And the right area rug can perfectly tie together even the most intricately-designed room.

Laying down a new rug is also an easy way to give your living space a quick refresh.

To help inspire your own living space, we’re sharing our favorite living room rug ideas.

blue living room

Credit:Carson Downing

You’ll find ideas on how to work with bold patterns, natural fibers, and vintage options.

This works especially well in living rooms that have darkaccent wallsor furniture pieces.

A lighter rug brightens the space and ties together other neutral elements in the space.

light rug with dark accent wall

Credit:John Bessler

It’s amazing how a colorful rug can add personality to a room with white walls and gray sofas.

The gold tones in the rug match the coffee table and tie together the light fixtures and gold accents.

For example, you might love walking on a rug with a beautiful raised texture.

white living room with blue rug

Credit:HECTOR M. SANCHEZ

Or, you might prefer a more shaggy, softer alternative.

To keep with the same feel as your hardwoods, opt for a burnt orange or faded antique-inspired rug.

On the other end, some hardwood floor stains give off cooler undertones.

living room with white textured rug

Credit: Jay Wilde

Rugs with lighter colors are also less distracting, providing a calm, cozy vibe.

Paired with playful, pixelated art and white walls, the rug energizes the space.

A matching rug can ground your design elements, especially in a smaller space with bold patterns.

living room with spotted black and white sofa with pink patterned pillows

Credit: Adam Albright

It can also be especially helpful as the starting point for aliving room furniture arrangement.

Here, the black-and-white pattern on the chair and throw pillows perfectly complement the colors of the rug.

Just because you choose a bold patterned rug doesn’t mean you have to choose a subtle upholstery fabric.

sectional couch in living room with a leather ottoman and two leather chairs. A fireplace and bench seating is along the far wall.

Credit:Jay Wilde

One key to making sure mixed patterns don’t clash is to select ones with a common thread.

This could look like choosing pieces with a matching off-white background but vastly different patterns.

As long as there are still a few feet of rug on either side, it will look great.

living room with a light brown couch, graphic rug, and art pieces

Credit:Erin Little

And remember that not all four legs of every piece of furniture need to rest on the rug.

Just see to it at least the front two are on it.

A shag rug includes any tufted, woven, or knotted rug with a long, plush pile.

white and gray pattern living room rug

Credit:Kim Cornelison

Note that these styles can bemore difficult to cleanthan low-pile options and may shed fibers.

Instead of laying it bare on the ground, put a largerjute rugbehind it.

Jute will match nearly any jot down of animal hide rug extremely well.

living room with black and white zigzag rug

Credit: Jay Wilde

A simple living room rug will let the other fabrics take center stage and will provide a little contrast.

Blue is a great option, as it typically pairs really well with gray.

A jute rug makes a good foundation for layering rugs.

layered rugs

Credit:ADAM ALBRIGHT

You’ll be overlapping them anyway, so the more varied, the better!

Repetition is one design principle that makes a space feel cohesive.

When placing rugs right next to each other, consider avoiding ones that compete for attention.

bhg living room rug

Credit:Adam Albright

A neutral rug with a minimal pattern next to a bolder choice will look great.

This will allow for a great amount of breathing room between all of your furniture pieces.

Jute has been a go-to choice for decades, and for good reason.

neutral area rug in modern farmhouse living room

Credit:James Nathan Schroder

Invest in a Smaller Rug

Dustin Dorr

Sometimes large living room rugs are simply out of budget.

However, there really isn’t a need to go with a large area rug in this case.

A small area rug should sufficiently achieve the goal.

black and white living room area rug

Credit:Brie Williams

It’s also a fun way to mirror the stripes present in a planked ceiling.

white built in shelves in living room

Credit:Emily Followill

living room with blue rug and orange bench

Credit:Justin Coit

Blue and white living room

Credit:John Stoffer

Diana Mathews, Phillip Perrow home

Credit:Brie Williams

cream living room with blue rug and wood mirror

Credit:Jay Wilde

living room with lined patterned rug

Credit: David Land

living room with shiplap

Credit:James Nathan Schroder

white living room with gray couch

Credit:Anne Schlechter

living room with gray furniture and large rug

Credit:Annie Schlechter

dark blue paneled living room with furniture around a fire place

Credit:Cody Ulrich

Rustic living room

Credit:Julie Soefer

blue living room walls and rug with gray couch

Credit:Dustin Halleck / Interior Designer: Jen Talbot

velvet sofa in midcentury living room

Credit:Dustin Dorr

iving room with firplace painted olive green, stuffed green leather chair, and curvy velvet lounger

Credit:KIM CORNELISON

living room rug

Credit:John Gruen

gray living room with gray rug

Credit:Robert Peterson

Living room with paper chandelier

Credit:Werner Straube

Living room with brick fireplace and plaid pillows and blankets

Credit:Werner Straube

yellow living room rug with yellow couch

Credit:David Tsay

Cottage open concept living room

Credit:Patrick Biller