The bedroom can be one of the rooms in the house that is fully carpeted, in which case you really don’t need an area rug. If, however, you’ve got an un carpeted bedroom, an area rug can be a lovely cozy edition. Placement makes all the difference, so read on to find out how to use an area rug in the bedroom!
Adding an area rug to your bedroom can distinguish one part of the space from another, but figuring out where to place these textiles can be tricky. Proper rug placement can enhance the room’s coziness and add an element of interest to an otherwise subdued color palette, and with off-the-rack, custom, and vintage rugs available in nearly any size you could want, you can always find one that’s the proper fit for your space. Scaling your rug properly to your bedroom can really make or break the room, but there are no fixed rules when it comes to rug selection, so you can also have a lot of fun with it. Think of your rugs as a functional piece of art—something that you want to enjoy, but that also is comfortable and useful—and you can’t go wrong! You want it to add that ephemeral cozy element to the room, making your feet land on nice soft ground when you get out of bed. Consider the size and layout of the rest of your room to narrow down the rug dimensions that will have the biggest impact. First, I will outline some different kinds of rugs that can be used in the bedroom, then I will outline some of the best placements in the bedroom for your area rug, and how to execute them for a beautiful composition with all of the other decorative elements in the room.
Types of Area Rugs for the Bedroom:
1.Sheepskin
I love using a sheepskin rug in the bedroom, as it really adds an element of warmth and texture to the floor, but can also be moved around to your needs. If you’re considering a sheepskin rug purchase… just go for it. Animal furs (real and faux) have been used to cozy up homes for as long as humans have roamed the planet—and are great for providing extra warmth on a bed, act as seating, and instantly convey an intimate vibe. Sheep have been raised and tended to by humans for tens of thousands of years. They are noted as being among the first types of animals that were domesticated by humans and primarily raised for their meat, milk, and skins. Today’s flocks actually have many descendants that can be traced to various flocks from different global regions. Most domestic sheep raised today are descendants of the Mouflon and derived from Mesopotamia (present day Iraq, Iran, and Syria) and mixed with other breeds of sheep from present day Europe and Asia. With new world expansion, sheep were transported across the different oceans with trade and new settlements. Globally, today’s sheep flocks are raised in Australia and New Zealand. This is where they enter the global market for their meat, skins, and wool. Other countries like China, Russia and Argentina also produce sheepskin and wool.
Especially now when the weather is quickly cooling down, and we’re likely going to be spending a lot more time inside (again), making your home as inviting as possible will help assuage the winter blues. Something that designers do constantly is layer smaller, more detailed rugs on top of larger, simpler ones. Not only does this allow you to change out the top rug with other rotating decor, it also means you can invest in a smaller statement rug and make it feel more substantial within a space. Sheepskin rugs can also be placed just below the foot of your bed, or beside it right where your feet will land. I love the feeling of putting my feet down onto sheepskin as I wake up in the morning. They can be then added on top of the bed for extra warmth if you get an extra cold evening in the winter. Alternatively, they can also be thrown onto a chair, making it feel so luxe and comfortable, and adding warmth. I have a cold desk chair with no padding, so I add the sheepskin to the back and seat and it’s immediately transformed into a chair I want to sit in for hours.
2. Persian
Persian rugs are a classic area rug, that add a sophisticated and put together feeling to any room. They can work beautifully in the bedroom, in many different arrangements. The art of carpet weaving in Iran originated more than 2,500 years ago. Persian carpets and rugs were initially woven as articles of necessity to cover the floors of nomadic tribesmen, giving them protection from the cold and damp. The natural progression of the skill and craft involved in the creation of these works of art has been passed down from generation to generation over the centuries throughout periods of peace, invasion and war. As international trade developed, the variety of patterns and designs grew. Today, carpet weaving is by far the most widespread handicraft in Iran. Persian carpets are renowned for their richness of colour, variety of spectacular artistic patterns and quality of design. In palaces, famous buildings, mansions and museums the world over, a Persian carpet is amongst the most treasured of possessions. Persian rugs are ubiquitous even across North American homes, but while they are often seen in the living room or dining room, considering them for the bedroom is a great idea.
