Good Questions: Inexpensive Modern Rug Resource?

I've been looking for a pretty and modern rug for my living room and I need HELP. I need to keep it simple and relatively inexpensive. I have two cats, so the rugs in my home tend to take a beating — they last about a year or two. I love the prints on the modern mats I've seen but since this is for the living room, I'm afraid a plastic mat will feel too cold. The living room is white with pale lilac and I found a gorgeous navy blue rug (left) online that I love but absolutely cannot afford and the cats will likely destroy anyway. Any suggestions where I can find a rug kind of like this that will meet my needs?

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: newyork(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)

Our first thought is CB2 and West Elm — and if these are still a bit out of your price range, be certain to check out their sale offerings. These retailers frequently update their stock and discontinue older styles. It's a great chance to get a deal.

Also, we've spotted great modern rugs on steep discount at Macy's online store.

Anyone else?

Comments (19)

Overstock.com actually has an amazing selection of modern rugs for really reasonable prices.

Here's one with a similar feel of the rug in the picture:
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Le-Cirque-Rug-5-x-8/3888012/product.html

posted by mizzmouse on April 2nd 2009 at 8:13am
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How about rugsdirect.com. They have plenty of selection in all different price ranges and ship for free too. I also like addarugs.com.

posted by SAG on April 2nd 2009 at 8:33am
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I would second the overstock.com recommendation. I looked for a cheap, but nice wool rug for quite a while, and they definitely had a great selection.

posted by Sassyladie on April 2nd 2009 at 8:41am
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My experience with pets and modern bold print rugs is not good, regardless of the price point. The crispness of the print highlights contrasting fur on the rug, making it look shabby very easily. I have a Thomas Paul flatweave that I love but requires daily(!) vacuuming to look good and so has been relegated to a low-traffic sunroom.

I've had far greater luck with good Turkish kilims (here's an example but they aren't hard to find more cheaply) which also work with modern furniture. Any rug in a hair-friendly hue also works well - mushroom, beige hide a multitude of contrasting fur colors and are very forgiving if you don't need to inject some color on the floor.

posted by Matilde on April 2nd 2009 at 8:48am
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I've had this exact same question on my mind. Thanks for asking, and thanks for the answers.

posted by MollydeA on April 2nd 2009 at 9:08am
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If you need to see the rug in person, maybe Home Goods or Costplus World Market? IKEA feels to obvious to mention, but there it is. Their rugs are OK but probably overpriced for the quality.

Matilde, where might one get a less expensive kilim? (Besides IKEA, which has some.)

posted by Where You Hang Your Hat on April 2nd 2009 at 9:19am
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Check out Home Decorators Collection online as well. We got our rug there - great quality and inexpensive.

posted by kwhit9tl on April 2nd 2009 at 9:20am
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I am looking for a new rug myself, and found some inexpensive ones on Amazon.com

here's one that is similar to what you like...it may be too dark for you, but it seems to be inexpensive enough!
http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-United-Weavers-Manhattan-Island/dp/B000QEAM8K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=generic&qid=1238682324&sr=1-1

posted by kgenesius on April 2nd 2009 at 9:30am
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To answer Virginia's question:

Ebay is a great resource for finding kilim (I bought a great Kayseri kilim for $50 from someone who's uncle had returned from Turkey with it as a present and they didn't want it) if you know what to look for.

The quality isn't as good, but I've also found decent flatweaves (usually Iranian or Indian made) at World Market.

posted by Matilde on April 2nd 2009 at 9:59am
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You're right about the steep discounts at Macy's. I got this 8x10 Kenneth Mink Montage rug there in mid-February, originally priced at $1800 for $450:

http://www.kennethmink.com/images/collections/kmh/montage/montage-sumbre.jpg

posted by jimbobwaay on April 2nd 2009 at 10:15am
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Polypropylene is the only rug material we've found that can withstand the daily onslaught of cat claws (and the occasional cat puke).

If you Google "polypropylene rugs", you'll find many options.

posted by heather77 on April 2nd 2009 at 10:31am
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I got my rugs from Overstock.com. Cheap shipping!

I've been really happy with the quality.

posted by Heather C on April 2nd 2009 at 11:45am
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I can't recommend ikea from my experience... my rug sheds as much as my cat, (while also attracting ever hair that falls off of her).

if your rugs take a beating due to scratching, try a different material. my cat loves to scratch my wool rug, but won't touch the sisal, (surprisingly enough).

posted by foodefafa on April 2nd 2009 at 12:12pm
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JC Penney! JC Penney! I just bought a new rug three weeks ago - great selection, great price, great quality, good customer service, and it arrived in about 1/3 of the time they said it would.

posted by CJBird on April 2nd 2009 at 1:25pm
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Thanks to everyone who posted answers. I really appreciate the advice. Does anyone have experience with the polypropylene rugs? Do they feel like plastic? Will a cat's claws destroy it?

posted by my_tigerlily on April 2nd 2009 at 2:53pm
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I have to second the overstock recommendation--a quick look shows they have over 70 living-room size rugs for less than $80. I would also suggest giving ebay a look. I found a geometric wool rug on overstock that I liked--and found the exact same rug on ebay for less than half--brand new. I also found my living room rug (originally sold by pottery barn) on ebay for less than half its original cost--brand new.

posted by deneph on April 2nd 2009 at 2:57pm
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target has a nice selection online

posted by quiltmaster on April 2nd 2009 at 6:50pm
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Tigerlily -- read my post above re: cat claws and polypropylene. Our faux sisal poly rugs don't feel or look like plastic.

posted by heather77 on April 3rd 2009 at 10:38am
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I would suggest looking at FLOR tiles. I made a 12 x 6 rug for my living room with them (cutting some in half to form a border, mitered at the corners) at a total cost of
I also second the recommendation for polypropylene, though. I have two from Ballard Designs--one for an outdoor porch (that one feels like cotton underfoot and is awesome) and one in a sisal style as an entry rug. Both look and feel like natural fiber and have held up quite well!

posted by ginafly on April 3rd 2009 at 11:37am
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