No Room (or Budget) for a Vintage Rug? Try This Under-$50 Stylish Solution

published Sep 8, 2021

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Living room with green velvet sectional sofa, colorful cushions, wooden floor, and large windows. — Credit: Jacqueline Marque

There’s nothing quite like an heirloom rug to add instant old world charm to a room. A faded Oushak just makes a space feel extra collected, curated, and homey. Personally, I could spend hours scrolling through Etsy and perusing discount rug sites for the perfect faded pinkish-red beauty, even if it’s a bit of a pipe dream for me. Right now, I don’t have room for a statement-making vintage area rug, and even if I did, it would probably be out of my price range. Still, I wanted to add a bit of deep red, vintage texture to my space, so I turned to a mini version of the same look: a pillowcase made from the corner of a rug, which you can see below, and honestly, I wish I had done this sooner!

Credit: Sarah Everett

I found my rug remnant pillow on Etsy from the vendor VintagePillowCase.

Vintage rug pillowcases come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and they won’t break the bank. By opting for a pillow as opposed to a rug, you can mix and match multiple shades and patterns; plus, you can easily rotate your cushion from room to room to switch things up down the line (much quicker than swapping out a carpet, in my opinion). Even better, most vintage rug pillows are made of carpet remnants, so there’s a sustainable aspect to buying them, too. Any one of these beauties will up the cozy factor in your space just in time for fall. Shop these 10 great finds — all under $50! — below.

Farida Printed Pillow Cover

$50

With its floral motifs and defined border, the Farida Printed Pillow Cover is like an heirloom rug packaged up neatly in a 22-inch square cushion cover. Made from linen and cotton, it's a great choice for adding a dose of vintage-inspired charm to your bed or sofa.

$50 at Pottery Barn

16x16 Turkish Throw Pillow

$29

Etsy has hundreds of rug remnant pillows to browse, and this 16-inch square selection has such unique, defined shapes and a pretty palette of blue and rose. At under $30, it'll give you the heirloom look you're after for much less.

$29 at Etsy

Kilim Lumbar Pillow Cover

$57$48

Another Etsy find, this long, lean lumbar would look fab sprawled across a bench or a bed, especially because its dark red hue would pair nicely with a mid-tone wood.

$48 at Etsy

Beni Ourain Cushion Cover

$56$39

The black-and-white shag rug trend is huge and still going strong, so opting for a small-scale version of this kind of rug might be a fun way to break the mold. This black-and-white pillow will add texture and pattern to your space but is still fairly neutral — perfect for a room with already-bold furniture or painted walls.

$39 at Etsy

Vintage Boucherouite Cushion Cover on Etsy

$49

Similarly, hand-woven Boucherite rugs are beautiful but often expensive. This textured beauty will give you the same bold and shaggy look for less.

$49 at Etsy

Oushak Carpet Rug Pillow

$45$36

Another great neutral option, this Oushak remnant pillow case is more muted but still has the quintessential floral patterning and thick border of an ornate heirloom rug.

$36 at Etsy

South West Anatolia Antique Turkish Niche Kilim Print Throw Pillow

$30$24

These Society6 pillow covers are individually cut and sewn by hand, and their fool-the-eye kilim print will add instant Southwestern flair to any space. The best part? The pillowcase ships with a pillow, too.

$24 at Society6

Alara Lumbar Pillow

$50

Who says vintage-look rugs can't come in bright colors? Although most do tend to fall in the faded red and pink range, this kilim-like option is sunshiney and bright. At 21-inches by 11-inches, it's the perfect petite pop of color.

$50 at Grandin Road

12x24 Bohemian Kilim Pillow

$88$44

Another super colorful option, this hot pink lumbar that's made from 100 percent handspun wool would look great in an otherwise neutral room. I love the star-like shapes featured at the base.

$44 at Etsy

24x24 Turkish Rug Throw Pillow

$110$33

Originally $110, this square-shaped pillow is now on sale for 70 percent off (!!!). You can't get more classic than its faded red and blue color scheme with just a hint of green, a color that's poised to takeover 2022.

$33 at Etsy

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