Bedroom rugs

A rug can add a sense of warmth and comfort to a space that we often consider our sanctuary – the bedroom. The perfect rug can make or break your space, and we’re not just talking about the style of the rug – size, placement and material play an important role in creating a beautiful and considered space that you want to spend time in. Here are five considerations for choosing your perfect bedroom rug.

Image source Sf GIRL

Style

The colours, textures and patterns in your bedroom impact the overall vibe of the space. A rug takes up a lot of visual real estate, so the right bedroom rug will set the tone for your room. Whether you start with the rug and create your scheme from there (we usually work like this at Studio Arterior), or you are hunting for a rug that works with pieces you already have, take time to create a scheme and choose a rug that complements and enhances the space. As always, there are no hard and fast rules, but a few ideas to get you started:

• If you like plain bedding, add interest to the space with a patterned rug and draw inspiration from the colours in the rug which you can repeat in soft furnishings or even key items of furniture.

• Neutral schemes work well with quietly patterned or layered rugs which bring in texture, rather than ‘colour’. Patterns can range from traditional Persian to contemporary geometrics, choose something that works with your aesthetic.

• If your space is feeling busy, or you like to layer with patterned cushions and blankets, bring in a simple rug that helps promote a sense of calm. Think block colours or natural fibres, such as jute and sisal.

Placement

In the bedroom, the bed is the star of the show. The size and placement of your rug will celebrate the bed and anchor the supporting acts – namely the other furniture in the room. The rug should always be placed perpendicular to the bed, but from there, the size of your room, the way you use the space and your flooring will all come into play.

Let’s start with placement, there are three key options:

1. All four legs of the bed on the rug. This placement is a little more traditional and will also mean your bedside tables and any furniture at the foot of the bed sit on the rug.

2. The foot of the bed on the rug. This is more contemporary and shows off the bedroom floor. Your bedside tables will be on the floor, with the rug starting around 1/3 down the bed with furniture at the foot of the bed sitting on the rug also.

3. Using a runner. If you don’t love the idea of a large area rug, two runners placed either side of the bed will add cosiness underfoot in the morning, without dominating the room. Opt for runners around the same width as your bedside tables, and a similar length to the bed. Also consider a runner at the end of the bed.

Image by CASA TRES CHIC

Size

Regardless of the size of your room, you want your rug to be wide enough to fit the bed and two bedside tables (unless your bed is pushed up against the wall, but we will get to that!), but not so big that your chest of drawers sits on it. If you have a small room, opt for a large rug, leaving around 15cm between the rug and the wall. If you have a large space, you can choose to either anchor the bed, or fill the space, leaving at least 30cm between the bed and the wall.

Image source Pinterest

Material

Unlike high traffic areas like the living room or entry, you don’t need to worry so much about practicality in the bedroom. Opt for soft textures with a high pile, which are a treat for bare feet in the morning and add a sense of luxury – silk and wool work particularly well. If you enjoy the firmness under foot, a jute or sisal rug can be invigorating and give a relaxed and casual vibe.

Image source Pinterest

Children’s spaces and small bedrooms

All of the above ‘rules’ work well is you have a space where the bed can be placed centrally in the room. But in children’s bedrooms and smaller double bedrooms, we often have the bed and other furniture pushed up against the wall.

In these spaces we recommend using either a runner by the bed, or an ‘island’ rug – a rug that floats in the centre of the space and has no furniture touching it. The joy of this configuration is that you are not limited to rectangular rugs, think circular, oval or even novelty shapes like rainbows and dinosaurs!

So there you have it. By carefully considering the style, placement, size and material of your bedroom rug, you will end up with an anchor for your bedroom design that enhances the space you have.