how to layer a rug Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
how to layer a rug Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
how to layer a rug Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
how to layer a rug
Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
A rug is one of the easiest ways to add a little something to a room—a pop of color, some texture, an element of surprise—but with so many options, why choose just one? Layering a few floor coverings on top of one another is a trend that’s proven to have staying power. Doing so, however, can feel intimidating, so we decided to get some expert advice. “We’re seeing the layering trend so much because of [the popularity of] hygge,” says Nancy Fire, the designer behind Studio NYC Design. “Evoking the coziness that’s so important today is not just about pillows and throws—you want to think of it from the floor up.”
layering rug with wallpaper Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG Work with the Room Layering rugs works best in a room where you have space and not that much furniture, like a bedroom, living room, or den. If the room is on the simpler side, Fire recommends layering pattern on pattern. If it has wallpaper, or there's a lot going on in the room, she suggests mixing a solid rug with a patterned iteration. stripes and circle illustration Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Color Coordination Is Key Years ago, the rug layering trend was simple—it revolved around placing a patterned piece on top of a sisal or other natural fiber carpet. But today, interior designers and homeowners alike are choosing rugs that speak to each other aesthetically. "It's all about color-coordinating," says Fire. "You can mix and match patterns if your colors work together—if not, it's going to look like a circus." So, be sure your rug colors are either complementary or tonal, meaning different shades of the same color. "If you're working with geometrics, one might be an octagon and one might be a stripe, but you're relating the patterns through color," says Fire. "Tonality usually works best that way." rugs in basket Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Consider Sizing Layering rugs produces the best results when they are different sizes. One should be large and more dominant and the others should be smaller and act as accents. Another tip: A great way to utilize smaller rugs in a room is to store them in a basket, and set them out when you have guests. "A lot of people like to sit around an ottoman on the floor with pillows," says Fire. "To increase the space of coziness when you have friends over, just roll out some extra accent rugs." pouf on rugs Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Layer on the Bias Your first large rug should be laid down straight according to the furniture, and the smaller accent rugs should be set on the bias. You won't know how it'll look until you're layering them in the room, so Fire advises to play—experiment with angles and change the furniture to see what works. "We are seeing a lot of poufs and accessible elements that you can move around easily," she says. "When they're placed differently on the rug, they can bring a different sensibility and can really enlarge the room." Once you start experimenting, you'll realize just how versatile your space can be. jute illustration Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Think About Seasonal Fabrics When you think of cozying up on a rug, winter might come to mind—but this layering trend works all year round. "You want your floor to be cozy in any season," says Fire. "It's always nice to have the element of dimension using texture, print, pattern, or weave." While winter is about layering faux furs and shags, summer revolves around woven cotton. Rugs composed of this material are light and easy to move around—and offer a perfect way to switch things up from season to season. "If you want to change the room for the warmer months, why not stack two or three rugs?" asks Fire. "It's fun and interesting and a great way to bring in color into the room, whether you're doing tones of blue, pastels or neutrals." layering rug with chair Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG Go Beyond Boho With all the poufs and patterns out there, the layering rug trend may seem to lean a bit bohemian—but it doesn't have to. If your sensibility is less hippie and more streamlined, layering rugs can still complement your home. "For people who want simplicity, adding a few rugs doesn't have to take away from that—it will just add texture," says Fire. Instead of going for different patterns and colors, choose neutral tone rugs with different textures. "Layering sisals that are two-toned, like a black and cream, can be really beautiful," she says. "It gives the room dimension without too much pattern." Try this cheat sheet if you can't nail down a rug layering method: If you're a person who loves color, try pattern on pattern; if you're a person who likes pattern, but is afraid of too much color, go tone on tone; and if you're neither a color nor pattern person, opt for texture. rug patterns Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Have Fun with It Despite these guidelines, Fire stresses that there really are no rules when it comes to layering rugs. "There are so many ways you can utilize rugs to be that new design hero," she says. "Go with what your gut says, or try something that your gut wouldn't do and push yourself a little bit. I always say, imperfect is the new perfect."
layering rug with wallpaper Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG Work with the Room Layering rugs works best in a room where you have space and not that much furniture, like a bedroom, living room, or den. If the room is on the simpler side, Fire recommends layering pattern on pattern. If it has wallpaper, or there's a lot going on in the room, she suggests mixing a solid rug with a patterned iteration.
