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Into the Wash: The Ruggable Blog

The Ruggable Blog

  • Home Design Ideas
  • Behind the Collection
  • Rug Guide
  • Shop

Rug Pairing Guide: How to Pair Your Rug Color and Style With Your Floor

January 12, 2021
Linear Aztec Black and White Round Rug Under Round Dining Table

One of the greatest influences of personal style in your home is the floor you’re standing on. With ninety percent of your furnishings sitting on the floor, flooring has a big impact on the overall look of your space, including material and color. Your rug selection plays a significant role, as well and should complement your flooring in style, tone, and pattern to help further your design scheme. 

That’s not to say that your rug and flooring have to match (contrast can play a strong role in your overall scheme), but they should relate in some way. Alternatively, a rug can serve to distract from a floor you would love to change but might not be able to right away. 

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Pairing Your Floor and Rug

Your rug and floor combination is based entirely on your style. Depending on the intended effect for your space, the possibilities are endless. My typical approach to color and pattern pairing is to create a smooth flow from flooring to rug pattern for a uniform look. If your rug contains at least one color that ties into your floor material, you’ll be pretty safe with the pairing. That said, the suggestions for each type of flooring below are purely subjective.

Rugs for Concrete Floors

Sima Sage Rug
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Concrete floors provide a neutral base that pairs well with every rug and decor style, and color combination. The modern, industrial vibe contrasts really well with richly patterned rugs in deep tones for a strong, sophisticated look. 

Rugs for Hardwood Floors

8x10 Black and white rug with cream and leather couch and wooden coffee table
Damali Black & White Rug
Photo by: @jcdesign1.1
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The more details there are in your wood floors, including color, texture, grain, and knots, the more organic, rustic, or traditional your space will look. 

Typically, your wood floors are laid in the direction of your room’s length. If your rug shape follows this direction, you’ll create a cohesive flow through the space. 

For the main rooms, try to stick to a theme or stylistic thread. Home offices, kids’ rooms, and nurseries, on the other hand, offer an opportunity to break the rules and reflect the personalities of whomever will be occupying them.

Rugs for Marble Floors

Coral cherry rug on marble floor and light blue door in entryway
Cherry Pink Rug
Photo by: @yewphotography
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Marble floors look and feel rich, formal, and elegant, but at the same time look cold, hard, and reflective. If the marble is polished, it can be slippery. A soft, warm rug creates a sweet place to land and offers a beautiful textural contrast to the floor.  

If you choose a rug that contrasts with the floor, like a bold color or pattern, look for a common color in your rug that ties in with the marble color. 

Another option is to coordinate your rug with your furniture. This will unify everything that sits atop the rug, creating an island of cozy while making the space feel pulled together.

Rug for Tumbled Stone Floors

Farmhouse kitchen with wood island red persian rug and marble floor
Maral Heriz Sapphire Rug
Photo by: @thevintagepalm
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A stone floor adds a rich, textural, and aged elegance to a space. For the best effect, the rug selected should continue that elegant vibe that the stone flooring creates rather than fight against it.

Rugs for Tile Floors

black and white floral patterned rug on black tile floor in entry
Cynthia Rowley Pompom Black & White Rug
Photo by: @craven_haven
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When selecting a rug for a tile floor, it’s important to consider the tile style and color. If your tile is contemporary, most likely your interior style is, too, and so the pattern of your rug should complement that.

Black and white base tones in your flooring will be complemented best by a rug with cool base tones. Creamy, warm tones in your flooring will be complemented by a rug with creamy, warm tones.

Remember that contrast works to complement, too. Modern with a touch of antique and ornate often works quite well. 

Rugs for Laminate, Vinyl, Cork, and Linoleum Floors 

red and blue persian round rug with midcentury modern chairs and round table in kitchen
Hendesi Heriz Garnet Rug
Photo by: @xomyhome
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Laminate, vinyl, cork, and linoleum are great flooring options because of their long wear and cleanability. The colors and patterns as well as price points and quality levels available in these flooring options are endless. This enables the consumer to find the color, pattern, and material that perfectly fleshes out their style while serving their wear and cleanability needs. 

How to Pair Your Rug and Floor Color

Rugs for Black or Dark Brown Floors

Scarlet red farmhouse rug in living room with white couch and wood coffee table.
Zareen Scarlet Red Rug
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Darker wood floors—in either real wood, engineered laminate wood floors, or the latest vinyl floors that mimic real wood—pair well with intricately patterned rugs such as kilim, Moroccan, Persian, and Turkish with rich, moody colors like scarlet red, hazel brown, or charcoal. 

