Two bottom ones are way too shaggy for my taste, and probably yours. The one on the top right might reflect the light the same way the one in your inspiration photo does.

Are you going to combine the plum with olive, like in the photo? The color combination is awesome.

I only like the top right... The others are too shaggy remind me 80s bathmats or something for a tween girl's room. But your inspiration photo is lovely! Good luck!

Since you want a solid colored carpet - Have you considered going to the local carpet store, choosing a carpet from the samples meant for wall-to-wall installation, and having it cut and bound in the size you want instead? There are a great many more choices in style, color and pricerange when you choose a carpet from the roll.

Incidentally - for a living room, a 5X8 of any rug is too small and will appear chintzy. You need at least an 8X10.

top right one definetly! all the others are too shaggy and resemble bathroom type mats to me. I think the dark one on the top right looks closest to the one in the image. good luck!

5x8 depends on the size of the living room

I agree -- top right! I think the chenille is prettier than the shag and I love the color. Am generally not a big fan of purple, but plum is by far my favorite shade of it.

(And I have a 5x8 foot rug in my living room and it looks just fine. Don't worry about it.)

I'd keep looking. Have you thought about having a piece of carpet bound? You might find it easier to find exactly the right color in carpeting. (The sheen on the rug in the inspiration photo looks like silk: $$$$!)

I love the idea of a lavender rug, but those in the photos all look like bathmats to me, too. I wonder if you could find one with a tighter weave, like in your inspiration photo.

I agree with checking out a carpeting store and having a piece you like finished.
The rug you like has such a nice sheen-like a chenile, but many of the ones you have to choose from seem like lower quality and would probably disappoint. With the color, you definitely are in danger of having a bath-mat feel :)
At a carpet store you can find 100% wool or a wool blend- it will last longer, be more eco-friendly, and better priced than a comparable mass-market rug. Don't forget to check the remnants for an even better price.

I like the top right as well. I do think you should check out your local carpet stores too. Often it is cheaper to have a piece bound for a rug.

How about Flor carpet tiles?
http://www.flor.com/service/flor/shop/item/Feelin-Groovy/1391302500-100571.html
http://www.flor.com/service/flor/shop/item/Toy-Poodle/4C26652500-8B1229.html
http://www.flor.com/service/flor/shop/color/Purple.html

top right!

DIY!

Knitting, crochet, and weaving are all about as difficult as tying your shoe. I bet you could find a fiber similar to the top left photo if you tried. Time-consuming, yes. Easy enough to contract out to hipster college students if you've got the money though.

I like the top right! the inspiration photo rug looks like a flat & very shiny persian style rug. I just got the Ikat wool rug from Anthro, which has that lavender color in it along with a beautiful mix of dark plum, magenta, orange and beige. the mix of dark colors looks beautiful

Oh! A knitting machine would be perfect for this, especially if you chose to do a finer gauge. I would recommend garter stitch.

The Rug Smart seems the closest, esp. on color. Not sure on the shagginess, but look at your photos. If the others were such close-up pictures, would they look about the same in terms of shagginess? The other photos are taken from greater distance away. What is the pile length? I suppose it's a matter of figuring out how many inches is to shaggy for you in person and going from there when shopping online.

I have a small living room and 5'x8' is all my room can handle. Deciding on the right dimensions depends on the other proportions and furniture placement.

Of the examples you've provided, I agree the top right is preferable. I also think you'd have better luck with a bound wool carpet. Another comment...my living room color scheme is similar to your inspiration photo: dusky lavender Tibetan rug and camel velvet sofa. I have found the color combo rather limiting and wish that I had used the lavender for a smaller accent instead of a large expanse on the floor.

Top right looks like a towel, the last two look like bathroom rugs. So back to the drawing board - that's my opinion.

None of these is right, unfortunately.

Texture:
The chenille / shag / flokati textures ALL resemble bath mats. The rug in the photo is a "real" rug. Or a carpet, shall we say. Tufted, sheared, perhaps hand-knotted. With the sheen of silk or wool. A rag rug could work if you could find the right color. With lavender, it is probably best to go a bit more sophisticated or your living room will look like it came out of a Pottery Barn Teen catalog.

