rug – Designing Goldilocks

How I picked an area rug

I did it.

I bought an area rug for the living room.

I went with a black and white striped rug to match the monochromatic theme running through the room.

If you recall, I was torn about which style and color to go with. (See “How do you pick an area rug?” May 28.)

I wanted a rug with a pattern and some color, but not so busy that it would draw the eye downward. I had always liked the black and white stripes, but had reservations about going with that pattern, thinking it would be too bland with all of the other black, white and grey in the space. But I decided to go with it after all.

The more I shopped for rugs online, the more overwhelmed I got. And the more rugs I saw, the more I started to change the vision I had for the room. When I noticed myself doing this, I would go back to the black and white striped rug I liked from the start.

Then I would close the laptop and think it over.

Do I want to go contemporary? Or do I want to stay with the Hollywood Regency style that’s underway?

Should I chase a new look or stick with the glitz and glam I started with?

What is my design plan for the space in the years to come? And what about the adjoining rooms? What do I envision for the dining room, kitchen, bar room and entryway?

Every time I answered these questions, I came back to the black and white striped SoHo rug from Rugs.com.

The other factor was that the rug came in 10-feet x 13-feet, the size I needed in order to extend far enough on both sides of the sofa to cover the traffic areas.

The rug also came in round options, which I absolutely loved. So for the entryway, I bought a matching round 5-foot x 5-foot rug to tie the two spaces together.

You rarely see round rugs. And even though the entryway is square-shaped, the round rug is unexpected and cuts the straight lines within the pattern.

The final deciding factor was some online advice that I received about choosing a rug. I was told to look at photos of rooms I want to re-create in my own home and then choose a rug that was used in those spaces.

Of course. That makes perfect sense.

And each time I researched Hollywood Regency spaces, I saw a lot of black and white in patterns that make a statement. And that’s exactly what I have in my new rugs.

The stripes did jump around after we rolled out the living room rug, almost playing tricks on our eyes. But after we moved the furniture back into place, the stripes became neutralized.

And because the living room is its own defined space, the rug does not impact the adjoining bar room, dining room and kitchen, allowing me to go in a different direction in those areas if I want to.

In the end, the black and white striped rug was the best choice.

How do you pick an area rug?

I’m stumped.

I need an area rug in the living room, and I don’t know which way to go.

I want something with a pattern and some color, but I don’t want the design to be so busy that it draws the eye downward.

The main purpose of this rug is to extend the life of the carpet, particularly the high-traffic areas on each side of the sofa and the sliver between the sofa and the ottoman.

The main colors in the room are grey and silver, which some would argue provide no real color at all. The walls, ottoman and throw pillows are brown. In accent pieces, I have black-and-white stripes and the green-leaf motif.

I thought about going with the popular black-and-white striped rug, but I’m afraid the room is too monochromatic already. I’m drawn to green, but given the leaf motif throughout the room, a green rug might be too predictable.

I could play it safe with brown. But if I’m going to spend the time and money on a rug, shouldn’t it add some pizzazz to the room?

Now you see my dilemma.

What are your thoughts? Check out the living room in the photo below and offer your ideas in the comments section.

This room needs an area rug that adds color without being the focal point. Photo by Cindy Hernandez

Summer vibes

One of the features that sold me on the new house was the front porch. I had the perfect furniture for it: two acacia wood chairs and matching table that I picked up at World Market years ago.

I also had two black-and-white striped lumbar cushions from Target that went perfectly on the chairs. The porch was one of the first spaces I set up after moving in. I loved it. I still do.

But now that we were entering our second summer in the house, I thought the porch needed a refresh. Not a completely different ensemble. But just a few pieces to make the space look new again.

Over the past few weeks I had seen black-and-white striped outdoor rugs on social media. I wasn’t completely sold on outdoor rugs. This town is dusty, especially in the summertime. How would I keep them clean?

But the more I saw the rugs, the more I realized I needed one for the porch. I found the perfect one online at Target.

I am still blown away by the difference. The rug makes a statement. It pops. It draws attention to the ensemble. The rug was the missing piece I didn’t know was missing until I had it.

What do you think?