DECORATING How To Choose A Rug

I’ve researched over 55 rugs and now it’s down to four rugs. Here’s the same space with different rugs. I need help with how to choose a rug.

A bright bedroom features a white bed with patterned pillows and a textured blanket. Flanked by white side tables with lamps, a green plant adds a touch of nature. A cozy chair is on the left, and a ceiling fan is above. Brown wooden floor contrasts the decor.

Guess what?

I made a big mistake.

Don’t worry.

Don’t be alarmed.

It actually happens all the time.

See this room? I was working on a little update and I had a fun idea and thought it was going to be amazing and I was so excited and I couldn’t wait and I knew that I knew that I knew…

…it was going to be epic.

But it didn’t work out.

Not. Even. Close.

Has that ever happened to you? Something you planned out didn’t turn out like you thought? You started decorating a room and you thought it was going in one direction and then your decorating took a distinct right turn and you didn’t end up where you thought the design plan would land.

So today, I thought I’d share the journey and where I’m at now and ask for your help.

Do you have a sec to help with this?

A bright bedroom with a white bed, adorned with patterned blue and white pillows and a matching duvet. Two white nightstands with lamps flank the bed. The wooden floor hosts a large, decorative rug with blue floral patterns. A window is in view.

Here’s the rug I ordered.

I fell in love with the rug when I saw it. I mean, who wouldn’t love it?

Look at those butterflies and vines and gingham and the detail. I thought it would be perfect for the space, so I ordered it online and it arrived last week. I was so excited, but when I unrolled it I realized that it was too cream for the space.

A close-up of a patterned rug on a wooden floor. The rug features a floral design in shades of blue and white, framed by a blue and white checkered border.

// butterfly and gingham rug //

Close-up of a corner of a textured, blue and cream checkered rug with floral patterns, placed on a wooden floor. The rug's woven details and patterns are visible.

Close-up of a patterned carpet featuring floral and leaf motifs in shades of blue on a cream background. The design includes intersecting branches forming diamond shapes, with floral elements at the center of each diamond.

// butterfly and gingham rug //

I took these close-up photos so you could see what I’m talking about.

It’s SO PRETTY and cute in real life and is such a high-end looking rug, but it doesn’t work with the rest of the room. It’s hard to tell from these photos of the room, but the room has A LOT of white. The walls are white, the curtains are white, the nightstands are white.

And when I put this rug in the room, all that white made the rug look dingy.

This rug would be perfect in a room with vintage furniture and antique pieces and wood furniture. If you have a room like that? This is the rug for you and you can see this rug here.

So in super sad news, I had to return the rug because I can’t change up the rest of the room to match it right now.

(Total aside: I wanted to add here that returning rugs when you order them on Amazon is SO EASY. I would advise checking the return policy before you purchase a rug online, but we’ve returned TONS of rugs without any issue. You just keep the original packaging and use packing tape to tape the label that you print out online and take it to the UPS store. It’s just as easy as returning a rug to the store—I’ve done that, too.)

Spacious bedroom with a white bed, blue and white pillows, and a white comforter. Wooden floor, white walls, and a white nightstand with a lamp and plant. Large window with white curtains. White door on the right. Minimalist and bright decor.

So to prevent a future rug misstep, I did a little more research and planning and came up with four more rug options. I looked at over 55 rugs and narrowed it down to FOUR.

And that’s where I need your help.

I edited the rugs into the spaces to help us all decide (can you tell how serious I am about not having to return another rug?).

Then I’ll ask you to vote in the comments and after input from all of you, I’ll order a new rug and then show you how it looks like in the room after it arrives at the house.

Here’s a couple of quick notes to help you decide:

  • all the rugs I found are 8 x 10
  • I tried to keep them super affordable
  • I went with three blue and white rugs and then went with a LOT of color for the last option
  • if we end up going with a blue and white rug I’m going to add accent colors into the space so it’s not just blue and white (more on this later)

Are you ready?

Can you help a friend out?

Ornate rectangular rug with an intricate blue floral and geometric pattern on a white background. The design features a central medallion surrounded by a symmetrical arrangement of floral motifs, bordered by decorative patterns.A bright bedroom with a white bed, adorned with patterned blue and white pillows and a matching quilt. Flanked by white nightstands with lamps, the room has white curtains, a blue patterned rug, and a ceiling fan. A plant sits on one nightstand.

// blue and white rug //

This rug is so pretty.

It has an overall pattern with a center medallion.

I am adding a bench at the end of the bed so it will cover up a little more of the rug.

This rug is only $108 (can you even believe it)?

You can see this rug here.

A rectangular rug with intricate blue floral and vine patterns on a white background. The design includes large central medallions and symmetrical ornate motifs, giving it a traditional and elegant appearance.

A bright bedroom with a white bed and blue patterned bedding. Two matching white nightstands with lamps flank the bed. A blue and white patterned rug covers the dark floor. A potted plant is on one nightstand, and sheer curtains frame the window.

// blue and white rug //

This rug is similar to the first rug, but it has more white space and the pattern is larger and it looks a little airier in the space to me.

It’s a little more than the first rug, but it’s still under $175 for an 8′ x 10′.

The border is so pretty on this rug.

You can see this blue and white rug here.

A rectangular area rug featuring an intricate floral and vine pattern in white on a dark blue background. The design includes a detailed border and symmetrical motifs, giving the rug a classic and elegant appearance.

A bright bedroom with a white bed, patterned pillows, and a knitted blanket. A dark blue patterned rug lies beneath. Two nightstands with lamps flank the bed. A large window with white curtains is centered behind the headboard. A chair is on the left.

// blue and white rug //

For our next rug? I went with a darker background.

This is a blue rug with a white pattern.

If we end up going with this rug, I feel like I need to add some sort of border on the curtains—maybe a Greek key border.

You can see this blue and white rug here.

A rectangular rug with a vibrant pink background features an intricate floral medallion pattern in shades of ivory, blue, and gold. The design includes symmetrical ornate motifs and a detailed border.

A bright bedroom with a white bed, colorful pink and multicolored rug, white nightstands, and a chair with a blue cushion. A plant sits on a nightstand, and white curtains frame the window. Ceiling fan above.

// pink rug //

And now?

In case you thought I was going with too much blue and white? What about this?

If this is the rug we choose, I’d need to balance it out with pink accessories, artwork and other pattern pieces in the room.

You can see the pink rug here.

Four images of the same bedroom with different rugs under the bed. Rug A: light blue floral pattern. Rug B: vibrant pink and blue pattern. Rug C: blue and white floral pattern. Rug D: dark blue with intricate white designs. Each rug labeled A to D.

I put all the rugs here side by side to make it easier, so you wouldn’t have to scroll back up to see them in the space.

So what do we think?

Can you help a rug chooser out today?

After a lot of rug research, it’s time to decide. Which rug is your favorite?

Let’s discuss in the comments.

disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.

 

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Posted On: February 10, 2025

Written By: KariAnne Wood

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