Our 3 Must-Know Design Tips for Rugs on Grey Carpet
There has always been some debate on whether placing a rug on grey carpet (or any carpet for that matter) is an interior design faux-pas. This is because traditionally, rugs are thought to be better suited to hardwood floors. However, there is absolutely no reason that you cannot make a rug on grey (or dark grey) carpet work!
As experienced providers of the UK’s largest collection of rugs, we’ve tried and tested rugs on a variety of carpet colours and designs. Below, we have filtered our findings down to some core principles and rules to ensure your rug complements your grey carpet in any room to complete your interior design dreams.
Take a look below.
Rules for Rugs on Grey Carpeted Floors
Carpeted floors are renowned for their insulation and comfort qualities, so placing a rug on a carpet may seem like overkill. However, while your carpet does allow for a warm and welcoming room, your carpet should play the part of a decorative feature. Placing a rug on a grey carpet has the potential to transform sections or even the entire room (depending on both the room and rug’s size) and become a focal point.
Rugs on carpets are more commonly seen in hallways, bedrooms and living rooms – it’s extremely rare we see carpeted flooring in kitchens or bathrooms.
It all depends on what you want from your rug, do you want it to act as a focal point for the room? A large rug with a vibrant, intriguing design? Or do you want a neutral colour to compliment your black and white living room colour scheme? Having the answers to these questions is the first port of call when considering a rug for grey carpets.
Fortunately, we’ve provided some helpful rules regarding placing rugs on top of grey carpets to serve as both inspiration and essential design advice to make your room feel cosy.
Consider the Colour and Pattern of Your Rug
Your first port of call is understanding what colours and patterns will complement your interior design scheme.
Considering you’re looking for a rug to go with a grey carpet, you should lean towards a colour that doesn’t clash with your grey flooring. With that being said, if you are looking to make a bold statement, there’s no reason you shouldn’t go for a rug that is analogous to your carpet colour. These colours are used to create a balance or harmony between your carpet and your rug.
So, for a rug, you could choose:
- Stone
- Navy
- Electric blue
- Gold
- Dark green
- Lime
- Burnt orange
- Rusty pink
- Cherry red
Grey carpets combine better with darker, rusty colours rather than brighter or more vibrant colours. Using any of the above colours can create a harmonious colour scheme between your rug and grey carpet.
If you’re wanting to go for something a little more neutral, choose any rug that’s a lighter or darker shade of grey, black or white. Don’t be afraid to experiment with patterned rugs in these colours either. For a truly cosy and warm feel, go for a shaggy rug – ideal for both living rooms and bedrooms.
Choose Between Thin vs Thick Rugs
It’s equally important to consider whether you want your rug to be thick or thin. As we’re all aware, thicker rugs are softer and more comforting on the feet, whereas thin rugs (like cut-pile or flat weaves) boast some strong durability benefits that offer simplistic design qualities.
Both thick and thin rugs have their benefits, but it’s up to you which design option to go for. Shaggy rugs work well in bedrooms and living rooms, whereas thin rugs are more versatile and can be placed anywhere, from kitchens to outdoor areas. Thin carpets are also preferred if you’re more concerned about visual decoration. Shaggy rugs add a sense of luxury to a room and add a texture break that will naturally draw focus to it.
Take into Account Texture and Style
Carpeted flooring is already comfortable, but adding an additional layer to this can enhance this comfort. This is why it’s important to take into account the texture and style of both your existing carpet and the rug you’re looking to pair it with.
Think about how high the pile is on your carpet; is it thick? Thin? Is it worn and has seen better days so you’re looking for a rug to cover it? These questions help justify the contrast between the texture of the carpet and the texture of the rug. Carpets with thick piles will look better with a thinner rug texture, as combining a thick rug with a thick pile can be a bit jarring on the eyes – too many textures!
Now You Know the Rules, Complete Your Interior Space with Our Rugs!
We sell a huge range of stunning rugs to match grey carpets in both domestic and commercial spaces. Whether you’re looking to enhance your living room with a shaggy white rug for cosy winter nights, or a neutral flat weave rug for a classic, durable kitchen rug, we’re confident we’ll have a rug that fits your budget and design demands.
Explore our range of rugs below and apply some of our wisdom when making your purchase!