Lessons from Rooms that Nail the Layered Rug Look
Plus, price-conscious combos to get the layered look in your own home.
Apr 25, 2017
7 Rooms That Break Rug Size “Rules” (And Still Look Good)
I’ll be honest, when I got the brief for this article, I took one look at the title and thought: no way. I’ve gone on record around here as a rug-size militant, and one who believes that bigger is nearly always better. But before dismissing the idea completely, I decided to have a hunt for rooms breaking traditional rug rules and still managing to look good. Lo and behold, what I found was eye-opening to say the least.
Apr 3, 2017
Honestly Affordable Rugs: 10 Vintage-Style Finds Under $100
Want to know the fastest and most sure-fire way to upgrade the style in your home? You may have guessed it from the title, but it’s rugs, my design-loving friends, rugs. These decor powerhouses pack a ton of personality into compact packages, but frankly, they rarely come cheap, especially if they are vintage or antique (a majorly on-trend look). We rounded up 10 of our favorites available online in roughly 5’x8′, all under $100.
Mar 1, 2017
IKEA To Sell Rugs Made By Syrian Refugees
IKEA continues to do its part in helping with the refugee crisis. The Swedish retailer announced this week that it will be selling rugs and textiles made by Syrian refugees in Jordan. The United Nations reports that Jordan has accepted over 655,000 refugees from the war-torn country.
Feb 5, 2017
Design Editor’s Short List: New World Market Items I’ve Got My Eye On
In the early 2000s, Pier One Imports was the epitome of worldly sophistication for me, what with its exotic wood furniture, beaded throw pillows and Buddha statues galore. When I redecorated my post-collegiate bedroom, I hit up the store for unique international treasures. “Why yes, these ruffled dupioni silk throw pillows are from the foreign land of Kissimmee, Florida.” Fast forward a decade, and I’ve discovered a new local mecca for global goods: World Market.
Nov 16, 2016
Ground Control: 10 Area Rugs Under $100
I recently faced the dilemma of finding a pretty rug for my living room that didn’t cost a fortune. As I scoured the web, I found many had way too many shades of brown to count or resembled something thrown over a fence at a roadside sale. But I persevered and have handpicked a selection of pretty and affordable area rugs (all around 5′ x 8′) that won’t break the bank.
Oct 17, 2016
Get it Right: How To Pick the Perfect Rug Size for Your Room
A new rug can be one of the most anxiety-inducing purchases you can make for your home. For one thing, even the small ones seem shockingly expensive. For another, once you understand the importance of rug size in creating a comfortable space (spoiler alert: bigger is better here) they become even more so. There’s also room use and orientation to contend with.
Sep 21, 2016
The 10 Commandments of Buying Vintage Rugs
Antique and vintage rugs were once reserved just for your grandmother’s house, but the look is one that has gained tremendous steam in the design world. Floorcoverings from past decades (or centuries) really add character and warmth to even the starkest of modern rooms, though it’s not uncommon for it to be the most expensive item in a space.
Sep 7, 2016
Best Basics: 15 Must-Have Black-&-White Rugs Under $200
Black-and-white floors, whether kitchen linoleum or handmade bathroom tiles, are totally timeless, classic yet bold, and completely irresistible to me. But if you don’t have the time, money, or authority to redo all your floors, you can get the look with any one of these affordable and completely fantastic black-and-white rugs under $200. I’ve seen this rug—or one of a similar pattern—in so many House Tours, and it always looks fabulous.
Aug 23, 2016
Summery Style: 9 DIY Rope Rug Projects to Try
While winter brings to mind ornate wool rugs and sturdy but plain salt- and snow-soaked doormats, summer rugs can be lighter and more playful. Buy and dye some dollar store clotheslines or recycle your old climbing ropes and get to knitting, crocheting, coiling, or just good old-fashioned gluing. This tutorial requires $16 worth of clothesline rope and some hardcore crochet skills, and the result is totally spa-worthy.