Rugs for Red or Reddish Brown Floors

Red grey and orange rug on red wood floor with green walls in kitchen
Color Field in Orange Rug
Photo by: @liz_kamarul
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Flooring with red and red-brown tones pairs well with a rug that carries these same tones. That is not to say that your rug and floor must match. Some contrast will complement your space and furnishings. But keeping a common thread, like a bit of red or red-brown tones in the rug, will unite the two and work well to unify the space. 

Rugs for Natural or Medium Brown Floors

Bordered blue rug on natural wood floor with white couch in living room
Vintage Daisy Bordered Blue Rug
Photo by: @sylviatribel
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Flooring with gold and warm tones pairs nicely with cool-toned colors, like blue, which lies opposite on the color wheel.

High-contrast black and white, blue tones, and a wide range of yellows and oranges also pair well, leaving many options to select from. This is where personal style and taste come in. Let your rug pattern and color selection reference both your style and the elements you’ve filled your home with. 

Rugs for Blonde or Light Brown Floors

Brown diamond rug on blonde floor with green wall grey couch and rattan accent chair in living room
Marrakesh Beige Ivory Rug
Photo by: @xomyhome
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Blonde and light floors create a warm-neutral base for a calming interior color scheme. Golden blonde floors pair beautifully with grey, taupe, and caramel tones, and also look gorgeous against deep, rich blue and green colored rugs. They can also play off of lighter tones in a wide spectrum of colors. 

Rugs for Ash or Grey Floors

Black and white geometric rug with grey floor and grey couch in living room
Linear Diamond Black Rug
Photo by: @ryansecret
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Grey floors seem to be the ultimate neutral, often selected for their calming effect on a space. The cool neutral tone pairs best with a cool neutral palette highlighted with pops of warm color, like caramel, bright pinks, yellows, deep oranges, as well as graphic black and white. Grey and cream are also an elegant combination. 

Rugs for White or Beige Floors

Colorful tribal rug with brown and teal under queen bed in bedroom
Anza Polychrome Rug
Photo by: @caitlyn.neier
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White and beige floors provide a blank slate for an interior space, ready for you to impart the textures and tones that you like best. Start by narrowing down your favorite furnishings, deciding what you want to highlight, then look to tie these colors or patterns into your rug selection. 

A darker rug on top of a light floor works well to create an island or focal point for your furniture on top. On the other hand, less contrast between the floor and rug keeps your eye flowing, making the room look larger.

More Tips for Choosing Flooring

When choosing your flooring, here are a few things to keep in mind. 

  1. Find the best-wearing and most realistic-looking material that fits your budget. 
  1. Consider what the floor will sound like against hard-heeled shoes, as some flooring can be terribly noisy underfoot.  
  1. Check how slippery the flooring may be when dry or wet. 
  1. Consider the floor’s color and pattern and how adaptable they are to changing trends and your evolving style. Always opt for timelessness. 
  1. Think about the visual flow from one space to another. Take a walk around the house to determine which direction you should lay the flooring. Consider the house as a whole rather than each room as separate spaces. 

READERS: What type of floor do you have and how did you choose the right rug for you? Tell us in the comments section below!

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Rug Guide

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Cynthia Granado
Cynthia is an L.A.-based designer known for her fresh, collaborative approach that deftly balances aesthetics with function. Cynthia’s work spans architecture, interior, lighting and furniture design across an international portfolio of residential, commercial and hospitality projects. "My happy place is working with other makers, artisans, and craftsmen to realize a deeply authentic vision for each project."

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45 Comments


Lynette Hudgins
January 13, 2021 at 7:01 pm
Reply

Have small 1,000 sq Foyt house. Have accent rug in living room and same rug color rug in hall. Is it ok to have the same rugs ? I think it looks good because it’s a small house. Son thinks the rugs should be different . Thoughts



    mm
    Cynthia Granado
    March 10, 2021 at 5:27 pm
    Reply

    Hi Lynette. The rugs could be the same but I would consider the two spaces individually. Because the home is small, aim for the two rugs to play off of each other, carrying the style of the house from living area thru to hallway. Coordinate the rugs with your flooring for a softer contrast and to make the spaces feel larger while keeping the pattern scale small.

