How to Choose a Rug Color
Our guide to picking the right palette.
Your rug is the foundation, with the power to transform the look and feel of any given room. Color is one of the main considerations for setting the tone—and we’ve got the tips to guide you through.
set the tone
Consider the Feel of a Space
Before we pull out the palette, it’s helpful to consider the mood of the space you’re choosing a rug for. Are you looking for a cozy and grounded feel, somewhere like a bedroom? Or are you hoping for something that’s lively and expressive, like a living or dining room?
Go Cozy
For a cozy and grounded feel, look to earth tones, neutrals, and muted or soft palettes. If you’re looking to integrate a rug into an existing palette (that may or may not align with the above), choose something complementary in a soft or muted iteration of one of the existing colors in your space.
Featured: Clara Hand-Tufted Wool Rug in Ivory / Natural.
Featured: Mayla CloudPile™ Printed Rug in Wheat / Multi.
It’s All in the Details
As far as design details go, rug motifs that include fading will help soften the space and create that airy, soothing feel, while a layered design (like plaids or traditional motifs) will strike a cozy note.
Featured: Amersham Rug in Natural / Gold.
Featured: Akari Handwoven Rug in Taupe / Natural.
Create Impact
For a lively or expressive feel, add some contrast. This lends an intentional, personally stylistic feel to your space. Go bold with your color choice and expressive with the motif: large-scale patterns are your friend here. When in doubt, ask yourself if it’s blending in or standing out—you want to go for something that stands out in your space, while harmonizing with existing elements.
Featured: Faneuil CloudPile™ Printed Rug in Lagoon / Multi.
Featured: Miray Rug in Natural / Blue.
Featured: Goldenrod Hand-Tufted Rug in Antique Ivory / Earth.
Featured: Lindy Hand-Tufted Wool Rug in Khaki / Bark.
Featured: Latika Handwoven Rug in Natural Multi.
consider the color story
Pick a Palette
Identify colors in your room’s existing palette—or if you’re starting fresh, create a palette anew—and use this as a reference in your search. Not everything has to match up perfectly. Often just a touch of complementary color can pull a space together. Does your room feature warm colors? Go with a warm-colored rug. Same goes for cool: Cohesion is key and matching the temperature of your space keeps things harmonious.
Featured: Rilka Rug in Natural / Grey.
Featured: Aruna Rug in Charcoal / Aqua.
create dimension
Strike a Balance
The golden ratio for expressing color in a given room is 60-30-10. What color or colors in your palette are you drawn to most? Plan to dedicate the larger elements of your room towards those color or colors, including your rug.
Consider the interplay of patterns vs. solids and the existence of texture in your space. Are there existing patterns? Choose a rug with a subtler or complementary pattern (a more detailed pattern paired with something bold, for instance). Furniture feeling one-note? Go for a textural rug to inject some dimension into your space.
Patterns and solids working together.
Featured: Quentin Hand-Knotted Rug in Ivory / Champagne.
Featured: Fabien Hand-Tufted Wool Rug in Olive / Green.
Featured: Orla Hand-Loomed Rug in Ivory / Grey.
Featured: Kari Handwoven Rug in Natural.
Featured: Amal Hand-Loomed Wool Rug in Ivory.
try this at home
The Importance of Rug Samples
Rug colors express themselves differently in different environments, and even times of day in that same environment. If you want to be absolutely certain that a rug will work in your particular space, we recommend ordering a rug sample DB4 to test out in your space. Your rug is essential to setting the tone—ending up with one that fits in with your space makes all the difference. Sampling your rug is worth the effort for the investment you’re making with a new rug.