Elevating your living room's aesthetic starts with the perfect rug, and colour plays a pivotal role in this design endeavour. Choosing the right colour for your living room rug is a transformative decision that can set the tone for the entire space. In this guide, we'll navigate the nuances of selecting the ideal colour, exploring how different hues can enhance the ambiance, complement your decor, and ultimately contribute to the overall visual harmony of your living space. Let's delve into the art of choosing the perfect living room rug colour that resonates with your style and brings a new dimension to your home's design.
Setting the Mood: How Colour Impacts a Living Room
Warm hues energise spaces
Bright, warm hues like red, orange and yellow are energising and stimulating, perfect for an entertaining living room. These cheerful colours boost happiness and conversation. Adding accent pillows, art, or a rug in a vibrant warm tone will liven up a neutral space and make guests feel welcome.
Cool colours calm and soothe
If you want your living room to be a place of relaxation, consider cool colours like blue, green and violet. These soothing shades have a calming effect and help reduce stress and anxiety. A rug, throw blanket or wall colour in a deep teal, forest green or indigo can transform a living room into a restful retreat.
Light or dark - it's your choice
Both light and dark rug colours can work well in a living room, depending on the mood you want to set. Lighter colours, like beige, grey and linen, make a space feel more open and airy, while darker hues such as chocolate brown, navy and plum create an intimate, cosy feel. Consider your living room's functionality and the lifestyle of your household. If your living room is a haven for reading or TV watching, opting for a darker rug can amplify that experience by creating a cosy and immersive atmosphere.Â
On the other hand, if your space often plays host to lively gatherings, a lighter rug can work wonders in making the room feel more expansive and inviting for both adults and little ones. For households with pets and kids, choosing rugs in stain-resistant materials and neutral tones can be a practical solution, seamlessly blending style with durability for a family-friendly living space.
Warm & Inviting: Beige Living Room Rugs
Classic & Cosy
A beige rug is a classic choice that instantly creates a cosy, welcoming feel in your living room. Beige rugs come in a variety of shades, from creamy off-whites to richer tans. Choose a shade that complements your existing decor and furnishings. A medium beige rug is a versatile option that pairs well with most colour schemes.
Natural Fibres
For extra comfort and a laid-back look, consider a beige living room rug made of natural fibres like wool, cotton or jute. Wool rugs are soft, durable and help insulate the room. Cotton or jute rugs have a casual, beachy vibe that’s perfect for a living room. These natural fibre rugs only get softer and cosier over time.
Layered Style
Don’t be afraid to layer a beige rug on top of a larger neutral rug for an eclectic, collected look. A Beni Ourain-style wool rug topped with a kilim cotton rug creates a stylish base for your living room furniture. Play around with different sizes, textures and shades of beige until you find a combination you love.
Final Touches
Once you’ve selected your perfect beige living room rug, finish the space with decorative pillows, throws, artwork and greenery. Pops of colour in accent chairs or table lamps will make the neutral palette pop. A beige rug provides an ideal blank canvas to build a stylish and comfortable living room retreat. Choose a high-quality rug made of natural, durable fibres, and your new beige rug will provide warmth and comfort for years to come.
Sophisticated Style: Grey Living Room Rugs
Classic and Chic
Nothing says sophisticated like grey. Grey living room rugs help create a stylish space that feels cosy yet polished. Grey is a perfect neutral colour that complements both warm and cool colour schemes. It provides an ideal base for layering colours and patterns in your living room.
Choose a Shade
There are many shades of grey to choose from. A charcoal grey rug with dark, moody undertones is bold and dramatic. For a lighter, airier feel, consider a rug in dove grey or silver grey. A medium grey is versatile and works well for most living rooms. If you want subtle colour, look for a grey rug with blue, green or brown undertones.