Vanessa
February 3, 2021 at 12:08 am
Reply

Thoughts on rugs for terrazzo floors?



    mm
    Cynthia Granado
    March 10, 2021 at 5:28 pm
    Reply

    Hi Vanessa. To advise on which style of rug for your terrazzo floor, I’d have to know the architecture if our home and/or your interior style. I would guess that your architecture leans modern so your style and furnishings would influence your rug choice. I’d be sure to carry some of the terrazzo color(s) into the rug you choose to be sure they play off of each other nicely.

Judy Lawrance
February 7, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Reply

We have a camper that is very depressing and cold in its grey color scheme . I am thinking perhaps a bright colored easy care not too expensive runner (since we dont live in it) might cheer up the “living space” when we are using it.
We do not “do” rough camping..
Any suggestions?



    mm
    Cynthia Granado
    March 10, 2021 at 5:29 pm
    Reply

    Hi Judy. Depending on the interior of your camper, I’d go with a warmly patterned rug ranging from soft coral tones to rich burgundy, This whole range works well with greys, off-whites and wood tones.

    Dolores
    May 7, 2021 at 8:50 pm
    Reply

    I have a light beige carpet that I know will show every mark soon. I’d like to put a rug under the dining table. Is this a good idea and what kind of rug ? Thank you.

    Rachael
    March 27, 2022 at 1:44 pm
    Reply

    I have off white living room furniture, dark wood floors. My walls are tan. Moldings, fireplace mantel are dove white. The fireplace tiles are niche travertine.
    My house is French country. I have dark and light woods. Open floor plan with off white cabinets and black granite. What color area rug would pull this together?

Angela Nazim
February 20, 2021 at 5:41 am
Reply

White tiled spanish porcelain floor.
Looking for a 8×10 carpet to keep the flow looking bigger.



    mm
    Cynthia Granado
    March 10, 2021 at 5:30 pm
    Reply

    Hi Angelea. If you want to keep the flow looking bigger, keep the rug in the some tone as your floor, mostly white. You can do traditional ornate patterns, Moroccan themes, just about anything that plays off your furnishings’ scheme while staying tone-on tone with your white tile floors.

Nancy Manchester
February 22, 2021 at 7:00 pm
Reply

I was watching Southern Charm on Bravo. I saw the cutest pink rug in the kitchen of one of the cast members (Naomi) I think. Is that one of your rugs?



    mm
    Gracee Tolentino
    March 1, 2021 at 7:44 pm
    Reply

    Hi Nancy, I don’t think we’ve seen that episode. If you have a screenshot of the rug, we’d be happy to take a look!

Dahlia
March 2, 2021 at 4:43 pm
Reply

I am looking for a washable rug with orange / rust colors – either in a design or no design.
Round; 9 x 12. Would this rug help keep my room warm?
Thank you for your time,
* Dahlia



    mm
    Gracee Tolentino
    March 2, 2021 at 10:22 pm
    Reply

    Hi Dahlia, here are a few rug recommendations, all of these are available in 9×12 and round:
    https://ruggable.com/products/kamran-coral-rug
    https://ruggable.com/products/celestine-coral-rug
    https://ruggable.com/products/hudson-stripe-rust-orange-rug
    https://ruggable.com/products/suku-terracotta-rug

    See more orange rugs here: https://ruggable.com/collections/orange-rugs

    Hope this helps!

Eileen
March 13, 2021 at 11:15 am
Reply

Hi, my house is almost ready and my walls are light grey , open concept kitchen white cabinets. Also a sun room and breakfast nook… help please… my furniture is white leather, I liked the cosmic rug and silver .. should everything match?? Also need for entrance way.. I have a blind dog and one that just started walking again after being paralyzed in his hind legs so he needs the carpet so he doesn’t slip.. thank you..



    mm
    Cynthia Granado
    March 29, 2021 at 8:13 pm
    Reply

    Hey Eileen,

    Congratulations on getting to enjoy your fresh home! I’d get some soft color into the mix and bring in some warm tones like light oak and straw colors….they’re a warm accent to whites and greys, as are corals. The Kamran Coral Rug and Hendesi Heriz Cream Rug both have warm tones in them and would look great.

Shav
March 22, 2021 at 1:42 pm
Reply

Hi their
I live in a house full of carpet. I like it however, some throw rugs would would perk it up. The problem is : how do you make the rugs stay where you want them? I don’t want to set furniture on top of them. I want to see the beauty of them. I like to take them up and shake them, but I don’t want to trip over them. I have also used sticky backings, screwed rug threw the carpet to the floor, non slip pads. IDEAS?