3. Tufted
Hand-tufting has an extensive global history. Although believed to originate in nomadic tribes in what is known today as Iran, hand-tufted rugs exist in many unexpected corners of the globe. A tufted rug can match in equal parts the coziness of a sheepskin rug, with it’s raised loose strands of wool, creating a lush and soft thick bed beneath your feet. Across the pond, the first mechanized tufting machine was developed in Dalton, Georgia in the 1930’s. Thanks (or not thanks!) to the original tufting machine, chenille rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting became hugely popular in the United States. However, the recreational practice of hand-tufting did not rise to prominence until the 1950’s. When latch-hooking became oh-so-popular in the 70s, hand-tufting lost some of its appeal because its materials were more expensive. Today, tufted rugs have become very popular, and many people have even started making their own. You can find many beautiful hand crafted tufted rugs on Etsy, if you want that soft hand-made feeling.
4. Runners
Runners are rugs that are made for areas walking between one space to another, they can be placed in a hallway, which is most often where they are seen, but also can go within a room in a transitional space. A runner can be such a wonderful accessory for the bottom of a bed, or the space you walk to get to your bed. They are great because the thin shape means they can often fit in many different places, so if you place the rug and don’t totally love it, you can always try out a different placement. As you know, runner rugs are placed in areas of high traffic. So it’s important to consider the material of your rug! We recommend wool runners because they’re durable and can handle people – or pets- walking on them every day. With that said, we believe wool is a great choice for this kind of carpet due to its durability, dirt resistance, and springiness; no matter how many times someone comes over these days with their dirty shoes or paws up there during nap time, a wool rug should bounce right back into shape without any issues whatsoever! With its natural fiber, wool is resistant to dirt and liquid. This means it can be vacuumed off with ease during the cleaning process. It’s also perfect for entryways as it doesn’t absorb outside particles such as slush or rain on top of which are easy to clean away too!
5. Circular
Most of our living and workspaces are made up of straight lines and right angles. Our furniture too is most often straight and rectilinear or square and most of us tend to think along these lines when it comes to sizing up a rug choice, which makes sense. Easily overlooked is how a round rug can add a ton of interest and softness to our squared-up interiors. Hopefully, these tips will help you reconsider a round rug for your space. Round rugs are often used by designers to make a room look more spacious. The curving line causes the eye to follow in fluid movement, keeping you from feeling visually boxed in. The round rug also makes a part of the room the focal point. This is most effective in a smaller room, where the round rug creates an interesting contrast to the squared-up walls and tighter space. You can get a circular rug in any size, colour or material: so, you can customize it to your room.
If in the end this list hasn’t provided the type of rug you want, or you just want to understand fully the options available, check out our article on 60 Types of Rugs for Your Home.
Areas to Place An Area Rug in the Bedroom:
1. At the Foot of the Bed
The most common way to feature an area rug in a bedroom is by placing it at the foot of your bed. For some reason, this option It may not provide the functionality of the other options, having the carpet under foot when you get out of bed, but it still creates the cozy feeling you want. Usually, for this option, you want to use a runner carpet: it is long and thin, so it runs along the end of the bed. You can either let it extend either way past the edge of the bed frame, or you can contain it to the parameters of the frame. Area rugs are a great way to inject playfulness and fun into the room, so embrace color and pattern while shopping. There are many inexpensive options available, so if you decide you don’t like it after a couple of years, it’s easy to change. One thing to keep in mind no matter what room you’re putting a rug in? Remember that rugs can create an optical illusion, so make this work in your favour. Too small of a rug can make any space look disconnected. When in doubt, go for the bigger rug—it will unify the furniture and make the room look bigger than it is.
2. Under the Bed
If your bed is either longer or wider than the standard size, it’s best for you to look at rugs that already fit the larger dimensions in order not to waste time and money with too big (or small) rugs! If you have nightstands flanking the bed, decide whether you want the rug to go underneath them—all the way to the headboard—or stop before the nightstands’ front legs. Running the rug to the end of your headboard allows for the rug to be underfoot when you get out of bed, instantly creating a sense of cozy. Placing the rug underneath the bed but stopping short of bedside tables helps add soft layering to any space. With this layout, it’s best to display the rug perpendicular to the bed frame so there is plenty of comfort on each side and foot of your bed.