Color:
The RugSmart version is closest to the right color. The inspiration rug is a dusty lavender with more red than blue. Stay away from the cool (blue infused) versions and go with the warmer (red heavy) options.

Size:
5x8 is too small -- it really will look like a bath mat. As others noted, you need at least an 8x10.

FLOR is a good choice if you like the styles/colors. As others suggested, do try a carpet store. They will have a wider selection of color and textures (including more "grown up" styles. Another option is to get a basic sisal rug, and paint it. Not the whole thing -- just a nice border. Or a few well-chosen geometric shapes or flourishes. Keep it very simple. I've seen this and when done well, it looks lovely. Also, you can use exactly the color you want.

I second the Flor idea. That's what I was going to suggest. Or a place that makes good quality childrens' furniture like PB Kids. They don't seem to have anything like what you are looking for but that's the direction I'd go.

I wanted to say that I have a very similar chenille rug (in turquoise) the UO version of that top right rug and it is the most disappointing rug I've ever experienced. It's like having a big towel strewn across your floor, not soft, uber thin, very slippery. I would NOT recommend it.

"5x8 depends on the size of the living room"

Yes, if the OP's living room is 9x12 - a 5x8 is the perfect size.

If the room is any larger, a 5x8 is too small.

I got a 5x8 rug for my living room and I really wish I had shelled out for a bigger one.

My first pick was the upper-right but based on what Rolen the Great just said (and the fact that $89 sounds a little too good to be true), I think I'd go with the bottom right instead, if you can afford it. The bottom two do look a little like bath mats in the photos but they may be fine in person. I just don't care for the ones in the second and third photos.

Hm, now I want a lavender rug for my bedroom...

My opinion is that if you can't afford the classy but expensive of the 'inspiration' picture, then steer away from the cheap bath mat like rugs, and go for something more loosely based on your inspiration like this:

http://www.csnrugs.com/Momeni-NW-88LAV-MM1953.html

Have you considered carpet squares? They can be configured in many ways and if one gets dirty, you can just replace it.

Also, bound carpet remenants are great. I one bought four lavendar runners and taped them together on the back with electrical tape, then laid them on a carpet pad. Looked great.

Choose the best quality rug, and avoid shag. Shag just gets matted down and ugly.

I agree with Allicat. Some look like bathroom towels and others are too fluffy. Next.

You don't have to get a machine-made rug. "Chinese Deco" oriental rugs come in a range of pastels, including lavender, and they're mostly solid-color (i.e., not too fussy).

The vintage ones are expensive, but new, hand-knotted ones cost about the same as the rugs you've selected above. And handmade carpets usually last a lifetime.

Be sure to post pictures of the room when you're done. The inpiration pic is great.

I have been looking the same color but wool flatweave and 10' x 14', and priced right. Do not exist. Floor tiles are very expensive and I feel not really worth the price. To me they look temporary. Try sample sales and in NYC area Bronx ABC outlet store is a great place to find good buys. Always ask a better price, they will lower the ticket price.

just in at uo:

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=60&id=17349564&parentid=A_FURN_BEDDING&sortProperties= subCategoryPosition,&navCount=9&navAction=poppushpush&color=056&popId=APARTMENT_WHATSNEW&pushId=A_FURN_WHATSNEW&prepushId=

I checked Fovama rugs at www.fovama.com they have more
lavender rugs in different styles. This is the link. You can search the entire inventory using search and choose the
size , color or style, or just call, or use the live chat.
I bought my last rug there and I found them very resourceful.

Good luck

http://www.fovama.com/ProductCart/pc/shop-area-rugs.asp?p=1&pp=24&t=2&s=Lavender

fovama.... eh.... It's ok, but if you're in the area of Westchester or even NYC for that matter, Dilmaghani Rugs is THE rug place. Unbelievably helpful and by no means 'middle-men'. Up at the warehouse in Brewster they have shag just like the one above! I would also suggest for Moroccan shags too.