Lisa
March 28, 2021 at 9:22 pm
Reply

We’re looking for moth-resistant, wall-to-wall (nylon?, synthetic?), easy to care for, carpet for the living room, bedroom and den. Any suggestion is very much appreciated.



Karen Martin
March 29, 2021 at 10:55 pm
Reply

Hello,
I live in an apartment that has this mustardly, old looking carpet throughout. How do I take this into consideration when picking out an 8×10 livingroom accent rug.
I have picked out a new couch which is medium purple. I have chosen acessories in colors of black, gold/yellow and teals. I’m 64 years old, and first time creating a space I actually will enjoy spending time in. Picking washable rug color is what has me stumped. Something with black in it? With what other colors? So lost.
Really would appreciate, probably some real saving. Thanks.



    mm
    Cynthia Granado
    May 19, 2021 at 12:01 am
    Reply

    Hi Karen,

    I lean towards a bit of calm in a space, so personally I’d look for a rug in warm neutrals or with gold colors in the background for a smooth transition from carpet to rug. You can stop there, or if you’re into pattern and color, find a pattern with some of the colors on your list: black, teal, lavender, gold, and off-white to pull everything together.

Deborah Jane Slavitt
March 30, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Reply

Hi – The apt I’m buying has wood floors except for the small foyer, small kitchen and long hallway which are tiled in shiny white, doctors’ office tiles, a shocking choice to me! I could replace that all with wood (the contractors’ suggestion, but seems so conventional to me), or cover the long hall with a pretty runner and use a bright color linoleum or vinyl on the kitchen floor. Thinking of red walls for the foyer. Other wall colors will be neutrals with personality. The whole place is around 900 sq’, 2 bedrooms. Thanks for your thoughts. I love the info on this blog! Debby



    mm
    Cynthia Granado
    May 19, 2021 at 12:04 am
    Reply

    Hey Deborah,

    I would swap out the shiny tiles in the foyer, hallway, and kitchen. The hallway should match the living area wood floors, so pay attention to the direction the flooring flows from the living area to the hallway. The foyer could go wood, as well, since wood and a warm red paint are a good pairing. Warm reds with a more orange than blue base will complement the wood. A brightly checkered linoleum would be fun in the kitchen and also transition well from the wood floors. I’d add the pretty runner to the hallway and a smaller area rug to the foyer.

nancy sellers
April 3, 2021 at 12:16 am
Reply

where are OUTDOOR rugs? those need washability most of all!



    mm
    RUGGABLE
    April 9, 2021 at 8:11 pm
    Reply

    Hi, Nancy!

    You can check out our Outdoor Rugs collection here: https://myruggable.com/outdoor ✨

Nicholas P Roberts
April 28, 2021 at 4:58 pm
Reply

i live in a nyc apt the kitchen is very small need a rug at most 2’/6′ but you never offer this size – the 7′ would extend out of the kitchen — i am certain i am not the only one looking for this size



    mm
    RUGGABLE
    April 30, 2021 at 3:51 pm
    Reply

    Hi, Nicholas!

    Thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately, we don’t have any other sizes planned for now BUT our Product Development & Design teams are always looking for feedback to guide what we come up with next! We’d love it if you could complete this short survey to help us out: https://myruggable.com/survey ✨

Marilynn Green
May 2, 2021 at 11:41 am
Reply

Wish there was a way to share this………would love to???????



    mm
    RUGGABLE
    June 14, 2021 at 10:06 pm
    Reply

    Hi there, Marilynn!

    At the very bottom of the article, and right above where Cynthia Granado’s short About Me begins, there is a “Share” button towards the right side! You can click on this then select where you would like to share it – Facebook, Twitter, etc.!

    We hope this helps.😊

Devona
May 2, 2021 at 8:14 pm
Reply

We have an ugly light brown carpet that I want to put a rug on top of to give some color to my dining room. Is it ok to put a rug on ugly carpet. We are planning on replacing the carpet but are holding off to do all the floors at once with a medium hardwood.



Dee Glaesmann
May 21, 2021 at 3:26 pm
Reply

Hi! I have a smallish kitchen with white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. the floor has large white tiles. the countertops are a busy white quartz, the walls have soft grey subway tile. the biggest problem is I have is 3 constantly shedding white dogs. any suggestions?



Betsy McCue Vena
May 27, 2021 at 6:56 pm
Reply

I have purchased several rugs, however my last purchase was a runner rug and cushioned pad for my kitchen. It has not worked well at all. The rug and pad does not adhere to the tile floor and the whole thing moved constantly and I have to reposition it all the time. My other rugs are perfect on natural wood floor, but I am very dissapointed with my kitchen runner. No matter what I do it does not stick to the tile floor.



    mm
    RUGGABLE
    June 1, 2021 at 9:32 pm
    Reply

    Hi, Betsy!

