Come Around to the Idea of a Round Rug
If you face one of these six situations in your home, a round rug could be the best solution
Neila Deen
8 May 2017
At some point in your decorating endeavours, there will come a time when you tread into unfamiliar territory. Perhaps it will be when selecting wallpaper for the first time or installing a large chandelier. For some of you, it may be when you consider the often-overlooked round rug. When are the unexpected curves of a circular rug appropriate? And how do you make sure you’re placing it correctly?
Furniture typically has right angles, and so do the walls of most rooms, for that matter. So it makes sense that for most people, the classic rectangle or square area rug feels like a safe, uncomplicated choice. But there are some specific situations where a room could really sing with the addition of a round rug. Here are six guidelines to help you know when a round rug might be a great fit for your room.
Furniture typically has right angles, and so do the walls of most rooms, for that matter. So it makes sense that for most people, the classic rectangle or square area rug feels like a safe, uncomplicated choice. But there are some specific situations where a room could really sing with the addition of a round rug. Here are six guidelines to help you know when a round rug might be a great fit for your room.
1. You want to highlight curved architectural details
Curved architectural details in a room are often unique and striking, so embrace this unexpected structural element by pairing it with a round rug. This will pull the overall feeling of the room together and underscore the room’s curves, turning them into an even more notable design feature.
Curved architectural details in a room are often unique and striking, so embrace this unexpected structural element by pairing it with a round rug. This will pull the overall feeling of the room together and underscore the room’s curves, turning them into an even more notable design feature.
Here, the large round rug echoes the curved shape of the bay window. Further highlighting the circular shape is the round coffee table placed on the round rug.
2. You want to showcase another circular object
If you have a statement piece of furniture such as a round chandelier or a notable accessory such as a round mirror, placing a round rug in the room can underscore the shape of your featured piece.
If you have a statement piece of furniture such as a round chandelier or a notable accessory such as a round mirror, placing a round rug in the room can underscore the shape of your featured piece.
In this photo, the large round light fixture is a standout feature of the room. The round dining table highlights the curved lines of the fixture. And a round rug appropriately ties the room together and serves to further anchor the light fixture as the feature of the room.
Tip: If showcasing a round light fixture or dining table, make sure your round rug is centred under that piece.
The allure of curves in the home
Tip: If showcasing a round light fixture or dining table, make sure your round rug is centred under that piece.
The allure of curves in the home
3. You want to create a vignette or distinct zone
Whether your living space is an open-concept plan such as a loft or your room is simply large enough to include a separate functional space such as a reading nook, a round rug can help define that space.
Create zones in open-plan spaces
Whether your living space is an open-concept plan such as a loft or your room is simply large enough to include a separate functional space such as a reading nook, a round rug can help define that space.
Create zones in open-plan spaces
Make sure at least some part of all pieces of furniture touches the rug, as shown here. This will give the area its own cohesive appearance and help to define it as separate from the rest of the room.
4. You want to layer your carpet or area rug with a bold accent rug
Placing a round rug over wall-to-wall carpeting or a large area rug is a terrific option if you want to introduce a bold colour or pattern to your space. The unexpected shape of a round rug will underscore the new bold or bright pattern and give it a more designed, artistic look in the room.
Browse more nursery designs
Placing a round rug over wall-to-wall carpeting or a large area rug is a terrific option if you want to introduce a bold colour or pattern to your space. The unexpected shape of a round rug will underscore the new bold or bright pattern and give it a more designed, artistic look in the room.
Browse more nursery designs
In this youthful bedroom, the layered round accent rug coordinates with the furniture and wall decor, but it’s a stark contrast to the brown carpet. This creates a design feature and defines the play space of the table and chairs.
Tip: For an added design highlight, place your layered rug under a piece of furniture you want to feature.
Tip: For an added design highlight, place your layered rug under a piece of furniture you want to feature.
5. You want to make a small room feel larger
Using a round rug in a small space is a trick designers use all the time to make a room feel larger. The curve of a round rug encourages the eye to scan across the arc of the room. The rug also makes the furniture appear fanned out, creating an appearance of fluid movement in a smaller room that otherwise might feel cluttered with furniture. A circular rug also creates visual interest, helping to distract from the limited space of a small room.
