How to Layer Rugs Like a Pro [6 Essential Tips]

Did you know you can layer rugs? It’s a lesser-known but oh-so-stylish interior trend that can transform your floor space; all it takes is a little know-how and a few of your favourite rugs or rug runners. Not sure how to go about it? No worries. We’re here to teach you how to layer area rugs and runners like a pro. Just follow our lead with these 6 key tips from the RunRug experts:

Let the room guide you

Worried it might look too much? This will depend on the room size and feel, so it’s important to gauge the characteristics of your room and take your lead from this. Rug layering works best in larger rooms with less furniture, as it prevents that unwanted ‘cluttered’ look that can occur when too much is added to a small room. 

If you do have a larger room, the next element to pay attention to is the walls. If you have solid colour walls, try layering patterns on top of patterns to add a pop of unexpected texture and colour to your room. If, on the other hand, your room already has patterned wallpaper, tone it down slightly by layering one patterned rug on top of a solid colour rug, or sticking to two solid colours.

Layer different sized rugs

The best approach when layering rugs is to choose two or more rugs of very different sizes. Start with a much larger rug as your base layer, and then add a smaller rug that fits comfortably inside the other when layered on top. Add dimension and visual intrigue by layering the second, smaller rug at a contrasting angle, and shake things up even more by mixing different rug shapes as well as sizes.

Coordinate the colours

When learning how to layer rugs, one of the key lessons is always colour coordination. It’s important to be creative, but going crazy with too many contrasting colours can leave you with a room that looks more like a circus than a home. Whether you’re layering patterns or solids, you need to ensure all your colours work together in harmony. You can choose coordinating colours from different tones (such as yellow and grey), or you can work with several tones from the same colour group, but you should always avoid contrasting hues when layering rugs.

Keep the base rug straight

Whether you’re keeping all your rug layers squarely oriented in the same way, or if you’re planning on biasing your top rug at an angle, your base rug should always be straight and in line with your furniture. This is where experimentation comes in; lay out your base rug in accordance with your furniture to begin with, and try moving your furniture around if needs be to find an angle that works for the room as a whole. 

Extra tip: You can use your rug layering to highlight specific pieces of furniture in your room. A coffee table, for example, can be made the centre of attention by placing a large base rug in line beneath it, with a smaller statement rug directly beneath the table.

Use layered rugs to split rooms

Rug layering is a highly effective interior trick for splitting open-plan rooms. The layered textures and colours creates a visual border that marks out different areas of a large room. So if you have a large, open plan dining and living area, for example, you could use layered area rugs to mark out the living room area by placing them beneath your sofa and coffee table.

Try mixing textures

A classic way to layer area rugs is to pick rugs and runners of different textures. Adding an extra element of depth and visual intrigue, mixing textures can create a variety of aesthetics depending on the styles you choose. Pair up a classic wool rug with a natural sisal to contrast rough and smooth, or try layering a flat weave design on top of a fluffy plush rug for different pile heights.

Now you’ve got the basics of how to layer rugs down, you can get creative and have some fun with your new ideas. Show us your rug layering skills on our social media channels below; we want to know how you get on!