stripes and circle illustration Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Color Coordination Is Key Years ago, the rug layering trend was simple—it revolved around placing a patterned piece on top of a sisal or other natural fiber carpet. But today, interior designers and homeowners alike are choosing rugs that speak to each other aesthetically. "It's all about color-coordinating," says Fire. "You can mix and match patterns if your colors work together—if not, it's going to look like a circus." So, be sure your rug colors are either complementary or tonal, meaning different shades of the same color. "If you're working with geometrics, one might be an octagon and one might be a stripe, but you're relating the patterns through color," says Fire. "Tonality usually works best that way."
rugs in basket Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Consider Sizing Layering rugs produces the best results when they are different sizes. One should be large and more dominant and the others should be smaller and act as accents. Another tip: A great way to utilize smaller rugs in a room is to store them in a basket, and set them out when you have guests. "A lot of people like to sit around an ottoman on the floor with pillows," says Fire. "To increase the space of coziness when you have friends over, just roll out some extra accent rugs."
pouf on rugs Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Layer on the Bias Your first large rug should be laid down straight according to the furniture, and the smaller accent rugs should be set on the bias. You won't know how it'll look until you're layering them in the room, so Fire advises to play—experiment with angles and change the furniture to see what works. "We are seeing a lot of poufs and accessible elements that you can move around easily," she says. "When they're placed differently on the rug, they can bring a different sensibility and can really enlarge the room." Once you start experimenting, you'll realize just how versatile your space can be.
jute illustration Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Think About Seasonal Fabrics When you think of cozying up on a rug, winter might come to mind—but this layering trend works all year round. "You want your floor to be cozy in any season," says Fire. "It's always nice to have the element of dimension using texture, print, pattern, or weave." While winter is about layering faux furs and shags, summer revolves around woven cotton. Rugs composed of this material are light and easy to move around—and offer a perfect way to switch things up from season to season. "If you want to change the room for the warmer months, why not stack two or three rugs?" asks Fire. "It's fun and interesting and a great way to bring in color into the room, whether you're doing tones of blue, pastels or neutrals."
layering rug with chair Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG Go Beyond Boho With all the poufs and patterns out there, the layering rug trend may seem to lean a bit bohemian—but it doesn't have to. If your sensibility is less hippie and more streamlined, layering rugs can still complement your home. "For people who want simplicity, adding a few rugs doesn't have to take away from that—it will just add texture," says Fire. Instead of going for different patterns and colors, choose neutral tone rugs with different textures. "Layering sisals that are two-toned, like a black and cream, can be really beautiful," she says. "It gives the room dimension without too much pattern." Try this cheat sheet if you can't nail down a rug layering method: If you're a person who loves color, try pattern on pattern; if you're a person who likes pattern, but is afraid of too much color, go tone on tone; and if you're neither a color nor pattern person, opt for texture.
rug patterns Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Have Fun with It Despite these guidelines, Fire stresses that there really are no rules when it comes to layering rugs. "There are so many ways you can utilize rugs to be that new design hero," she says. "Go with what your gut says, or try something that your gut wouldn't do and push yourself a little bit. I always say, imperfect is the new perfect."
layering rug with wallpaper Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG Work with the Room Layering rugs works best in a room where you have space and not that much furniture, like a bedroom, living room, or den. If the room is on the simpler side, Fire recommends layering pattern on pattern. If it has wallpaper, or there's a lot going on in the room, she suggests mixing a solid rug with a patterned iteration.
layering rug with wallpaper Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG
Work with the Room
Layering rugs works best in a room where you have space and not that much furniture, like a bedroom, living room, or den. If the room is on the simpler side, Fire recommends layering pattern on pattern. If it has wallpaper, or there’s a lot going on in the room, she suggests mixing a solid rug with a patterned iteration.
layering rug with wallpaper Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG
layering rug with wallpaper
Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG
layering rug with wallpaper
Work with the Room
Layering rugs works best in a room where you have space and not that much furniture, like a bedroom, living room, or den. If the room is on the simpler side, Fire recommends layering pattern on pattern. If it has wallpaper, or there’s a lot going on in the room, she suggests mixing a solid rug with a patterned iteration.
stripes and circle illustration Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Color Coordination Is Key Years ago, the rug layering trend was simple—it revolved around placing a patterned piece on top of a sisal or other natural fiber carpet. But today, interior designers and homeowners alike are choosing rugs that speak to each other aesthetically. "It's all about color-coordinating," says Fire. "You can mix and match patterns if your colors work together—if not, it's going to look like a circus." So, be sure your rug colors are either complementary or tonal, meaning different shades of the same color. "If you're working with geometrics, one might be an octagon and one might be a stripe, but you're relating the patterns through color," says Fire. "Tonality usually works best that way."
