ALL ABOUT PATTERNED RUGS

Should I decorate with a patterned rug?

Adding a patterned rug is one of the easiest ways to brighten up, modernize or add visual interest to any room. Patterns in rugs are created through the weaving process itself and by varying the types, thicknesses, and/ or colors of the fibers used. Many natural fiber rugs show a pattern, like a basketweave or chevron, via the weave structure. Wool and sisal artfully woven together create geometric or ornamental designs. And weaving in different colored yarns can create a multitude of pattern possibilities, like stripes, plaids or floral motifs. All of this adds up to limitless possibilities for enhancing and elevating your interior design style.

How do I design a room around a patterned rug?

Like a treasured piece of artwork, a rug that glows with your favorite colors or showcases an iconic pattern can become the design inspiration for an entire room. Building a design style around a patterned rug is easy, just keep these things in mind:

• Balance. Maintain a sense of harmony by complementing your patterned rug with neutral elements, like a solid colored sofa and monochromatic walls. Adding colorful throw blankets or decorative pillows is totally allowed, just stay within your color palette to avoid a visual competition. 

• Size. Does a patterned rug make room look smaller? Sometimes patterns can be overwhelming in petite spaces, especially a small-scale, repetitive pattern. If you have a small room and introducing a graphic element is important, try weaves with large-scale motifs like Barcelona or Pembroke. Or look for rugs with textural patterns, like a herringbone or chevron found in Astoria or Trowbridge.  Either of these approaches brings an airiness or a sense of motion to a space.

• Contrast. Could your home use some visual intrigue? A little contrast here and there goes a long way in creating multidimensional decor. Black and white or grey and white rugs provide just the right juxtaposition to colorful interiors as well as a dose of vitality in monochromatic, natural spaces. Layering a patterned rug on top of a plain rug or carpet is another tried-and-true design trick to add interest. If you already have a pattern or motif at play in your space, bring that same pattern but in a larger scale into the mix with a large patterned area rug. Consider your floors as well - lighter colored rugs, like Vashon in beige or Elliot in pearl, look great on dark hardwoods and vice versa.

• Focal Point. What do you want to look at and feel when you enter a room? If you are fortunate enough to have a breathtaking view from your living room windows to the ocean or the mountains, a boldly patterned rug is an unnecessary distraction. Maybe there is another room in your house that could use the drama and excitement that a patterned rug deserves? Or choose a rug with calming hues and a very subtle pattern that blends in with your intended focal point.

• Disguise. Imperfections in the floor? Hide a wood floor that needs restoration with a patterned rug. Crumbs in the kitchen? A patterned rug helps hide the messes. Patterned rugs like Litchfield, Savile, or the colorful Cozumel are also easy to clean.

Which design styles work best with patterned rugs?

Pattern has a place in any design style. Scale, color themes, pattern repetition, and fiber content are some of the things to consider. 

Coastal and beachy interiors embrace light and airy hues and natural fibers. A subtle pattern like our diamond sisal rug Charlotte is a nice counterpoint to the muted interiors of this design style. Salzburg is a sisal rug with a beautiful trellis motif, a pattern perfect for adding visual interest.

A nautical decor has saturated colors like deep blues and lively reds played against crisp white. A striped rug, like Anacortes or Sandpoint, is at home in a nautical themed space. Bold motifs find their way in nautical design styles as well. Our Ocean Star is a prime example: iconic stars set against rich colors with a plush pile, ideal for stately rooms and cozy gathering spaces.  

Traditional or transitional interiors have long been known for their love of natural fiber rugs. But adding a herringbone jute rug like Grenada or sisal rug with a maze design, like Park Avenue or Blakely, infuse these classic styles with new energy.

A low-contrast pattern in muted tones harmonizes with the serene and restrained Scandinavian style. Elixir and Fusion are both wool blends with tonal hues and delicate patterns and make stunning custom rugs fit for all seasons in a Scandi-inspired room.

Contemporary interiors, with minimalist esthetics and a monochrome palette, are elevated with an expertly crafted designer rug like Cubic or Flash. Natural leather and intriguing geometric patterns round out the look of this design style.

How do I choose a boldly patterned geometric rug?

Deciding to go bold can be intimidating. If you are feeling shy about bringing a bold or colorful pattern into your space, remember that a rug is one of the easiest ways to show your style. And considering that most interior design makeovers are costly, a new rug is an economical way to make a big design impact. Look for a rug with colors already present in your decor. If your sofa is a dark blue, a patterned rug with neutral base and blue accents will coordinate well. Laguna, Mendocino and Cornwall are wool patterned rugs with colorful accents. Think about the color of your floors or walls before purchasing a bold rug - will the combination be complementary or controversial? If soothing, minimalist natural decor is your style, add an eye-catching pattern but in a neutral colorway or natural fiber.

What is the difference between herringbone and chevron?

The timeless zigzag pattern seen in herringbone and chevron brings a welcome vibe to any space. But what is the difference between the two? A herringbone pattern brings together rectangles with ends cut at 90 degree angles that meet perpendicularly. Chevron patterns are blocks or rectangles whose edges are cut at a 45 degree angle and meet point-to-point, creating a more seamless looking zigzag pattern.

The distinction between these patterns is more significant when talking about tile work or hardwood flooring, where you are working with individual blocks of material. Rugs and carpet are woven, with yarns or fibers threaded throughout, and therefore the zigzag patterns that emerge are more seamless. Wonderful examples of these seamless zigzag patterns include Waterford or Mendocino for a wool herringbone, or Trowbridge or Hastings for sisal chevron rug.

Where can I use striped rugs or plaid rugs?

The interplay of lines in striped and plaid rugs adds energy, length and depth to spaces, and can take a room’s vibe or decor style in many directions. Adjacent lines of varying widths and/ or colors characterize striped rugs while colorful lines or blocks that criss-cross at 90 degree angles create plaid patterns.

Stripes and plaids can have an arresting mix of colors or a subtle medley. And the size of the pattern can make a big visual impact. Narrow hallways look wider with a horizontally striped runner or, as with our Cornwall, can look longer with vertical stripes. High contrast cabana striped rugs like Sandpoint bring excitement to sunrooms and patios. Thin, petite stripes, whether monochromatic or multicolored, add just the right touch of pattern to bedrooms and living rooms - see our streamlined striped wools like Fjord Stripes or Brushstroke, or the bolder sisal-coir rug Hilton Head for inspiration.

Plaids are timeless patterns with a built-in color palette and a rich, visual texture. A plaid rug easily moves between rooms and styles, enhancing any space with its tailored touch. Modern wool plaid rugs like City Block have neutral two-tone colorways, a perfect foundation for an urban loft. Nexus is a multicolored plaid with subdued intersecting lines that brings warmth to quiet studies or gathering spaces like family rooms. A classic, tartan-inspired plaid rug like Ocean Plaid looks elegant and stately in living rooms, dens, cabins and staterooms.

delicate & delightful patterns create eye-catching focal points

bohemian wool blend rug in color russet

chevron & herringbone patterned rugs: timeless style & versatility

astoria SynSisal® rug in color honey

infuse your outdoor spaces with a new point of view