spaces, and kitchens, they can go a long way in bringing softness and dimension in more utilitarian spaces. Indoor / outdoor rug materials are perfect for high-traffic areas where spills or messes often occur. Plus, you can always opt for vintage materials for a worn-in look as durable as it is timeless.

From our Northridge Remodel

Indoor + outdoor rugs

Bring softness and durability to high-traffic areas.
Explore more indoor/ outdoor rugs
Bavaria Indoor / Outdoor Rug
Edina Plaid Indoor / Outdoor Rug
Granada Indoor / Outdoor Rug
Jamestown Stripe Indoor / Outdoor Rug
Belleville Indoor/Outdoor Rug
Augustine Plaid Indoor / Outdoor Rug

No. 4: Make sure your rugs work together in an open-concept space 

In open-concept spaces, you’ll likely have more than one rug in the same visual plane, and it can get visually complicated if they are not cohesive. When we mix multiple rugs in one space, we like to pay attention to having at least one cohesive element to tie it together. Check out our in-depth post here for more on mixing multiple rugs in one space and a few of our favorite examples.

5 Rug Tips We Swear By
5 Rug Tips We Swear By

From our Pine Brook Home

From The Sunset House

Runners with impact

Add color, pattern, or texture to any space.
Runner favorites
Newton Rug
Orton Rug
Holburn Rug
Hamden Hand-Knotted Rug
Kyran Rug

No. 5: Pay attention to the scale of your rug pattern 

The right pattern can change a space like few other design elements can, and a rug is a great, low-risk way to add pattern to any room. When choosing a rug with a pattern, it’s important to pay attention to the pattern’s scale so it doesn’t overwhelm the space. In small areas, we like to use smaller-scale patterns so that it doesn’t overpower the room. In larger spaces, it’s easier to get away with doing something with a large pattern scale, like stripes or large checks.

For more on how to mix multiple patterns in one space, check out our post here!

From our McGee & Co. 2021 Summer Catalogue

Patterned rug favorites

Bring in an element of playfulness with a patterned rug.
Patterned rugs with impact
Izsak Rug
Callahan Rug
Penfield Indoor/Outdoor Rug
Masella Beige Rug
Lenola Cream Rug
Tamarack Hand-Knotted Rug
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1 Comments
Studio McGee
  1. Thank you so much for the tips. I have felt overwhelmed and a lot of my rooms don’t have rugs but these tips helped a lot. Love all your work!

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