What’s Your Rug Style?
Image Credit - Real Simple
There are few pieces in a home that have decorative prowess to tie a room together as effortlessly as a rug. But finding the perfect rug has its fair share of limitations, not to mention challenges.
Amid the plethora of options, how can you be sure you’re choosing the optimal rug for you? Choosing a rug style is a huge decision and one of the most significant steps in adding this piece to your home decor.
One way to narrow down your choices is to pick a rug based on your style archetype: There are four dominant styles you will encounter when seeking the perfect floor piece; Traditional, Eclectic, Naturalist, or Curated.
Whether you gravitate toward traditional or contemporary styles, options are abundant when it comes to determining the right rug for your home. If you’re looking for inspiration or a textured statement - a rug can induce a superior layer of excitement and curiosity.
But what do each of these styles mean? There is a seemingly endless list of descriptors that encompass the aesthetic classification of a rug. Our rug-style buying guide will help simplify how each one might fit into your home.
THE NEW TRADITIONALIST
Image Credit - Pinterest / Featured Rug - TRIXIE
The traditional rug definition is essentially a rug that falls into the major categories of Persian, Oriental, or another classic style. Because of their variations in colours and patterns, Persian rugs are synonymous with the New Traditionalist style.
Those with medallions, intricate florals, and multiple borders: Tabriz, Isfahan, Oushak, and Mashad contribute the timeless refinement that this style is known for. Many traditional rugs are ornate and have great detail in the fabric, adding a formal look to a room, introducing a sense of cosiness with sophistication.
The New Traditionalist style is all about conscious layering, formality, rich colour palettes, variant textures, and lines. Pairing a Persian or Oriental rug with sumptuous furnishings and updated details helps minimise the formality of a New Traditionalist room - in turn keeping the space fresh, timeless, and serene.
THE ECLECTIC
Featured Rug - MASEN / Image Credit - The Gardeners House
By its very definition, Eclectic style can accommodate just about any rug you fancy—this is a look that’s all about the mix. Hard and soft, rough and smooth can all unite to create intriguing contrasts. And if there are happy accidents that you didn’t have in mind but work well, go ahead and embrace them.
Eclectic is broadly about contrast, which you can create with different textures as well as patterns. Top of the list are plush Moroccan rugs. Beni Ourain rugs, which typically feature dark geometric motifs on a pale ground, offer enticing texture without introducing loud colours to distract from other elements.
Conversely, if you want to inject a shot of colour, consider a Kilim, a vibrant Afghan flat-weave rug. A Kilim rug couples flawlessly with eclectic decor, with bright colours, textured patterns, and fun design.
Motifs from nature like trees and blossoms are frequently seen in eclectic design, and rugs are no anomaly. Browse our selection to find a piece that has meaning for you.
Antique, vintage, or modern rugs from Lilla Rugs work well with eclectic style because they incorporate both the classic and the contemporary. You can’t go wrong.
THE NATURALIST
Image Credit - Pinterest / Featured Rug - MAHIN
If you were expecting natural-fibre rugs to be the go-to floor covering option for Naturalist style, congratulations. Look for natural fibres like wool, jute, sisal, and organic cotton - these materials make the perfect floor-fillers for neutral and earthy-toned rooms.
A wool rug featuring yarns of similar but not exact hues will add a sense of depth and sophistication to your room’s foundation without distracting from the easygoing vibe. A Rug with imperfect patterns can be attractive in Naturalist decor, and transitional rugs generally have a worn appearance in their design which fits the aesthetic.
The organic textures of naturalist rugs bring a welcome earthiness. They are durable, easy to clean, and suitable for use in any room inside the house (some even outside). Surprisingly they also come in a range of colours and patterns, perfect if you’re suffering from a surfeit of tans and ivories.
THE CURATOR
Featured Rug - MISCHA / Image Credit - Pinterest
For the Curator, the quality of a rug’s materials and craftsmanship is at least as important as it's aesthetic. Imagine stepping onto the smooth, sleek feeling of luxurious silk every time you woke or sliding your hand over the beautiful fibres as you sat in front of the fire.
Silk is the epitome of the curator design style: It exudes a sense of contemporary elegance and glamour, and the power of jewel tones and bold motifs provide that extra luxuriousness that sets the Curator style apart.
Persian Qum Silk rugs typically offer brilliant hues and intricate floral designs - they’re marvelously plush, and that’s why they’re our top pick for The Curator Style.
