Why your rug might be making your room look smaller

Think a rug is just a finishing touch or something soft for your feet to enjoy? Nope! Yes, they’re great for cosiness, but design-wise they hold a huge amount of power – so underestimate them at your (aesthetic) peril. A rug should ground furniture and open up a room, but a handful of easy-to-make mistakes can have the opposite effect. The good news? We've put together a short buyers checklist for those on the hunt for their next rug, a floor furniture failsafe if you will.

So roll out the red (or whatever your preferred choice) carpet and get set for interior designs most under-estimated undertaking.

The cardinal sin is underestimating the amount of space your new rug is going to cover, DO NOT invest in one that could be mistaken for a doormat. A rug that’s playing hide and seek under
a coffee table, or timidly hovering in the middle of the floor. A good rule of thumb when
rug-shopping is to always buy the largest the area can hold. It opens up the space,
unifies furniture, creates a dedicated plush-and-comfy-zone, and feels generous and
luxurious.

Rugs have to interact with other pieces in the room for it to click together – and that means getting involved with legs. If surrounding furniture legs don’t sit comfortably on the rug, the layout instantly reads as disjointed and small. Ensure at least the front of pieces perch on the edge of the rug and zip! The seating area is instantly pulled together.

Dark tones absorb light and make the floor feel heavy, while busy or oversized motifs can dominate a space, making the room appear chopped into sections and visually shrinking it. Stick to paler or mid-tones to bounce light and make the floor seem more expansive, and subtler patterns to add interest without overstimulating.