Interior Design is a balance between harmony and contrast. I like to compare it to an orchestra, consisting of many individual elements that must play together in harmony. Yet, just like a symphony needs a crescendo, your interior needs a focal point to create interest. In Interior Design area rugs can do just that!
Whilst I personally dislike wall-to-wall carpets, I absolutely love area rugs. If chosen wisely, few items can have such an impact on a space like a rug and they also serve multiple aesthetic and functional purposes. In this article I will share 7 reasons why using an area rug is a good idea when designing your space.
Reason 1: Add Colour to Your Space
You can easily bring some colour into a space by adding a colourful rug. Many people prefer to stay on the safe side and stick to neutrals when decorating their home, which can look a bit dull at times. A colourful rug will add some contrast and a bit of cheer to your space.
Rugs are a great way of adding colour to your floor – Photography: courtesy of annasaarinen (left)/ Cloak (right)
Reason 2: Add Pattern to Your Space
Patterns are another tricky part for many, which is why most people stick to plain colours. However, adding a patterned area rug can really create a positive impact and add some interest to your space. Think of it like a piece of art.
Patterned rugs are a great way of adding some interest to your space – Photography: courtesy of Cloak (left), annasaarinen (right)
Reason 3: Add Coziness to Your Space
Adding a rich, soft area rug to your space will add visual and physical warmth to your room and create a sense of hominess. You can even add a washable rug to the bathroom to create warm and soft underfoot.
The colours of your rug can enhance colour accents or simply add texture to your space – Photography: courtesy of annasaarinen
Reason 4: Add Interest to a Boring space
Imagine a narrow and empty corridor… Add a brightly coloured, boldly patterned or crosswise striped area rug to your hallway to pep it up. You may even use some of the colours featured in the carpet and repeat them with pictures on the wall to further enhance the look.
A combination of colours, patterns and texture are a great way to add a focal point in your room – Photography: courtesy of Cloak
Reason 5: Add Soundproofing to Your Space
An area rug will not only dampen floor noise, but also enhance the acoustics of a room. In particular open-plan spaces, spaces with tall ceilings and areas with heavy footfall will benefit from an area rug by reducing the echo. The more textured the rug, the more sound it absorbs.
Rugs help tie together a space in terms of colours – Photography: courtesy of Cloak
Reason 6: Create Zones
In interior design area rugs are a great way of creating zones. In particular with today’s modern open plan spaces, it is crucial to create zones. By adding a carpet to the living room area you can visually create a separate room.
These striking and bold black and white geometric patterns are a true eyecatcher – Photography: courtesy of Cloak
Reason 7: Add a Fun Rug to your Kid’s Room
For those with kids, you can add a fun, colourful rug to mark the kid’s play area, which will not only look great, but also take off some of the potential impact (your kid’s knees and your neighbors will thank you for it…). For more on designing for kids, you can read my post Child Friendly Interior Design Ideas.
These fun multi-coloured bubble rugs are a great addition to any kid’s room – Photography: courtesy of Olli Ella
As mentioned earlier on, finding the right rug for your space is crucial, which is why I am delighted to share two of my favourite suppliers with you. They both offer beautiful and unique rugs, which are guaranteed to make a statement.
The weaving technique greatly impacts the overall look and feel of your rug – Photography: courtesy of Cloak
Cloak
Born into the oldest carpet manufacturing family in Switzerland it seems almost inevitable that Samuel Ruckstuhl grew up to appreciate carpets. It is therefore also no surprise that he decided to pursue a career in the carpet trade. Armed with knowledge and fuelled by passion, Samuel launched Cloak, specialising in unique, yet affordable designer rugs. All rugs are made from natural materials including wool, bamboo, silk and leather and are certified with various trade labels that control the ethical sourcing and manufacturing of the carpets.
Anna Saaarinen in her atelier in Zurich and her home and place of inspiration in Finland – Photography: courtesy of annasaarinen
Annasaarinen Textilmanufaktur
annasaarinen Textilmanufaktur is a Nordic inspired carpet manufacturer based in Zurich. The owner Anna (Scherrer) Saarinen grew up on a farm in the South of Finland. The women in her family, who worked on the fields, would do needlework and weave carpets in their pastime. Growing up with a loom in the living room, she was therefore no stranger to weaving and textiles, which led to her studying textile engineering. After pursuing a career in the corporate world she was looking for a way to combine her Nordic roots with her love for textiles and decided to create Nordic inspired handwoven rugs. Her rugs, which are produced in her atelier at Neumarkt in Zurich and in Finland, are made from recycled cotton, making them naturally sustainable, yet washable and very durable.
With 7 reasons to add an area rug, I am sure you have found yours. But then again, with so many beautiful rugs, who needs a reason anyway?
Rugalistic regards,
Simone xx
Photo Credits:
Cloak, annasaarinen and Olli ella
