3-For-1 Design Advice: How To Choose A Rug
More often than not, your rug is the largest piece of decor in a room. But it rarely gets as much attention as other pieces. Part of that is not everyone knows exactly what to look for. We know we want our sofas to be comfortable, our coffee tables to be the right height, and our headboards to be cushy, but what about rugs? We called on Nate, as well as Nate Berkus Associates Co-Design Directors Lauren Buxbaum Gordon and Sasha Adler, for their best advice. Whether you’re swapping out an existing rug or starting on a new room from scratch…
NATE SAYS: Don’t break the bank.
“This is one area you can achieve a really elegant look without spending a lot of money. Classic seagrass rugs are an easy, traditional underpinning that work with so many different styles of interiors. Flat woven wool rugs are another option that tend to be more affordable if you want to incorporate pattern.”
LAUREN SAYS: Neutrals are your friend.
“Rugs can be impactful on a room… and wallet. So choose wisely. Chances are, whatever you buy, you’ll be married to it for awhile, so look for a rug that can be a warm, textured, and neutral backdrop to a room. If you’re interested in a patterned rug, make sure the pattern is timeless. Think stripes. And not red and orange stripes.”
SASHA SAYS: Why settle for just one?
“I absolutely love adding natural fiber rugs, such as a thickly woven sisal, jute, or abaca to a space, as they are neutral and relatively inexpensive – and do wonders to help unify a larger space. They also look spectacular layered beneath a smaller rug that incorporates pattern or has a more irregular shape, such as a hide.”
Lead image of Malibu home photographed by Lisa Romerein; at left, Los Angeles home photographed by Roger Davies; at right, Manhattan home photographed by Pieter Estersohn. All interiors by Nate Berkus Associates.
