5 Artistic Ways to Display Your Rug

5 Artistic Ways to Display Your Rug

With a little imagination and style, a rug can move from a supporting role to being the star of almost any room in your home. Repurposing a rug you love can add a unique touch of warmth, texture, and colour to your space. Here are five creative ways to take a rug from practical to pretty.

1. Rethink your rug

For the finishing touch on your room's décor, think outside the frame. An area rug with an eye-catching pattern, textile, or colour will make an even bigger statement when hung on the wall. For example, using a rug as wall decor does double duty in a bedroom: it provides colour,an interesting focal point and layers warm, soft materials to help create a quiet, comfortable space .

Quick Tip: If you decide to carpet your vertical space, make sure to hang your rug using either casing, velcro, hooks, tacking strips, or a curtain rod to preserve its shape.

2. Think unique, not utilitarian

Add interest and charm to your hardest working rooms by replacing practical bathroom or kitchen mats with a bold rug. Choosing mats with personality (interesting patterns, eye-catching colours, or complimentary neutrals) can turn that room from functional to fun. For safety and easy-cleaning, make sure the rug is low pile, synthetic, and non-slip.

3. Mix it up

What's the key to combining modern and vintage design elements into one space?  The right rug. A stunning rug is an original way to create a unified look using older pieces of furniture you love, along with newer modern finds.

To make unique furniture the focal point of your room, display it on an eye-catching rug to draw the eye and re-energize that much-loved piece. Layering your rug with other accent textiles, like throws and pillows, can also add interest, warmth, and colour to your favourite pieces.

4. Re-purpose and Re-cover

Rather than using expensive fabric, recover a favourite ottoman using a flat weave rug with an interesting pattern or vivid colour.  It's a budget-friendly way to create a one-of-a-kind piece that adds instant personality to your room. Plus, it's a creative way to breath new life into two pieces - your ottoman and your rug. To make sure your rug looks its best as upholstery, follow these easy step-by-step instructions.

5. A Focal Point Floor

Although neutral carpets are an easy way to warm up your room, taking a risk by choosing bold patterns, bright colours and interesting designs can pay off.  By designing your room around a striking rug that reflects your personality, you can create an interesting focal point that draws your visitors' eyes, just like a great piece of art. A beautiful rug never goes out of style, so designing your room around the right one is the first step to creating fresh, yet timeless décor. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing a rug for different rooms in your home:

Kitchen: Invest in a rug that is made from a 'scrubbable' material that adds a cozy layer and a burst of colour.

Dining room: Choose a material like a hand weaved wool since it's hard-wearing and ideal for a room that gets a lot of foot traffic and spills during busy holidays and celebrations.

Living Room: A bold pattern in bright colours can be a breath of fresh air. Keep the rest of the room's scheme plain to balance the look and accessorize with complimentary accent colours.

Office: A flatweave pile is ideal for using under tables and chairs since it allows you to easily slide out chairs – just what you need in an office space.

Open Concept: In open concept spaces, use rugs to create designated living areas. For example, the living room can be clearly marked by a well-chosen rug.

Your floor isn't the only place to display a rug. In fact, showcasing your rug as wall décor and upholstery, or in unexpected places, like a kitchen or a bathroom, can go a long way to brightening up your home. Plus, a beautiful rug is an ideal way to bring colours of an existing scheme together to create a striking result. With rugs becoming versatile design accessories, taking your room from meh to magic has never been easier.