White And Ivory Area Rugs

How a White Rug Can Highlight Your Room Decor

A white rug can highlight your room’s decor by adding in a bright neutral color and/or by being a contrast to darker tones in the room. You can utilize white in wall art, pillows, poufs, and other decorative accents around the room, but you can also use patterns and designs in the rug as inspiration and connective pieces to that same artwork. However you tie it together, the rug’s color scheme, design, and motifs can tie to your room decor and create a beautiful space.

Decorating with a White Rug

One of the best things about white rugs is that they are very versatile and fit into just about any interior design style. White rugs come in many different heights and textures, from wool and furry rugs to cotton, polyester, and many other materials. So, no matter what interior design style you fall into or what texture you want the rug to fall into, a white area rug can meet all your needs.

Choosing which White Rug is Right for You

There are so many options out there for white rugs that you may not know where to even begin your search. Well, if you think through just a few key areas, you’ll be able to enjoy your shopping process and be confident in the rug you wind up choosing. 

Position: There are many ways to position rugs, so there is no one correct way to do it. The following are guidelines to get you started and inspire you with your layout. 

• Living Rooms: In the living room, you can center a white rug with the main furniture. You can place a large rug completely under the furniture if you have an open room, but in more enclosed and traditional spaces, you may place the front two legs of the furniture on the rug or have the rug completely in front of the seats. 
• Dining Room: For practicality’s sake, it’s best to center your white rug directly beneath the table. Just be sure there’s enough excess on the sides and ends for the chairs to sit comfortably on the rug at all times. 
• Bedroom: A common layout in the bedroom is to center the rug with the bed by placing the rug all the way under the bed or under the bottom of it. If your bed is not centered in the middle of the room, you can still center the rug itself, or you can choose a smaller rug to go right beside the bed.
• Kitchen: You can dress up your kitchen by placing a 2x3 or 3x5 white rug by your sink. In galley kitchens or a kitchen with an island, you may want to decorate with a white runner rug to serve as a pathway and practical decor. 
• Bathroom: Like kitchens, you can place a small white rug in front of a sink, but you can also place one by a shower or tub. Runner rugs can also work well in narrow bathrooms or in front of a double vanity. 
• Outdoors: White area rugs are also available as outdoor rugs, so you can carry your sense of style to your outdoor spaces as well. For placement guidelines, look to similar indoor spaces for ideas. 

Shape/Size: Once you know your ideal layout, finalize the size of the rug and what shape rug you want to use. White rugs are available as rectangular, round, and runner rugs, but there are hundreds of options out there in other shapes. Playing with the shape can help in uniquely shaped rooms or just allow you to add unexpected flair to your space. 

Pattern: White is common in just about all the interior design styles, so you can find a white rug pattern that connects to any style. From the contemporary and modern patterns that use shapes and abstract patterns to Oriental and vintage patterns, you can choose a white rug that shows off your favorite interior design style by choosing a design associated with that style and that conveys that style’s mood.

Color: While you can simply purchase a white area rug that is solid white, you’ll find that many rugs that have a diverse color palette. White is commonly paired with colors like black, blue, grey, green, gold, teal, pink, brown, orange, yellow/gold, and even navy. The color palette of the rug and the intensity of those colors really set the overall mood of the room, so choose your palette carefully and allow it to inspire your overarching design and the room’s color scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions about White Rugs

How do you keep a white rug clean?

You should avoid using a white rug in areas where spills and dirty feet are likely to happen such as high traffic areas.

Do white rugs stain easily?

White rugs do show dirt and stains easily and should be placed in low traffic areas.

Where should you place a white rug?

White rugs should be placed in areas that are low traffic to avoid the need of constant cleaning.

Ideas and Advice

Check out our latest how to's + design tips to find the perfect rug for your space.

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