Nailing down a cohesive color scheme and establishing a sensible furniture layout can be difficult, but this next trick can be quite easy and fun. {Thank goodness!} Ground zones in an open floor plan with rugs.
MULTITASKING AREA RUGS
Designers use area rugs to define seating areas and to add color, pattern, texture or warmth to a room. In an open concept space, rugs can anchor floating furniture {yeah, all that furniture you pulled away from the wall!} and give a zone the feeling of a room. Just be sure to use a rug of appropriate size. Ideally, when used with a sofa, the rug should extend beyond the length of the sofa. You can choose to place the entire sofa on the rug or only the 2 front legs. This will determine the width needed. Some overlap is good…meaning most, if not all, of the furniture in the zone should be on the rug in some way – whether that’s completely or partially is up to you. If using a rug in a dining room/area, the rug should be large enough to accommodate the table and chairs…even when the chairs are pulled out from the table {see image above}. Not only is this more appealing to the eye, but you won’t have to worry about pesky chair legs getting caught on the edge of a too small rug.
Besides rug size, the other thing to consider is rug material. From leather to wool to bamboo – and everything in between – there are a slew of options. {My kitchen rug is made out of recycled plastic bottle caps!} Be conscious of the wear and tear you expect your rug to encounter. With kids and pets, sisal and seagrass rugs are durable options. For washability, cotton dhurries fill the bill. For softness under foot, wool and jute are popular choices. {Just know that they will shed.} Take the time to read up on the maintenance and care of any rug you’re considering. I once bought a wool rug based solely on the {crazy cheap} price and modern pattern only to be hugely disappointed with its performance. It shed like crazy and was not kid-friendly {i.e. no stain protection}. I donated it to Goodwill in a matter of months.
But enough of my sad story. Let’s have some fun and take a look at a few examples of area rugs in action. This large rug clearly defines a living room just off of its adjoining kitchen.
The warm texture is a good contrast to the concrete floors.
The next open space employs a seagrass rug in its living room. The black binding border {say that 3 times fast} helps the rug to stand out against the light floors and white sofas. Plus it picks up on the other black accents {striped pillows, ottoman and island countertop} in the space.
Yet another binded border. Notice the matching black trim on the curtain panel, too. {I could totally live in this room, btw.}
What about you bold, fun-loving homeowners? This geometric cowhide rug should tickle your fancy. It’s the show-stopper in this vaulted living room.
One more hide rug for your viewing pleasure…see how it’s placed a little off kilter to ‘mess’ things up a bit? Perfectly imperfect.
Here’s a wool rug adding some monochromatic pattern to an open floor plan. Look at how the square ottoman is placed perpendicular to the sofa, closing off the seating area {in a good way} from the kitchen but not obstructing the view.
You needn’t use a rug in each zone of an open floor plan. The living room below gets cozied up with a shag rug underfoot while the dining area remains bare. {Let’s hear it for ottomans rounding out seating areas!}
This space just looks great from any angle. Each zone has its own focal point – the living room’s paneled media wall and the dining area’s fireplace.
And, finally, a room with 2 seating areas. One has a rug and one doesn’t. I’d sit in either.
So, are you ready to join the rug train? I don’t think rugs get enough credit. Often times, people forgo them thinking they’re pointless since they don’t provide seating or any direct purpose. But I beg to differ. Rugs have a lot to offer…texture, softness, contrast, color, warmth, interest, definition and pattern.
For fun, look back through all of the images and pick out the cohesive color scheme and sensible furniture layout in each. It’s good practice.
images: 1) Natural Area Rugs 2 & 3) unknown 4) Evan Joseph photography for Lynn Morgan Design 5) Keith Scott Morton photography for Elle Decor 6) Katie Denham photography, Jay Jeffers design 7) Ashley Goforth design 8) Sunset via DecorPad 9 & 10) a Mountain Street London apartment 11) Iva via Architecture and Decoration Designs
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