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

Two of the largest influences in the overall aesthetic of your home are your rugs and walls, so it’s important that they complement each other. When selecting a rug for your room, take into consideration both the color and style that will pair well with your walls. This will help you achieve a cohesive look rather than ending up with a mismatched space, which can lead to a cluttered, cramped feel. But have fun experimenting with different combinations to find what works. Your walls and rugs don’t have to match exactly, just coordinate to achieve the best look, overall. 

Rugs That Go With Decorative Wall Paneling 

Decorative wall paneling elevates a room and gives it an expensive feel. Rugs that play off the patterns of the paneling, like striped rugs or those with a geometric print, complement without fighting for attention. The abstract diamond pattern plays well off the rectangular wall paneling seen here, while the grid rug looks great with vertical panels.   

Rugs That Go With Light Painted Walls

Light colored walls offer versatility when it comes to how you decorate your space. You can choose to bring in darker shades with your rug to contrast with the lightness of the walls. Light colored rugs also pair well with light walls to create a bright, airy space. Another option is to play off the tone of your wall and place a rug in the same color family for a monochromatic look, like the blue rug and blue-grey wall seen here. Same goes for the beige and grey tones in the boho rug seen paired with a darker grey wall.

Rugs That Go With Dark Painted Walls

Walls painted in dark colors make a bold statement and are typically the primary focal point of the room. In order to prevent the space from feeling too overwhelmed, light-colored rugs work well to provide contrast. Or you can place a rug that plays off the wall color, incorporating it into an overall theme, like a black and white rug in a black and white room.    

Rugs That Go With Printed Wallpaper

Similar to dark painted walls, printed wallpaper stands out and is often the first thing people notice in a room. If your wallpaper is loud and colorful, sticking with a solid or ombre rug will prevent the space from looking too busy. More subtle wallpaper prints can work well when mixed with other simple patterns in a similar color palette.

Rugs That Go With Brick Walls

Exposed brick walls are a classic architectural element that add character to a room. But decorating around a brick wall takes planning. If you want to embrace the cozy, relaxed feel of brick, try placing a rug in a Persian or vintage style in the room. You can also play off the warmth of the brick by incorporating a rug in shades of red and burgundy. If you have brick walls in your home but prefer a more modern look, try painting the brick white, which will look good with more contemporary rugs.   

Rugs That Go With Wood Walls

Wood walls give a home a rustic, earthy vibe and are best suited with rugs that play off this theme, like Folk Heritage Rugs and Plush Rugs. Wood walls also pair well with bold black and white rugs that stand out against the natural tones.

Rugs That Go With Two-Tone Walls

When you have a two-tone wall, you need to be mindful of incorporating too many other colors into the room to prevent it from looking busy. Try sticking to a rug that’s in the same color family as the tones on your wall so that it looks intentional as opposed to mismatched. 

Rugs The Go With Murals

A muraled wall is a bold design choice and will undoubtedly be the room’s center of attention. Place a rug that complements the artwork without distracting from it. Subtle geometric prints work well for this purpose.