    Thank you for reaching out and bringing this to our attention!

    We are terribly sorry to hear you are having this issue. We kindly ask you to please reach out to our dedicated Customer Care team at support@ruggable.com for assistance.

Chantelle Mark
May 27, 2021 at 7:01 pm
Reply

I have white marble floors with gray feathering. It is beautiful but I am struggling with rugs. I have gray and black furniture with blue accents. I need entry way runner and a large rug for my living area.



Amy Richard
June 15, 2021 at 8:32 pm
Reply

can your rugs be ordered to size and cut and edge finished to fill a large room about 30ft x20ft with 3 sided cut out for tiled hearth under wood burning stove and another cutout under bar area.



    mm
    RUGGABLE
    June 18, 2021 at 3:11 pm
    Reply

    Thank you for your interest, Amy!

    Unfortunately, we don’t have any other sizes planned for now BUT our Product Development & Design teams are always looking for feedback to guide what we come up with next! We will be sure to pass along your feedback and interest in custom sizes to our team.😊

Joyce
July 25, 2021 at 3:01 pm
Reply

Hi, our dogs have trashed our carpet, thinking of installing wood floors. Problem being our furniture (includes some builtins) are in the dark tones and my kitchen cabinets are in cherry. What color flooring could I use? Walls are mostly taupe.



Laura
August 6, 2021 at 4:17 pm
Reply

I am wondering about suggestions for washing ,rinsing and drying? I am not about to go to a commercial place and do not have big enuf machine at home. Your rugs are really beautiful! Thanks, Laura



    mm
    RUGGABLE
    September 24, 2021 at 11:30 am
    Reply

    Hey there, Laura! For washing, we recommend you machine-wash your Rug Covers cold using a mild, nonbleach detergent and with the design side facing outwards. Dry it on low heat, or hang and air-dry if needed. We’ve also linked our wash and care instructions for you here: https://myruggable.com/wash-and-care-instructions

    You can also check out our washing machine size guide! This guide shows the minimum size washer required for our various sizes/styles and it also has a guide to help you determine the size of your own washer, if needed. You can check it out here: https://myruggable.com/washing-machine-guide

Cyndi
September 17, 2021 at 2:12 am
Reply

Do you have any suggestions for a rug that I can use in my vintage lobby? The floor is black and white marble tiles in a checker pattern. I want to do a sitting area and would like a rug for the navy blue chairs with gold legs to sit on. I am struggling with what kind of rug would go in that space.



Judy
November 3, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Reply

I’m thinking of getting the thicker pad for my carpet but am worried pet urine could penetrate into it as well as the carpet. How impenetrable is the pad?



    mm
    RUGGABLE
    December 17, 2021 at 1:54 pm
    Reply

    Hey, Judy! We completely understand your concerns regarding pet accidents and are happy to share that our our Rug Cover is made with an interior water-resistant barrier, which keeps liquid from seeping through and dripping onto the Rug Pad and your floor. 😊

Elma Fitzsimmons
January 20, 2022 at 11:51 pm
Reply

I am debating on which runner to get for my kitchen, just moved into my new build. I choose grey LVP for the floors white kitchen with light grey on the walls. Open concept into the living room, where I have a dark green couch and a green jute area rug. The two rugs I’m considering are the Kamran Hazel Rug. or the Sarrah Sage Rug. Which rug would complement the space best any suggestions are welcome Thanks E



circe
February 18, 2022 at 8:33 am
Reply

Hi my floor is gray and white that king of marble effect , but since i have an open concept im having a hard time picking the color of rug for my dining area

i have everything white or gray but im trying to boost it up a little bit with and elecgant color yet
that pops up a little



Caroline
April 4, 2022 at 9:36 am
Reply

I am looking for a rug to go in a foyer with black and white marble floor. Traditional/oriental style. Any suggestion on colors?



Amber
March 26, 2023 at 7:36 pm
Reply

We have gray vinyl planks that have a little brown to go with our golden oak cabinets. I want to carpet the living room next to the dining room. It’s an open floor plan. The white looks nice but is being ruined by 4 muddy kids. What color of carpet would you suggest that hides dirt but still makes the space look large and calming? I’m thinking about a new sofa in a blue tone and muted pastels throughout the house.



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