Area Rugs Can Bring a Room to Life—and These 7 Designer Looks Prove It

Laying down an area rug can completely transform a space, adding colour, texture and pattern all at once. Don’t believe us? Take a look at these seven rooms from the WL archives.

Magic Touch

Amanda Lwanga of Linger Design Studio chose this rug for its tactile quality. “I’ve been really drawn to mixed-media rugs with different pile heights, looping techniques and textures,” she says. We love that feature as well, but it’s this rug’s bold geometric pattern that has really captured our hearts. Learn more about the furniture and decor in this home office.

Double Duty

We’re not sure which part of this ombre rug we love more: the cool blue side that adds a pop of colour or the neutral side that seems to flow into (and enhance) the view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Check out the rest of this Jeffrey Liu-designed loft.

Soft Spot

If this were our bedroom, we’d have a hard time waking up in the morning! To make her primary suite as comfortable as possible, Stephanie Vogler of The Cross Decor and Design layered luxe linens, plush pillows and super-soft throws on the bed and placed a high-pile shag rug under the bed. Get more of Vogler’s bedroom design tips.

Completely Floored

The owners of this Calgary home fell so in love with this floral area rug from Jan Kath that it not only informed the palette of the living room, but the entire house. “We always begin with rug shopping—you learn a lot about people based on the rugs they’re attracted to,” says designer Reena Sotropa. See the rest of this sophisticated, boldly coloured home.

Tough Love

Everything in this Brianna Hughes-designed living room, from the built-in reeded banquets and ethereal drapery to the slouchy linen sofa, adds texture and warmth. The Gavrinis 3 rug from Ligne Roset—made of 100% wool, shaped like an irregular pebble and sculpted using tufts of two different heights—is no exception. Tour this moody Edmonton home.

Collector’s Item

What do you get when you mix an Australian-beach-house style with African textiles? A pretty gorgeous dining room, that’s what! The homeowners sourced this beautiful rug from Morocco mid-build and designer Andrea McLean found the perfect pieces to complement it—including a Lock and Mortice walnut table, Andlight Spotlight Volumes pendants and Audo chairs. Step inside the Big Sky Beach House.

Solid Ground

Nearly every other room in this 10,000-square-foot home is layered with soft, plush rugs. But designer Andrea Rodman switched things up in the family room. Here, a durable jute rug (and sofas upholstered in wipeable fabrics) are ready to handle the beautiful mess that comes with raising kids. “[The owners] chose materials that were timeless, simple and understated—they wanted a home to grow into,” says Rodman. Check out the rest of this Oak Bay residence.