Jun 17, 2016
Living Room Style: One Rug, Two Looks
What I love most about home decor is seeing the different ways that people express their style. Like fashion, there are so many ways to wear one piece of clothing and each look is totally different depending on what you pair it with. I thought it would be fun to do the same thing and pick one rug and use it in two very different looks. See how I took this extremely bold and colorful rug and used it in both a bohemian and glam look.
May 3, 2016
Erin’s Warm and Colorful Los Angeles Loft
Name: Erin Location: Downtown — Los Angeles, California Mehmet Bozatli and Erin Eisinger say that despite their strong personalities, they find a natural harmony when collaborating — which they do often. Both work in the creative industries (he as an architect and developer, Erin as an interaction and service designer), and they co-founded their first joint venture —FourByNorth Studios— in Istanbul, Turkey, nearly six years ago.
Dec 30, 2015
Pattern Inspiration: Gallery of Traditional Rugs & Carpets in Real-Life Homes
Jenn & Hunter’s Historic Landmark Apartment Traditional rugs are traditional for a reason. Even though they are densely patterned and filled with a multitude of colors, they somehow still manage to go with everything. I’ve rounded up a bunch of rooms from our House Tours that feature these gorgeous rugs—pale, bright, deep, rich, red, blue, yellow: you name it, they’re all here.
Oct 30, 2015
One Fool-Proof Way to Buy the Right Size Rug? Work Backwards
When buying an area rug, most people start with the rug measurements available in a store – maybe from a catalog, or online – and try to imagine how the given dimensions would fit in their space. Instead, the next time you need to buy a rug for your room, begin with your space. Read on and try this one backwards method for rug shopping, which takes just a roll of painters tape and 15 minutes of your time.
Aug 23, 2015
Are Landlords Responsible for Carpet Care?
Q: Hi, I have lived in my mid-century apartment in LA for over ten years now. I have a very basic 1-page lease that doesn’t go into great detail about long-term maintenance of the apartment.
Jul 2, 2015
Before & After: Nasty Old Carpet Turned Up to 11
What to do when you have a nasty old rug that you can’t replace? Sarah decided to paint hers, using a technique she usually reserves for getting paint out of the carpet! From Sarah: I needed a way to bring some rock-n-roll attitude into this music room, and I couldn’t afford to replace the nasty old beige carpet.
Apr 24, 2015
9 Rugless Rooms That Rock
It’s always interesting when homeowners make an unexpected choice in their spaces. In these nine rooms, one might expect to see a rug, yet these decorators have chosen to forgo one. It’s a slightly more subtle, sparse look that really lets the rest of the room shine. Take a look. So, tell us. What do you think about this look? Would you (do you) sport a bare floor?
Feb 26, 2015
How to Hang a Large, Heavy Rug on The Wall
Malcolm and his parents have been all over the world, collecting souvenirs like this Brazilian rug. When he moved away from home, Malcolm took it with him and initially hung it behind his bed as a pseudo headboard, then decided to find a more permanent home on the wall as art. The rug is pretty big, and somewhat heavy. Which raises the question: how does one hang it?
Jan 31, 2015
10 Sources for Good, Cheap Rugs on a Budget — and Many Are on Major Sale
Beautiful and affordable rugs aren't hard to find if you know where to look.
May 16, 2014
How To: Cut & Install FLOR Carpet Tiles
After years of perusing FLOR’s catalog and website, I finally bit the bullet and ordered the carpet tiles for my entryway and kitchen. The Problem: I have gone through about five different rugs in my entryway. With one pitiful rug pad and two overly-welcoming dogs that rush the front door every time they hear a noise — I was forever straightening, fixing and flattening the front rug.
Jun 16, 2011
Layered Rugs
The other day we looked at a bunch of rooms that went unexpectedly without rugs or carpets, embracing a relaxed bare-floor look. Today let’s go in the opposite direction: what does it look like when one rug just isn’t enough. The most common look for layering rugs seems to be an animal hide (faux or no) over a sisal — this is probably the most neutral option. Other examples mix patterns and colors, sometimes creating a bohemian wonderland of textiles.
Apr 22, 2011
IKEA Hacks: Eket Stackable Side Table
IKEA Hacks: Eket Stackable Side Table
Apr 7, 2017