Myndu Interior Design

If you’ve ever looked at home design catalogs, you’ve probably noticed that décor trends come and go—sometimes a lot faster than we’re comfortable with. One day your home is the height of contemporary design, the next it’s a thing of the past. But who said you had to keep up all the time, and spend a small fortune doing so? With a few well-chosen elements, your home can stay in style through the years without needing a makeover. And as most experts agree, one of the best ways to do that is decorating with area rugs.

Rugs are probably among the most versatile elements in home décor. Think about it: there’s a rug out there for modern, country, traditional, Asian, and even Victorian homes. No matter what’s in or out of the trend, you won’t run out options for area rug designs. And since they don’t need to be installed (as carpets do), you can always change them up whenever you feel like it. If you want to stay in style with your area rug, here are some ideas to help you get started.

Bold and classic

New design trends are always marked by bold choices, whether in terms of color, pattern, shape or size. Often, something that’s out of the ordinary is automatically considered modern or contemporary. But breaking the mold all the time can get old after a while. With area rugs, it’s easy to find patterns that are both bold and classic. One good example is animal print area rugs: they’re practically a fixture in contemporary décor, but they’ll still draw attention long after the trend is gone.

Bold designs such as animal prints tend to draw attention to themselves, so they can easily overpower a room. When decorating with them, you’ll want to tone down the rest of the room so there’s not too much going on. As much as possible, you should stick to solid colors and plain surfaces to make the pattern stand out. That way, the rug itself becomes the room’s focal point, setting the theme for the entire room.

Unique shapes and contours

No matter what the theme is, you can’t go wrong with an interestingly shaped area rug. If you want to make a statement, veer away from the usual straight-edged squares and rectangles, and go for shapes like oval, round, hearts, flowers and abstracts. These shapes give the room an unusual angle, making it look less flat. Put round area rugs against sharp corners or straight walls, where they offer a soft contrast that make the space look more inviting.

To emphasize the shape of the rug, try looking for one with a distinct colored edging. Most rugs are made with a protective edge in almost the same shade as the rug itself, so that it looks seamless from a distance. But when you’ve got an interesting shape, a defining border helps draw attention to it. This can work especially well in a large space, where it’s important to break up the room and define different areas.

Natural materials

Natural fibers may be considered modern these days, but they’ve actually been around as long as rugs themselves. The only difference is in quality: today’s natural rugs are made with more advanced technologies that give them added strength and better wear. They also come in more designs, some of them so finely made that they almost look synthetic. Manufacturers are also able to offer more options such as seagrass, sisal, and jute area rugs.

When choosing a natural rug, keep an eye out for treatments and chemical additives that can affect their quality. Cheaper fibers often come loaded with synthetic coatings, which not only defeat the purpose but also make them more brittle over time. If you’re allergy-prone or live with kids who are, it’s probably best to stick to tried-and-tested materials such as wool and organic cotton. These materials have self-cleaning and antibacterial properties, so they’re less likely to contain chemical additives.

Learn from the pros.

Of course, the best way to keep up with the trends is to read up on them. Area rug designs are constantly evolving, and you have to be in the know if you want to make the most of them. Read magazines on interior design, take note of seasonal changes in the stores, and check online for different design trends. You don’t have to follow all of them, but they can give you a good idea of what’s in and out in the market.

Another thing you can do is subscribe to an area rug blog. These are usually maintained by professional designers themselves, or homeowners with a passion for rug design. Either way, you get advice from well-informed sources and people who have used rugs themselves. Besides design trends, a rug blog is also a great source of buying guides, product reviews, and pricing information.

Area rugs are often associated with contemporary homes, especially as modern designers use them increasingly as focal points. Browse through any home design catalog and you’ll notice that rugs play a central role in many design plans, highlighting the sleek, stylish atmosphere of a modern home. But modern isn’t the only way to describe area rugs. More and more homeowners are opting to buy rugs online to get the best of both worlds: the bold attitude of a contemporary home and the warm, cozy feel of the classics.

It may seem contrary to the rules of design—after all, the point of choosing a theme is to keep your visual elements consistent. But blending two themes doesn’t always mean breaking the rules. That’s where area rugs come in: since they’re so varied and versatile, you can easily find one that’s sleek and soft, modern and classical, cutting-edge and nostalgic all at the same time. It may take some planning and a bit of creative thinking, but the results are often more than worth it. Here are some design tips to help you find the perfect piece.

Choose your color combinations.

Colors play a big role in whether a home looks “old” or “new.” Trends change a lot, so there’s no single rule as to which colors evoke which moods. However, there are some elements that can give you a clue: for example, neutral colors like beige and white are associated with classic designs, while bold, jewel tones are considered more modern. Consult an area rug blog or some recent design reviews to find out what’s in and what’s not.

The best way to blend the two together is by opting for contrast. If you have pastel walls or a mellow color scheme, set it off with a brightly colored area rug. Adding a nice splash of color can really bring it to life and turn it into the room’s focal point. Note that not all contrasting colors work together—sometimes two colors simply don’t work. Print out a color wheel to help you determine which colors complement the ones you already have.

Get inspired by nature.

If there’s one design element that unites the old and the new, it’s probably the patterns derived from nature. Whether in a charming log house or an elegant urban pad, natural materials like wood floors and stone counters have always been considered the best. So choose an area rug that channels the beauty of nature and ties your modern and traditional elements together. Floral rugs are especially good for softening up hard flooring surfaces.

Nature designs can also lean towards the abstract side, which helps it blend better into modern décor. While actual floral and leaf prints can be very eye-catching, sometimes a stylized pattern works much better with what’s already there. This is especially true if you already have lots of color and pattern in the home, and you need a much simpler area rug to balance it out. Take your time to shop around and see which pieces fit the best.

Play up the contrast.

The best way to make a combined theme work is to highlight the contrast between the two. While a bit of subtlety won’t hurt, you don’t have to mask the difference completely either. Look into traditional area rugs—rugs that have both modern and classic elements in one piece. The Dynamic Rugs Charisma 1409 Mediterranean blue area rug is a good example—the intricate patterns convey a classic oriental feel, while the vibrant blue background creates a mood that’s decidedly modern.

If you have a hardwood floor, another way you can introduce contrast is by going for soft materials. Wood may be nice to look at, but it tends to look cold and uninviting especially when left bare. With a well-chosen area rug, you can add a touch of warmth to the floor and make it look much cozier. Genuine wool and shag rugs work especially well because of their thick construction, which helps them stand out more against the wood grain.

Consider unusual shapes.

You’re probably most familiar with rectangular and square area rugs, and for most homes, they do work perfectly well. But shaped rugs are also becoming increasingly popular. Round area rugs are a great way to mix soft curves with straight, angular walls. You can also go for oval area rugs, which make excellent backdrops for low furniture such as TV trays and coffee tables.

If your room is large enough, consider putting a round oriental rug in the middle. This helps create a visual center to the room, making it look more intimate and drawing all the design elements together. Just choose a pattern or design that complements your existing décor, and you have the perfect finishing touch for a classic yet contemporary home.