stripes and circle illustration Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
Color Coordination Is Key
Years ago, the rug layering trend was simple—it revolved around placing a patterned piece on top of a sisal or other natural fiber carpet. But today, interior designers and homeowners alike are choosing rugs that speak to each other aesthetically. “It’s all about color-coordinating,” says Fire. “You can mix and match patterns if your colors work together—if not, it’s going to look like a circus.” So, be sure your rug colors are either complementary or tonal, meaning different shades of the same color. “If you’re working with geometrics, one might be an octagon and one might be a stripe, but you’re relating the patterns through color,” says Fire. “Tonality usually works best that way.”
stripes and circle illustration Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
stripes and circle illustration
Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
stripes and circle illustration
Color Coordination Is Key
Years ago, the rug layering trend was simple—it revolved around placing a patterned piece on top of a sisal or other natural fiber carpet. But today, interior designers and homeowners alike are choosing rugs that speak to each other aesthetically. “It’s all about color-coordinating,” says Fire. “You can mix and match patterns if your colors work together—if not, it’s going to look like a circus.”
So, be sure your rug colors are either complementary or tonal, meaning different shades of the same color. “If you’re working with geometrics, one might be an octagon and one might be a stripe, but you’re relating the patterns through color,” says Fire. “Tonality usually works best that way.”
rugs in basket Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Consider Sizing Layering rugs produces the best results when they are different sizes. One should be large and more dominant and the others should be smaller and act as accents. Another tip: A great way to utilize smaller rugs in a room is to store them in a basket, and set them out when you have guests. "A lot of people like to sit around an ottoman on the floor with pillows," says Fire. "To increase the space of coziness when you have friends over, just roll out some extra accent rugs."
rugs in basket Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
Consider Sizing
Layering rugs produces the best results when they are different sizes. One should be large and more dominant and the others should be smaller and act as accents. Another tip: A great way to utilize smaller rugs in a room is to store them in a basket, and set them out when you have guests. “A lot of people like to sit around an ottoman on the floor with pillows,” says Fire. “To increase the space of coziness when you have friends over, just roll out some extra accent rugs.”
rugs in basket Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
rugs in basket
rugs in basket
Consider Sizing
Layering rugs produces the best results when they are different sizes. One should be large and more dominant and the others should be smaller and act as accents.
Another tip: A great way to utilize smaller rugs in a room is to store them in a basket, and set them out when you have guests. “A lot of people like to sit around an ottoman on the floor with pillows,” says Fire. “To increase the space of coziness when you have friends over, just roll out some extra accent rugs.”
pouf on rugs Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Layer on the Bias Your first large rug should be laid down straight according to the furniture, and the smaller accent rugs should be set on the bias. You won't know how it'll look until you're layering them in the room, so Fire advises to play—experiment with angles and change the furniture to see what works. "We are seeing a lot of poufs and accessible elements that you can move around easily," she says. "When they're placed differently on the rug, they can bring a different sensibility and can really enlarge the room." Once you start experimenting, you'll realize just how versatile your space can be.
pouf on rugs Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
Layer on the Bias
Your first large rug should be laid down straight according to the furniture, and the smaller accent rugs should be set on the bias. You won’t know how it’ll look until you’re layering them in the room, so Fire advises to play—experiment with angles and change the furniture to see what works. “We are seeing a lot of poufs and accessible elements that you can move around easily,” she says. “When they’re placed differently on the rug, they can bring a different sensibility and can really enlarge the room.” Once you start experimenting, you’ll realize just how versatile your space can be.
pouf on rugs Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
pouf on rugs
pouf on rugs
Layer on the Bias
Your first large rug should be laid down straight according to the furniture, and the smaller accent rugs should be set on the bias. You won’t know how it’ll look until you’re layering them in the room, so Fire advises to play—experiment with angles and change the furniture to see what works.
“We are seeing a lot of poufs and accessible elements that you can move around easily,” she says. “When they’re placed differently on the rug, they can bring a different sensibility and can really enlarge the room.” Once you start experimenting, you’ll realize just how versatile your space can be.
jute illustration Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Think About Seasonal Fabrics When you think of cozying up on a rug, winter might come to mind—but this layering trend works all year round. "You want your floor to be cozy in any season," says Fire. "It's always nice to have the element of dimension using texture, print, pattern, or weave." While winter is about layering faux furs and shags, summer revolves around woven cotton. Rugs composed of this material are light and easy to move around—and offer a perfect way to switch things up from season to season. "If you want to change the room for the warmer months, why not stack two or three rugs?" asks Fire. "It's fun and interesting and a great way to bring in color into the room, whether you're doing tones of blue, pastels or neutrals."
