The Art of Layering: How to Style Layered Rugs

Whether you're refreshing your living room or styling a cosy corner, our stylists are here to help you perfect the art of rug layering, exploring different approaches, styles, and colours so you can master the look.

Styling Layered Rugs: The Vision

When approaching layered rugs in your home, it is important to keep in mind your stylistic vision. Think about your colour palette, the size of your space, and what you want to achieve with a layered rug arrangement. Here are some key elements to consider:

Size

When layering rugs, size plays a crucial role in achieving balance and harmony. It’s important to consider the size of your room, how many rugs you want to layer, and what size rugs would work best for this vision. Choosing complementary sizes allows each rug to stand out without overwhelming the space. Ideally, the base rug should be the largest, as it is the foundational rug to build your arrangement around, and smaller rugs can then be used as accents.

However, there is no hard and fast rule for sizing and it works best if you feel what’s right for your room. It is worth exploring different sizes of large, medium, and small rugs and thinking about how they would pair together.

Shape

• Square and rectangular rugs: These can work perfectly as large base rugs, so you can layer smaller or differently shaped rugs on top. Another styling option is to layer multiple square and rectangle rugs together, focusing more on colour, pattern, or texture than shape.
• Circular rugs: Offering pleasing contrast and softened edges, circle-shaped rugs are great accent pieces over larger rugs, or you can explore layering many different coloured circular rugs together for a bold, maximalist approach.

This reversible patterned circular rug could be easily layered with a more neutral cream base or a matching green partner for a pop of colour.

• Other shapes: There are so many different shapes to play with when it comes to layering rugs. Faux hide rugs complement larger rugs particularly well when layering, especially when exploring interesting textures.

The Room

When layering rugs, it's essential to consider the broader context of the room. Think about the furniture you want to highlight and the prevailing colours and textures you want to complement. Select rugs that spotlight particular decor and pull in hues and textures that enhance the room's existing pieces.

Colour

When considering colour for layered rugs, look at the style and palette of the rest of your room. Is there a certain colour you want to accent and pull across the decor? Or is there a particular piece of decor you don’t want to overpower? If you’re open to exploring bolder colours, layering rugs is a great way to have fun and play with colour.

Alternatively, if you prefer a minimalist, monochrome approach, choose complimentary shades within the same colour palette to not overwhelm the space. Focus on ensuring the colours harmonise with your existing decor and reflect your style vision, whether you're aiming for a bold statement or subtle elegance.

This colourful Celestial rug is a great base as there are lots of colours you can pull out and match to create more dimension.

Pattern

Many people find incorporating patterns to be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s very on-trend to mix pattern with pattern, creating a maximalist and eclectic look. If you prefer a subtler approach, pairing a plain rug with a patterned one can add depth and interest without overwhelming the space, striking a comfortable balance.

Texture

Texture choice is fundamental to rug layering. Mixing and complimenting different textures can create depth and interesting dimensions to your space. For example, a jute rug is the perfect base rug for playing with texture, as you could pair it with an oriental woven rug for a more traditional style, or a faux hide rug if you want something a bit different.

Here is a great example of two rugs that complement each other beautifully. The larger natural jute base adds depth with texture and the traditional rug accents with colour and pattern.

How to Layer Rugs Across Your Home

When deciding how to layer rugs in different rooms, it's essential to consider both the aesthetic and functionality of each space:

• Living Room: Living rooms are ideal for layering larger rugs with smaller accent rugs, especially with a coffee table over the top, as it pulls the room together while creating an eye-catching dimension.
• Dining Room: Consider larger, durable, easy-to-clean, rugs for your dining room. While the rugs need to accentuate your space aesthetically, practicality is also important.
• Bedroom: The bedroom is perfect for layering soft textures underfoot for a cosy feel. This approach adds comfort and warmth, turning your bedroom into a relaxing retreat.

Exploring Styles

No matter your interior design style, layered rugs can elevate any space. Here’s some inspiration for adapting this trend to different styles:

• Boho: Embrace eclectic flair by layering natural fibre rugs like jute with smaller, vividly patterned rugs. This mix enhances the bohemian elements with rich textures and colours.
• Traditional: Pair a large, neutral rug with a smaller Persian rug on top. This classic combination adds depth while maintaining elegance.
• Colourful: Colour coordination is key, so decide on your colour palette first and then pull it down into your rugs to keep the style cohesive and intentional.
• Minimalist: Opt for subtle textures in neutral shades. Your choice of texture will be crucial to this styling as colour and pattern can sometimes clutter the minimalist look.

This reversible black and cream rug is ideal for minimalist styling.

Finding The Right Rug for You

Interior design is all about fun and self-expression, so experiment with layering rugs in a way that feels right for you. It won’t be long until you’re layering like a pro!

If you’re searching for the perfect rug to start your layering journey, try our extensive collection to find a style that resonates with your taste.