Using a round rug in a small space is a trick designers use all the time to make a room feel larger. The curve of a round rug encourages the eye to scan across the arc of the room. The rug also makes the furniture appear fanned out, creating an appearance of fluid movement in a smaller room that otherwise might feel cluttered with furniture. A circular rug also creates visual interest, helping to distract from the limited space of a small room.
Tip: When placing a round rug in a small room, try to choose larger pieces of furniture that are slim in profile, and have them just touch the round rug slightly. This allows the curve of the rug to be visible, as shown here.
6. A standard rectangle shape doesn’t work
Rugs typically come in standard sizes such as 1.6 metres by 2.3 metres or 1.7 metres by 2.4 metres. Sometimes, because of the size and placement of your furniture, structural impediments like columns or even the space needed for door clearance, a standard rug size just doesn’t work. This is where a round rug might save the day. Compared with a rectilinear rug, its curved shape might take up less space and allow several of these room challenges to go unnoticed.
Rugs typically come in standard sizes such as 1.6 metres by 2.3 metres or 1.7 metres by 2.4 metres. Sometimes, because of the size and placement of your furniture, structural impediments like columns or even the space needed for door clearance, a standard rug size just doesn’t work. This is where a round rug might save the day. Compared with a rectilinear rug, its curved shape might take up less space and allow several of these room challenges to go unnoticed.
Tip: When placing a round rug in the centre of a room, make sure the rug is big enough so that all of the large pieces of furniture touch it. This physical connection of key pieces in the room helps make the space feel cohesive and defined.
Tell us
Do you use a round rug or see a spot in your home that could do with one? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
More
Browse living rooms where rugs make all the difference
Tell us
Do you use a round rug or see a spot in your home that could do with one? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
More
Browse living rooms where rugs make all the difference
Related Stories
Interior Design
The Golden Rules of Proportion: Decor Laws You Need to Know
An interior designer reveals the essential rules for achieving a perfectly balanced interior
Full Story
Interior Design
Design Masterclass: A Budget-Friendly Refresh of a Small Home
See how a designer's smart use of colour and considered storage solutions transformed a drab home for AUD$50,000
Full Story
Renovating Advice
Renovation Insight: How to Choose an Interior Designer
A skilled interior designer can help bring your decor dreams to life – three experts reveal how to choose the right one
Full Story
Interior Design
10 Decorating Rules Interior Designers Swear By
By Laura Downie
Want to give your home professional polish? An expert reveals the top 10 decorating rules you need to know
Full Story
Interior Design
8 Ways to Create Flow and Cohesion With Your Interior Design
These eight tips can help you select products, finishes and styles that work together from room to room
Full Story
For Pros
Trade Shows: Why They're Important Events You Don't Want to Miss
From networking to insights into new and emerging trends, here's why trade shows should be a firm 'yes' in your calendar
Full Story
Picture Perfect
22 Curtains That Dare to Be Different
Our coffee-break escape offers you five minutes' worth of images to inspire and delight. Jump right in...
Full Story
Project Of The Week
Before & After: A Cheap & Cheerful Makeover of a 1980s Caravan
Armed with an AU$1500 budget, a Melbourne couple rolled up their sleeves and transformed a caravan in just three months
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Melbourne Houzz: A Terrace Near Ruin Gets a Second Chance
See how a derelict Victorian terrace in Melbourne was transformed into a luxurious and serene family home
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Melbourne Houzz: A Family's Dream Home, 20 Years in the Making
Timeless, sophisticated and a little bit industrial – this heritage-home renovation is nothing short of spectacular
Full Story
I put a round rug in my family room to delineate the seating area. One-third of the room is for breakfast table, bookcase and a writing desk and has a rectangular rug. Works for me!
Thank you for this, there isn’t much information about it and the pictures as examples are spot on!
Soooooo good! I have been struggling for days about what rug to order, and how to coordinate my bedroom and this helped a lot. If you had a cheap consulting fee I would love to invest in your insight on my final choices.