How to Add Color Using Rugs
Rugs serve as an excellent tool to bring life and color into your living space. If you find yourself apprehensive about introducing vibrant hues or uncertain about where to even begin when adding color, don’t worry! We have insider tricks to help start building out a more colorful home confidently. Before diving in, we love Pinterest as a tool to start gathering inspiration and ideas.
If you take this rug out, the room would be lifeless. This rug from Wild Shaman adds character, warmth and interest to a space and welcomes guests in.
(Photo Credit: Wild Shaman)
STEP `1: WHAT COLORS GO WELL IN YOUR SPACE?
The first step to adding color using rugs is figuring out what colors will go well together in your existing space. What colors will complement your furniture and existing materials? In the example below, this green rug with a subtle blue-tone pattern works wonderfully as a new color introduction. Why you ask? Because the blue-green tones work as complimentary colors to the orange undertones of the wood floor. If even the mention of the relationship of colors on the color wheel feels too much, check out our How to Add Color to Your Home blog! This breaks down the basics of where to begin with all things color.
Beyond the orange-tone wood and blue-green hues of the rug being complimentary to each other, this rug elevates the space further by having a pattern that mimics the adjacent wall and console table. This creates a cohesive, warm, and inviting mood in this otherwise neutral space. (photo credit: Revival Rugs)
STEP 2: FIGURE OUT WHAT PATTERN, OR IF YOU WANT PATTERN AT ALL
When selecting a rug, it's crucial to consider how patterns can harmonize with the existing elements in your space. Assess whether there are specific patterns that complement or enhance the aesthetic of your furniture and decor. The size and nature of the pattern play a pivotal role in defining the visual impact of the rug. If your room is already vibrant with art and color, a more subtle repeating pattern may work best. On the other hand, if you're aiming for a bold statement piece, opt for a rug with a large, distinctive pattern. In the example above, we love the repetition of squares that bring your eye from left to right, from the wall to the floor.
STEP 3: IF POSSIBLE, LOOK AT RUGS IN PERSON TO DETERMINE QUALITY
We have an entire blog post on How to Pick a Rug, but we suggest going to a local shop to learn about the materials and to touch and feel the rugs. If you are local to Portland, OR, take a look at Wild Shaman for colorful vintage rugs and Kush for your more classic and modern look. Both Kush and Wild Shaman offer different products at various price points. One quality control tip we love to share is to make sure that your rug fibers come from a natural source rather than synthetic. Contrary to popular belief, natural fibers such as wool are easier to clean and can last a lifetime.
If you’re not in the Portland area and are rug shopping online, here are some of our favorites that have been quality tested by us. Wendy’s latest go-to shop is Revival Rugs. They’re giving vintage rug styles a new life while saving the earth along the way. We also love the muted-colored rugs from Parachute (known for their amazing bedding). Annie Selke has great patterns and texture. Anthropologie also has fun, colorful rugs that we have used in many projects!
Were these tips helpful? Please tell us in the comments below! Have more sofa selection questions? Message us @tealandscott on Instagram!
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HELPFUL LINKS
To get back to the basics of selecting a rug, read our blog How to Pick a Rug.
In our Rug Youtube ft. Wild Shaman we talk all things rug quality, and you can watch us as we play with color and give tips on building a palette in real time.
In our Rug Youtube ft. Kush we dive deeper into materials, rug care, and building more neutral palettes.
Affiliate Disclosure: Teal and Wendy hand-pick every product they recommend. Some product links are affiliate and may provide a small kickback to T&S at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate they earn from qualifying purchases.