jute illustration Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
Think About Seasonal Fabrics
When you think of cozying up on a rug, winter might come to mind—but this layering trend works all year round. “You want your floor to be cozy in any season,” says Fire. “It’s always nice to have the element of dimension using texture, print, pattern, or weave.” While winter is about layering faux furs and shags, summer revolves around woven cotton. Rugs composed of this material are light and easy to move around—and offer a perfect way to switch things up from season to season. “If you want to change the room for the warmer months, why not stack two or three rugs?” asks Fire. “It’s fun and interesting and a great way to bring in color into the room, whether you’re doing tones of blue, pastels or neutrals.”
jute illustration Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
jute illustration
jute illustration
Think About Seasonal Fabrics
When you think of cozying up on a rug, winter might come to mind—but this layering trend works all year round. “You want your floor to be cozy in any season,” says Fire. “It’s always nice to have the element of dimension using texture, print, pattern, or weave.”
While winter is about layering faux furs and shags, summer revolves around woven cotton. Rugs composed of this material are light and easy to move around—and offer a perfect way to switch things up from season to season. “If you want to change the room for the warmer months, why not stack two or three rugs?” asks Fire. “It’s fun and interesting and a great way to bring in color into the room, whether you’re doing tones of blue, pastels or neutrals.”
layering rug with chair Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG Go Beyond Boho With all the poufs and patterns out there, the layering rug trend may seem to lean a bit bohemian—but it doesn't have to. If your sensibility is less hippie and more streamlined, layering rugs can still complement your home. "For people who want simplicity, adding a few rugs doesn't have to take away from that—it will just add texture," says Fire. Instead of going for different patterns and colors, choose neutral tone rugs with different textures. "Layering sisals that are two-toned, like a black and cream, can be really beautiful," she says. "It gives the room dimension without too much pattern." Try this cheat sheet if you can't nail down a rug layering method: If you're a person who loves color, try pattern on pattern; if you're a person who likes pattern, but is afraid of too much color, go tone on tone; and if you're neither a color nor pattern person, opt for texture.
layering rug with chair Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG
Go Beyond Boho
With all the poufs and patterns out there, the layering rug trend may seem to lean a bit bohemian—but it doesn’t have to. If your sensibility is less hippie and more streamlined, layering rugs can still complement your home. “For people who want simplicity, adding a few rugs doesn’t have to take away from that—it will just add texture,” says Fire. Instead of going for different patterns and colors, choose neutral tone rugs with different textures. “Layering sisals that are two-toned, like a black and cream, can be really beautiful,” she says. “It gives the room dimension without too much pattern.” Try this cheat sheet if you can’t nail down a rug layering method: If you’re a person who loves color, try pattern on pattern; if you’re a person who likes pattern, but is afraid of too much color, go tone on tone; and if you’re neither a color nor pattern person, opt for texture.
layering rug with chair Credit: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG
layering rug with chair
layering rug with chair
Go Beyond Boho
With all the poufs and patterns out there, the layering rug trend may seem to lean a bit bohemian—but it doesn’t have to. If your sensibility is less hippie and more streamlined, layering rugs can still complement your home. “For people who want simplicity, adding a few rugs doesn’t have to take away from that—it will just add texture,” says Fire.
Instead of going for different patterns and colors, choose neutral tone rugs with different textures. “Layering sisals that are two-toned, like a black and cream, can be really beautiful,” she says. “It gives the room dimension without too much pattern.”
Try this cheat sheet if you can’t nail down a rug layering method: If you’re a person who loves color, try pattern on pattern; if you’re a person who likes pattern, but is afraid of too much color, go tone on tone; and if you’re neither a color nor pattern person, opt for texture.
rug patterns Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Have Fun with It Despite these guidelines, Fire stresses that there really are no rules when it comes to layering rugs. "There are so many ways you can utilize rugs to be that new design hero," she says. "Go with what your gut says, or try something that your gut wouldn't do and push yourself a little bit. I always say, imperfect is the new perfect."
rug patterns Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
Have Fun with It
Despite these guidelines, Fire stresses that there really are no rules when it comes to layering rugs. “There are so many ways you can utilize rugs to be that new design hero,” she says. “Go with what your gut says, or try something that your gut wouldn’t do and push yourself a little bit. I always say, imperfect is the new perfect.”
rug patterns Credit: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
rug patterns
rug patterns
Have Fun with It
Despite these guidelines, Fire stresses that there really are no rules when it comes to layering rugs. “There are so many ways you can utilize rugs to be that new design hero,” she says. “Go with what your gut says, or try something that your gut wouldn’t do and push yourself a little bit. I always say, imperfect is the new perfect.”
