9 Rooms That Prove Neutrals Aren’t the Be-All, End-All When it Comes to Rugs

published May 8, 2019
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Sure, I love a classic jute rug from time to time, but no one ever said that rugs have to be neutral-colored. Some rooms of the house just call for a little something extra, after all. Whether you’re sprucing up your living room, dining room, bedroom, or nursery, don’t be afraid to play the pattern or color card. These images are bound to inspire.

This isn’t your grandma’s oriental rug. Classic designs like this one are having a major moment right now, and they look stunning paired with mid-century modern furniture, as seen in the room above. Beyond your local flea market and vintage store, there are plenty of places to shop for one-of-a-kind style—retailers like Revival Rugs and even Urban Outfitters sell authentic Turkish rugs (you can read about Urban’s selection here).

Forget plopping a traditional bathmat in front of the sink. Make a statement with multiple loud rugs that bring some personality to an often overlooked room of the home. Etsy has a huge selection of unique bath rugs and bath mats, but any small (think 2’x3′) rug will do.

Credit: Minette Hand

If you’re having a hard time shying away from neutral colors, you can still opt for a design that’s a bit outside the box. This black-and-white number does all of the talking in this space—you can find a similar one from Lulu & Georgia here.

Credit: Liz Calka

This rug nicely complements the artwork in this living room but certainly doesn’t look too matchy-matchy. An acrylic table ensures that the room remains open and modern-looking.

Messy eaters, fear not…a bold dining room rug like this one camouflages crumbs. But seriously, no need to majorly fret about guests’ red wine spills. AllModern and Wayfair have a huge selection of colorful rugs that fit with all types of styles—and all for affordable prices.

Think pink! Boho rugs come in so many beautiful colors and are a great way to inject fun patterns into a bedroom. Urban Outfitters should be your first stop for budget-friendly, boho rugs—like this one that is similar to the one in the image above.

Credit: Jill Slater

Layering a more eclectic piece over a neutral rug makes it easy to experiment with new styles and colors (not feeling a certain design? The base rug can always serve as backup). Here, the green zebra print adds a playful touch to this nursery, and can be found on Wayfair for just $160.

Credit: Photographed by Susie Lowe, Designed by The Pink House

Sure, orange and green don’t traditionally go together, but why not decorate your home how you like it? A geometric print is always a crowd pleaser. Places like Joss & Main and Lulu & Georgia are full of modern geometric options of all colors.

A darker ornate rug like this one looks wonderful in a sunny room. It’s large enough to fill the space without fully covering the gorgeous wood floors.