Living Room Makeover: Adding An Area Rug

One of the challenges with open floor plan homes is defining the spaces. We have a semi-open first floor and while its a bit obvious what room is for what, [Living room, Kitchen, Dining room] the space was craving warmth and color. 

Our front living room is fairly small but the high ceilings help make it feel open and welcoming. We’ve been in the house a couple of years and this front room has been fairly overlooked since bringing in the initial furniture. 

Instead of replacing the furniture, I’ve embarked on a project to update the ambiance with a few fresh additions to the room. Last week I shared how throw pillows can add personalization and color into a space. Today we’re looking at how area rugs can create structure for a room while freshening up the look.

When I found the Foliage Friends area rug from Mohawk Home I knew it was going to be the perfect addition to this room. The warm tones bring out the red hues in the hardwood and compliment the red accents in the pillows and curtains.

Adding an area rug helped open up the room and make it feel welcoming, something that we absolutely needed since it’s the first room in the house. It also set up the space and defined it as a living room separate from the rest of the first floor.  

 Tips for selecting an Area Rug

1. If you are adding an area rug to an existing room, pick a color palette that matches the existing decor and furnishings. 
2. Choose an area rug that is the appropriate size for a room. A too small rug can make a room feel small and an appropriately sized rug can make it look bigger.  
3. Pay attention to texture. If layering an area rug on top carpet, you’ll want the rug to provide depth. If layering a rug on hardwood or tile you may not need as much texture. 
4. Consider how the an area rug must be cleaned. If you have pets or children, you’ll want to ensure that you can clean it easily. Mohawk rugs each come with easy cleaning instructions outlined on their website.  

Disclosure: I received a rug from Mohawk Homes as compensation for this post. All views and options expressed in this post are my own and no additional compensation was provided.