Design a room from the ground up with the perfect rug and hardwood floor combo
In addition to keeping your feet toasty on a cold morning, an area rug can completely transform the look and energy of a room. Unlike wall-to-wall carpeting, you have to take the color of your hardwood flooring into account to avoid a major clash.
The major rule of thumb is simple: choose dark rugs for light floors and light rugs for dark floors. But just like every design choice, it's never quite that simple—here's how to start thinking like an interior designer and choose the right rug color to celebrate your hardwood hue.
One of the most beautiful things about choosing hardwood floors in your home is the endless variations of color and warmth. The most common light-colored hardwood floor materials are maple, oak, pine, white ash, and bamboo. These may come in darker varieties and finishes as well, but they often showcase either a soft gold, white, or gray hue that picks up light and opens up a space.
A dark or bold area rug will pop against the gentle hues of light hardwood floors, but you're not locked into this look. A pale rug on a pale floor can also be the basis of a minimalist color scheme that is calming and bright. So, you have a bit more flexibility than you will with dark floors. Let's look at some options.
Have you been eyeing a sapphire, ruby red, or emerald area rug that will bounce against the pale color of your pine floors? If you opt for a rug with one or more of these colors in the design, start with the rug as a basis for the rest of the room's color scheme. It's easier to match furniture, curtains, and paint colors with this palette after the fact. Consider a bold color like this in rooms that encourage energy and focus, such as the living room or your home office.
Black accents can ground the look of a space, especially if your area rug intends to mark a separate space of a large open floor plan. For example, if you plan to create a living room seating area separate from your dining space, make sure all your furniture legs tough the end of the black rug to create an imaginary boundary. The bold color against the pale floor will mark a clear delineation.
Go a bit softer with your design with either a dark or pale gray area rug. This is an excellent choice in a bedroom where you're hoping to create a calming energy balanced with pastel paint colors. Gray rugs in other rooms also provide more flexibility for choosing furniture colors.
Check out the full color wheel of earth-inspired hues for area rugs, from forest green to warm chestnut. You'll spot natural hues throughout today's most trendy color schemes, especially if you're looking to complement the colors outside your window. Earth tones organically blend against pale-colored hardwood floors like a golden pine or a lighter hickory.
Dark hardwood floors provide an old-world classic style to a room—and even a bit of drama. But if the room is on the smaller side or if you don't have a ton of natural light, you need to be careful about adding colors that will close off the space further.
Similar to dark rugs on light floors, pale rugs stand out against a deep hardwood floor. Cherry, mahogany, or dark oak are all incredibly popular options, both for their beauty and their ability to hide wear and tear. But if you want to protect them or show off their richness, check out these softer rug colors.
White monochromatic or patterned rugs can expand a small room and add bold contrast to dark flooring. Much like black rugs on a pale floor, this is also a great choice to separate two spaces in one room.
The major caveat to white rugs is their tendency to get dirty. If you have kids, pets, or want to place the rug in a high-traffic space, opt for a more neutral color. Either way, make sure you know how to clean your rug like a pro.
Similar earth-toned paint colors, hardwood flooring often either leans toward gray or tan. If you have a dark wood floor with red and brown undertones, opt for a beige rug that complements the hues. Beige rugs are flexible with a range of furniture and paint colors in the living room, dining room, bedroom, and hallways.
Pale gray rugs are a favorite for dark hardwood floors, especially wood with black and gray undertones. Don't be afraid of patterned rugs that feature other pale colors against the gray, just make sure these colors pair well with the other furniture and decor in the room.
Dark hardwood floors are a fun time to play with lavender, soft blue, and even rose pick rugs. Pick a color scheme for the rest of the room and build up from a gentle yet colorful area rug that shows off a bit of flair. Playful patterns or long shag works well in a children's room or a gentle floral pattern blends with a vintage-styled living room.
No matter which color rug you fall in love with, make sure to have both a trusted local rug cleaner and hardwood floor expert near you on hard to keep them looking fresh and bright no matter what comes your way.
