Rugs to Knock Their Socks Off!

Lately, I've gotten so many questions on this one topic (the most asked / requested topic), I thought I'd dedicate a post to it!  Rugs and where to find some good ones, and how to select one for your space.

Someone I recently met lamented "We've tried out a few different rugs in our living room & haven't liked a thing!" This young couple has a toddler so not only did it need to look good and be durable, but soft too. Not an easy task!
A few other things I heard, "We found a rug we love, but it's too small for our room!" 
And, "We have a bright, coral couch with floral pillows, and it's been hard finding a rug that will complement it."   
One busy dentist told me, "I get quite a bit of foot traffic in my office and want a rug that can handle it,  is not too pricey, and I want it to look good!"

I couldn't wait to get back home (we were in Austin for the weekend attending a friend's baby shower!) and write this post up for ya'll.  Rugs on rugs on rugs! :) My favorites. A variety of styles, price points & ideas on how to use them in your space.

Natural Fiber Rugs
If you want to ground a room that already has a lot of color and pattern, say with a statement sofa and cushions? Go with a simple jute or sisal rug.

There's lotsa options out there in all price ranges. These rugs are durable, and a chunky sisal or a jute basketweave feels soft on the feet too. A nice complement to hardwood floors!   And they're great for layering. Say you have a favorite patterned rug (geometric/floral/stripes etc) but it's too small for the room, or the large version of it is pricey - just layer it with one of these & you're golden! 

Layering

1. Basketweave jute - World Market  / 2. Jute -  RugsUSA  / 3. Bordered sisal -  Pottery Barn   and there's a host more!
Use the words "jute" "sisal" "chunky basketweave" when you search.

Zebra / Hide rugs -  
I can't think of anything more effortlessly stylish than the zebra pattern. I LOVE it as an element in a room. It looks amazing in the living room, at the foot of the bed or even in an eclectic entry.   Accent a room with a faux hide rug - zebra pattern, cowhide or sheepskin (faux fur feels good too). So chic!  

1.  RugsUSA , World Market / 2.  Houzz, Overstock  / 3.  Overstock  / sheepskin - Pottery Barn, IKEA

Stripes - are a GREAT way to break up the space & easy on the eye.  I'm a fan of the broken stripe rug & they are hugely popular right now and have been for a while.  here ,  here, here & here (at IKEA for $99!!)

Mix florals with stripes! It's a great way to combine patterns. And it can bring that modern touch to a room that's heavy on florals (that could otherwise look a little stuffy or old-fashioned!) 

West Elm / Annie Selke / JCPenney

Gorgeous medallion rugs - 
I'm head over heels in LOVE with this collection at West Elm!  Reminiscent of Weinreib's mandala rugs. These could easily be THE BEST thing in your room. Stronger colors like the macaroon pink or the horizon yellow (amazing names btw!) would look great in a room with an otherwise neutral palette. 

Then there's these lighter ones by Safavieh -. they'd look amazing in an ultra-glam room, with a starburst chandelier and some gorgeous coral/gold cushions. 

Chevron Pattern
Playful, modern & eye-catching

RugsDirect / Overstock

Traditional Rugs
Pretty traditional rugs in muted colors (below)   Houzz, Overstock & RugsUSA  

Don't be afraid to roll out a traditional rug in a modern room!  In fact, it can really make a room go from looking too sterile,  to warm & welcoming! 

Florals & Botanicals -   I feel that botanicals are best left for your fabrics - curtains, cushions, accent chairs - there's so many great fabrics on the market to play with (here's my post on that).  But if it's something you're keen on, think of going with one that is limited in it's palette, 1-3 colors.  Here's a few I can get behind  :) All of these on  RugsDirect, Houzz

Distressed rugs

Flatweave runners
Great for the kitchen and narrow spaces like a hallway or the bedroom. I've been seeing so many kitchen photos with these colorful tribal / kilim runners featured in magazines,  and they look amazing! 

I found a stockpile of unique ones on Ebay and Overstock

Image credits : House Beautiful, Elements of Style, Pottery Barn, Madeline Weinreib

Some News! + A Design Tip For Renters

I have some happy news to share with ya'll!  Over the next few months, I'm working with a fantastic interior design firm in San Francisco, Marsh & Clark Design. They primarily do residential design. And they've done the offices of the fabulous Chairish - a design & decor site I love for its curated collections. I'm excited to be there and to be working on projects this Fall, while continuing to share fresh ideas, schemes and resources with you here as I expand my design horizons! 

Coming to today's post - one of you lovely readers recently asked me if I had any decorating tips for renters.  When you're renting, you don't want to spend a whole bunch of money up front, but you still want to bring style into a space.  Here's an idea I like to share with people - Invest in things that are easy to carry over from one space to another.  For instance, getting some cute side/end tables.  

End tables are not a big ticket item, they're easy to move around, and they're versatile. Today they could be in your living room, a few years from now, in a bedroom. Compared to rugs, or curtains - which are pretty specific to a space, a good end table can be worked into a lot of different spaces! 

2 cute end tables under $100

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I love this two-tiered glass table at All Modern. It spells glamour & style. 

A pair of these would look oh so elegant in a living room. 

I pulled together this look  with a very similar table in gold. Layer with flowers and books to bring in the color. And I added gold/brass tones with the deer head and an industrial floor lamp - they tie in well with the table!

A similar style table would look just as beautiful in a bedroom...

Garden stools make for GREAT end tables & give an airy feel to a room.

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You could create a cozy nook in the living room or the bedroom like the one I've created below. A space to lounge, read a book or just relax it out!

I love sourcing on Etsy too for off the radar finds.

How fun is this Queen Anne end table!  It could get a new life with some paint - perhaps a light grey with antique white drawer fronts, like these ones

These wicker tables would make for a great alternative to a coffee table in a room that's going for a boho / beachy vibe. Soften with a linen throw and a tray.

And that's a wrap! If you're looking for stylish additions to your home, keep an eye out for end tables. Go with something that's really calling out to you - you'll end up using it in different ways over the years.

And lastly, if you have a specific question or a problem area in your home that's bothering you, I want to hear about it! Tell me in the comments.  I'll be glad to pull in my decorating and resourcing prowess to help you out!