Incorporating Rugs Into Minimalist Decor

A minimalist lifestyle is driven by simplicity. It utilises delicate, neutral colours like cream, beige, white and grey with the aim of creating a fresh, bright and uncluttered space. Minimalist living has an emphasis on what is truly essential and has a deliberate and intentional approach. So, when it comes to adding a rug to a minimalist space, it should be a necessary addition to the room without adding clutter.  

With this in mind, we have created a guide to help you incorporate a rug into minimalist spaces, without being overpowering. We’ll cover:

• The Importance of Texture in Minimalist Decor
• The Role of Rugs in Minimalist Decor
• Choosing the Right Rug for Your Space
• Using Color and Patterns
• Maintaining Simplicity
• Tips for Placing Rugs in a Minimalist Space

The Importance of Texture in Minimalist Decor

Adding different textures to minimalist spaces can create visual weight and add dimensions to a space. Visual weight draws the eye to particular areas to act as a feature, making a room more interesting to look at. By simply adding a textured rug to a minimalist space, you can create balance without making the room look cluttered.

The Role of Rugs in Minimalist Decor

Minimalist rooms can sometimes feel cold and empty. However, you can overcome this by adding a rug for a warm and comfortable feel. Wool can act as a natural insulator so choosing a wool fibre rug can make your room feel warm and cosy, especially if you have hard floors. 

Additionally, a rug can elevate the space by adding texture or drawing the eye with a captivating, yet simple, design. Adding a rug can also help to set boundaries within larger rooms if you want to create distinct areas.

Choosing the Right Rug for Your Space

Choosing a rug is easy but choosing the right rug can be more difficult, especially if you have a minimalist style. Don’t choose anything too bold or daring as this strays too far from your minimalist style. But simple patterns and muted colours can work very well. 

A minimalist abstract rug or solid colours can add warmth without overwhelming the space. Meanwhile, patterns can add dimension and texture, making your space feel much more homely. Alternatively, a plain rug with a border and statement piping can add a splash of colour without overwhelming the space.

Size is also important to consider. A small rug in a large room can make the space feel small and cluttered. Meanwhile, a large rug in a smaller space can add depth and make the room appear larger. So, you should consider what effect you want the rug to have on the size of the space.

Using Color and Patterns

Coloured or patterned rugs are a great way to add a statement piece, or depth, to minimalist rooms. It is still possible to maintain a sophisticated, minimalist flare, by adding splashes of colour or a chic patterned rug.

Colour

A block-coloured rug can add a touch of vibrancy without being too overpowering. If your colour palette combines neutral tones like beige, cream or grey, a muted accent rug in pale pink, blue or green can add a splash of colour and add some contrast to the space.

Monochrome

If your room has monochrome tones, consider adding a patterned black and white minimalist rug. This will maintain the overall colour scheme of the room. A patterned rug can add visual weight to the room, drawing attention to that area. A black and white rug is a great way to make a statement without veering off track with anything too bold that clashes with other decor.

Pattern

A patterned carpet can add visual intrigue to the room you are decorating. While minimalism is chic, it can lack dimension and balance if you only use one colour or tone throughout the space. A patterned carpet can create a statement in the room, with contrasting colours, or add textural dimension. 

Additionally, you can create your own patterned rug with pops of colour that complement the neutral tones in your room. Or, when using similar shades, even muted patterns can add texture and dimension while maintaining a subtle, minimalist style. 

Maintaining Simplicity

It’s easy to make a space appear cluttered with cushions, wall hangings, ornaments, candles and other room decor. So, if you want to add another dimension to a minimalist space, a rug can make a room look more visually appealing without feeling cluttered.

If you have a neutral colour scheme, you can adhere to this by adding a plain, neutral-coloured rug. This will keep the space looking chic and sophisticated with a muted colour palette throughout the room. It works particularly well if you have hard flooring as the layering of different textures can add new dimensions whilst maintaining a minimalist feel.

Tips for Placing Rugs in a Minimalist Space

Typically, a rug is placed in the centre of the room. This is especially true in a lounge where a rug is often placed beneath the coffee table, surrounded by the sofa and chairs. This can create a distinctive focal point for the room. 

In the bedroom, you may prefer to add a rug beneath your bed to create a border. This works particularly well in smaller bedrooms to create a border around the bed. If you have a larger room, you should consider where you want the focal point to be. If this is at the foot of the bed, the rug shouldn’t be wider or longer than the bed.

For a cohesive look, consider placing at least a third of your rug underneath the sofas or chairs within the room. This helps to avoid separation within the space. Alternatively, if you have a larger room, multiple rugs can help to create definite boundaries to segment the space into defined areas.

Overall, adding a rug to minimalist spaces is a must for adding texture and warmth for a homely feel. If you are struggling to find a suitable rug to complement the sophisticated simplicity of your space, use our rug builder to create something that is truly unique to your home.