Inspire - How To Layer Rugs At Home

Heather Nette King is a Melbourne-based interiors stylist and writer for many leading interior titles and newspapers. The hallmarks of her styling are colour and vibrancy, and she writes passionately about peoples’ homes and how they live in them.

The idea of layering rugs may seem a little wild and unconventional at first - but the truth is, rugs that are layered the right way will instantly elevate your room to become more interesting, cosy, textural, and therefore more liveable.
Not sure where to start? Here are my top five tips on the art of perfecting the layered rug look.

1. What type of rugs work best when layered?

This is the very first thing to consider when layering rugs. As you can imagine, placing a traditional, antique style floral rug with a thick, shaggy oval one in a fluorescent colour will not produce an aesthetically pleasing result.

The rugs that you decide to layer together must have a common ingredient – maybe they share the same colour palette? Or they are all the same style of rugs, such as Turkish-style, jute rugs, or Moroccan influenced wool rugs? Do they share a similar shape? Texture?

Visually, your rugs must have a common theme.

2. Do the rugs have to lay on top of each other?

In one word, no. Layering rugs means that you are using two or more in a room to create a visually layered effect. The rugs can be used to anchor furniture pieces, such as a dining or coffee table, or as a ‘path’ between furniture pieces. As long as they have a common theme, they will work together beautifully.

3. Is placing a rug on top of carpet considered layering?

Yes, it is - and it’s one of my favourite ways to enliven a fully carpeted room. Treat the base carpet as the canvas, then decorate it on top with a rug, or rugs, that are in a complementary colour and will consolidate the interior decoration style you are trying to achieve.

For example, if you’re after a very classic and refined look, try the Evoke rug in ‘Horizon White Navy’ and one in ‘Shine Silver’. Place one between two sofas in the living room with a coffee table on top, and the other under the dining table. The look will instantly be defined - and even amplified - by the addition of these rugs.

4. What is the best way to layer rugs on top of each other?

Layering rugs on top of one another is a look that is particularly suited to a more casual interior décor style such as the Boho look, or the English country style. These styles are known for their eclectic mix of furniture from different periods, lots of comfortable seating options, and a maximalist approach to matching and clashing patterns.

You’ll also find a range of accessories such as flowers, books, vessels, lamps, and artworks. As these rooms are already visual feasts for the eyes, it makes sense that the floors will also be heavily decorated. There are some beautiful ways to layer rugs in rooms with these styles. One is to place a small rug on top of a larger one to define a space for floor seating in a Boho room, or a little side table in an English country room. Or, for the Boho look, rugs can be layered in a far less structured way – say diagonally across each other or overlapping at right angles – it can be as random as you like. In fact, the more random, the better.

5. I want to layer rugs in a kid’s room so they can play on a soft surface – any recommendations?

I think kids do their most wonderful, creative play when they are on the floor – they can spread out and let their imaginations run wild without the constraints of a desk or a table.

Kids being kids though, you don’t want them to ruin your best 100% wool rugs, so why not try jute? It’s super durable, soft and functional, and to help maintain their original states - jute rugs only need vacuuming. The playful Parade Geometric range in both ‘Coral’ and ‘Yellow’ would work brilliantly layered together in a child’s playroom – or indeed in a more grown-up space.

If you keep these tips and tricks in mind, learning to layer with rugs will become second nature. Maybe start with just one like I did… then add another… then another... Warning - it can get kind of addictive.