Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Decorating the Nest: Antique Rugs


Let's talk rugs. This seems like a weird topic for someone who's obsessed with hardwood (umm, herringbone hardwood my coffin someday please!) but I am loving the look of really intricate Persian and Kilim Rugs on hardwood. In New England, it's just practical to have some soft, warm ground cover, and they can really anchor space to avoid that "floating furniture" feeling. 


Lets be clear, wall to wall carpeting is still the devil's work. Rugs in general are definitely an investment piece, so for $200 I'm just not down with grabbing a chevron pattern from target. Look for a rug that has enough different tones and intricacy that it can transition between multiple rooms in your house. If you have a rug with yellow and grey latticework or blue concentric circles, you really don't have much leeway in terms of the rest of the room's decor. A Persian or Kilim rug has enough tones that you have a huge variety of colors to "pick up" with your other decor. 

A great example of avoiding furniture float is in this living room. The rug adds a bright spot of color and pattern to the home, and feels playful without seeming trendy or juvenile.


This pink is such a bold choice for an entryway. I'm not normally a fun of "runners" but I love the pop of pink here adding some feminine charm. And the pattern is laid out so your eye naturally follows vertically down the hallway.


This is one of the first photos that made me consider interior rugs. I just can't get over the way that this rug really grounds the organic neutrals in this nursery, is a piece that can grow with the family for years, and avoids that cutesy sweet nursery feeling. 

Room proportions are huge when it comes to rugs. The biggest advice I've taken from design blogs is that the rug should extend far enough that every piece of furniture can anchor comfortably. Don't save $100 by skimping for the smaller rug if it means you get floating furniture or a lack of clarity about the demarcation of spaces!

Rugs are also getting really popular in the bathroom. I can't believe how much more sophisticated they look than a traditional bath mat, and they'll still keep your feet warm on the tile in the winter! You can see that in both the modern streamlined bathroom on the left, and the cottage style bathroom on the right the rug serves the same function.


Want to add your own rug to your home? Studio McGee has put together a perfect post full of resources: On The Hunt: Sourcing Antique Rugs. Just make sure you don't outbid me on eBay!

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