Dining Room Area Rug Ideas
The right rug really ties the room together. While there are thousands of rug types, sizes, patterns and colors available, choosing the right area rug for you isn't as hard as it may seem. Keep a few key ideas in mind, and the right dining room rug can bring all the disparate elements of the room together, creating a harmonious style.
Pick Up Room Elements
When choosing patterns or colors for a rug, look for inspiration in the design elements of the dining room itself. Choosing a red rug whose primary color is featured in the room will highlight those small areas of color.
Let Your Feet Do The Talking
If you want to feature a bold statement rug, keep the rest of the room in a neutral palette to let that rug shine. Keeping design features streamlined and colors even-toned creates a frame that allows the rug to take center stage.
Go Big and Go Home
Don't be afraid to be bold. Strong angular patterns can offset, or complement, furniture in geometric shapes in furniture or other accessories. Bright, contrasting colors give action and visual dimension to the room as well.
Block Out
Quickly and easily add texture and dimension to a monochromatic room with a color-blocked rug. The balanced, repeated shapes bucks tradition, and a rug with varying patterns and colors gives a subtle modern design aesthetic while providing heaps of personality and color.
Define the Space
When considering dining room rug ideas, the space you are working with is of utmost importance. In an open-plan living space, a large dining room rug clearly delineates the eating area from other sections of the space. The rug should be larger than the dining table; big enough to allow dining chairs to move back and forth without catching the rug's edges.
Organic Coziness
In a small eating area filled with layers of natural elements and rustic materials, a low-pile rug in a neutral color can add a bit of warmth underfoot and contrasting visual textures. This subtle look maintains the personality of the room and complements the design style without drawing too much attention.
Unlayer the Floor
Like the look of layered rugs, but not the bulk? Look for a geometric abstract rug that will take on the feeling of a layering while keeping the floor flat and streamlined.
Feel the Pattern
In a modern room with a generally neutral palette, a monochromatic rug with a detailed weave can add visual interest to the dining room design. The texture adds layers and depth to the design without overwhelming the room with color.
Know Your Space
Keep your dining room furniture in mind when seleting your rug. If you have angular, modern furniture, consider a bright geometric pattern to highlight the angles. Coordinate the pattern and colors to your design goals—a brightly colored rug will draw the eye, whereas a more subtle design can accentuate existing pieces.
Don't Be a Square
Dining room rugs don't all have to be rectangular. Particularly in a smaller dining room where you want to make a lot of design impact, a round, diamond or other unusually shaped carpet can offer a lot of visual effect without taking up a lot of space.
Make the Negative a Positive
Your first instinct is likely to put a dining room rug underneath the dinner table to define the space, but you can also use rugs to define the space around the room—literally. Like a modern art piece, you can define the negative space around the dining room, rather than the dining room itself.
Fade to Black
If you're lucky enough to have a dining room table that is a piece of art in itself, choose a rug in a contrasting color to really let the piece pop. This impression can be emphasized if the colors in the rug coordinate with the primary colors on the walls, giving a cohesive surrounding to the table to really catch the eye.
Pad Out the Patio
With an outdoor dining area, outdoor rugs are a great way to add a lot of personality without a lot of upkeep. They also add color and texture, and help define the eating space, all while giving guests a comfortable barrier between their feet and the ground.
When selecting dining room rugs the size of your room is important, but also consider what you want your modern rug to accomplish: Do you want it to be the focal point, or just an accessory to visually surround and emphasize another component? Knowing what you want your rug to achieve as a part of your overall design will help steer you to the rug that best fits your style.
