When a Rug Makes a Room

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There’s only one way to put together a room in my mind…

Start with a centerpiece.

It’s pretty much how I’ve decorated every room in my house.

In my bedroom, it’s my lovely four poster bed and a framed print I bought years ago of a woman in a red dress looking out over what I imagine to be the Mediterranean. While I love browns, taupes, and neutral colors, that print inspires me to add splashes of blue and red in an otherwise earth-tone room.

In my office, it was the wall color. I knew my own working space was going to be eclectic so I started with a wall color I’ve always wanted: purple. (Think more like a soft silvery lilac. No vomit-inducing colors in my house!)

In the kitchen, it’s the countertop. I didn’t pick it but I have lovely maple cabinets and a mottled granite countertop. Finding the right paint color and tile backsplash to make all that work isn’t easy.

In most of the other living spaces, I have all the flexibility in the world. Sometimes, it’s the furniture that defines the space. Like my olive green sectional in the family room. It’s kind of a drab color along with the tan carpeting. But with the stone fireplace and lots of natural light, I picked shades of brown for the wall and red accent pillows for the couch.

Where my creativity really comes to life is when I’m working in a room without carpeting. I never thought I’d prefer a room without new fangled “wall-to-wall carpeting” but dealing with stains and dust and everything else makes rugs not only a more practical way to keep a room fairly clean, but it can also serve as a centerpiece for the room.

Here’s how it worked in two rooms in my house.

Living Room

Most people will admit to not really using their living room but I actually do. It’s got an adult vibe and some high end decorator items I snagged at a furniture auction. And that’s where my inspiration started. I bought this print.

I don’t know why I like this architectural style print. Maybe it was the frame or the colors or just the symmetry. But I planted that right above my brown leather couch that I already had and from there I picked my paint color: orange (again, a subtle pumpkin-like orange – nothing obnoxious).

And I bought a simply patterned wool rug to accent the room. (Dog not included.)

Add the lamps, some inexpensive curtains, and coordinating pillows and the room came together. It’s where we retreat for a little grown-up time. (Again, dog not included.)

But I had another space that I approached in a completely different way.

Sunroom

Because my house was newly built, this room was a blank slate. White walls, white(ish) tile and lots of light. I knew it could handle lots of color and I liked the idea of bringing the outdoors in. So I started with a rug that had all the right colors for me.

From there, I bought my couch, from Wayfair, of course, added an old trunk as a coffee table, parked some lamps I picked up when a model house was closing up shop, and picked my paint color. I bought a throw blanket and pillows to bring it all together. It’s still a work in progress but I’m liking the way it’s shaping up.

So if you’re in decorator mode right now, or just looking for a quick way to refresh a room, consider paint, new lamps, some pillows, and a rug! I’m especially digging the jute and sisal rugs in a high traffic, indoor/outdoor space like a sun room. (Side note: Cats looooove to claw jute and sisal ANYTHING.)