Texture and Pattern
While solid grey rugs are chic and versatile, don’t overlook textured or patterned options, especially in these high traffic areas. A textured wool rug in charcoal grey provides a cosy texture. A grey rug with a subtle dotted or diamond pattern adds visual interest.Â
Size Matters
Measure your living room space before shopping for a grey rug. For the most seamless look, choose a rug that extends under all major furniture pieces in your seating area. Leave at least 20-30 centimetres of bare floor showing on all sides for the most balanced proportion. Round rugs also work well in living rooms, just make sure you have enough space for the rug to make a statement.
A sophisticated grey rug helps set the tone for a stylish yet cosy living room. By choosing a shade you love and the right size and pattern for your space, a grey rug can make all the difference in creating a polished living room you'll enjoy for years to come.
Dramatic Effect: Black Living Room Rugs
Black rugs can add drama and sophistication to your living room. The dark colour serves as a bold contrast to lighter colours in the space, creating an eye-catching focal point.
Statement Piece
A black living room rug acts as a statement piece, demanding attention the moment someone enters the space. It anchors the seating area and pulls the look of the room together. The dramatic colour allows you to take risks with bolder patterns, like a geometric design, animal print or floral motif. Or keep it simple with a solid black rug for a minimalist look.
Grounding Effect
The deep, rich tone of a black rug helps ground the space, balancing lighter colours and making a room feel cohesive. Place a black rug under a seating area with lighter-coloured furniture, like a white sofa or grey armchairs. The dark rug underneath creates a cosy, cocooning feel while preventing the lighter pieces from seeming disconnected.
Flexibility
Black rugs pair well with a variety of decorating styles, from traditional to bohemian to mid century modern. Their dark, moody colour acts as a neutral base that you can build upon. Layer colourful textiles, art and accessories on top of a black rug to create an eclectic, curated space. Or keep the look minimal with a few statement black and white accent pieces.
A black living room rug brings drama and sophistication to your space. As a bold contrast or grounding base, black rugs create a focal point and help pull a room together. Their deep, rich colour acts as a neutral backdrop for a variety of styles. For a dramatic statement or cosy feel, a black rug is a perfect choice for your living room.
Choosing the perfect size
Rug shopping can be time-consuming, but choosing the right size rug is key to pulling a room together. Think about how you want to use the space and the look you want to achieve to determine the best rug size for your living room.
For a cosy conversation area, a medium sized rug should work well. It’s large enough to place furniture on, but still leaves some of the floor exposed. If you have a spacious room and want the rug to define the seating area, go bigger with a large or extra large rug. Just make sure any furniture you want on the rug will fit comfortably.
If you want to make a small space seem more open, choose a rug that’s at least 60cm longer and wider than your sofa. The extra space around the edges creates an illusion of a larger room. In a long, narrow room, a runner rug can work well. Place it in the centre to break up the space, or position it under a console table behind a sofa.
For high-traffic living rooms, durable natural fibre rugs like jute are good options. Their textured weaves hide dirt and stains between cleanings. Wool or wool-blend rugs are also very durable and long-lasting. Whatever material you choose, get a rug pad to help it last longer.
The colour and pattern of your rug should complement your existing decor. In a room with a lot going on, a solid coloured rug helps tie everything together without adding more visual noise. If your space feels boring, a patterned rug with colours from the room adds warmth and interest. As a general rule of thumb, make sure any colours in the rug are also reflected elsewhere in the room to create a cohesive look.
Choosing the right size and style rug for your living room may take some time, but it’s worth it. A rug that is sized and designed properly for the space will pull the whole room together and make it a comfortable place to relax and entertain. With some measuring, planning, and patience finding your perfect rug can be achieved.
Still deciding? Picture your room transformed by our curated selections and find the perfect piece of modern rugs or extra large rugs  that speaks to you.
Conclusion
So there you have it - some tips for picking the perfect living room rug to tie your space together. Remember, go for a colour that complements your existing decor while still making a statement. Neutrals are great for versatility, but don't be afraid to add a pop of colour if that's more your style. Scale and texture are also key - you want something big enough to define the space. Play around on our website to visualise different options. Trust your instincts and you'll find the perfect rug to give your living room that cosy, welcoming vibe you're going for. Happy rug hunting!