For a king-size bed—with a mattress that’s slightly bigger than 6-by-6-foot—keep your rug larger than 12 feet by 9 feet. For under a queen-sized bed I’d look for at least 9 to 10 feet wide so you have plenty of rug to step out of the bed onto. I do like rugs that clear the edge of the nightstands next to the bed, but if you find one that you love that’s a little too big, I don’t mind if the nightstands overlap a bit. Just make sure you have furniture pads to level the backs of the nightstands. This option really grounds the bed, and creates a beautiful aesthetic for the bedroom.
3. In the Centre of the Room
While this option is a little less conventional, it can work wonders, especially in a really large bedroom. If you have large open space in your bedroom, where there are no tables, no bed, no chairs, then filling the empty space with a beautiful area rug can be the perfect solution. While any shape can work, this is a great opportunity to use a circular rug. The round shape creates a sense of flow and movement in the room, tying everything into a central space, while not making it feel blocky or awkward. Ideally, you should leave the same amount of floor space on all sides of your rug. Give yourself anywhere from about eight to 24 inches on all sides. Eighteen inches is the most common space, but in a smaller space, you can get away with as little as eight inches. The main goal is to have the rug centered in the room. While it’s tempting to place your best rug in a focal point of the house, such as your dining room, you might want to think twice about it. It’s best to avoid placing expensive area rugs in areas where there are likely to be spills and accidents. So, placing your favourite rug in the bedroom is a great way to showcase it while also keeping it safe from some of the more high traffic and high risk areas of the home.
4. At the Sides of the Bed
If you don’t want to invest in a rug that will be almost entirely hidden by your bed, runners along each side of your bed is another option. Rugs can be extremely expensive, so if you can’t afford the right sized rug for your room, then opt for two smaller sized rugs on either side of the bed. At least you’ll get to enjoy the beauty of them, and they will also be soft on your feet when you get out of bed. The length and width of the rugs depend on how much space you have; opt for longer runners that line the full length of your bed, or smaller accent rugs that offer a warm landing spot for cold feet in the morning. Often, it’s best to order a custom-length runner so that it fits the space precisely and has natural starting and finishing points, while rugs can be so beautiful, they can also create an awkward and disjointed feeling if they aren’t scaled properly with your furniture, and the size of the room.
5. Under your Bedroom Office / Dressing Area
If you are someone who has an office in your bedroom, or a dressing or makeup area set up, then setting up a rug underneath that area will really take it to the next level. While this area is part of your bedroom, you want to create a sense of it being distinct from the rest of the room. Using an area rug is a perfect way to do this! Over the last decade, working from home has been accepted as a more mainstream way to work. People have transferred their practical working space from a remote place of work into their own home. The design of a home office has reflected the traditional working environment of the commercial office. A study is a much more traditional concept and is a place where typically reading, or quiet contemplation takes place. The design of a study has been seen as as a much plushier environment than the home office. A good quality rug can make a huge difference to any room in the house, however, the addition of a rug to a home office can be particularly effective. On the other hand, if you have an area for dressing or doing makeup set up in the bedroom, a rug can pull that area together nicely, and make you enjoy sitting there so much more. It’s important that the rug is large enough to fit all of the furniture: the chair and table, with at least a couple of inches, ideally more, on either side.
A rug in the bedroom is probably a no-brainer for you now. They are really the ultimate cozy factor, and can add so much vibrancy and beauty to the room. No matter whether you choose just to add a small sheepskin, or a large scale Persian rug, you will love the effect it adds to the bedroom. There are a few principles to follow, which mostly fall under, “make sure the rug is not too small for the space, or the furniture”. Otherwise, you can really just have fun with it. Choosing a wool rug is wonderful because it does create that extra warmth, and will last forever and ever. On the other hand, if you do choose to go with a synthetic material, you will still be able to achieve whatever aesthetic you’re going for, at a much lower price. I love the flexibility of area rugs. I every so often go through and swap out rugs from my bedroom to living room, creating an entirely new feeling in each room, making it feel like they’ve had a complete makeover, while not spending any money. I hope this article gave you all the ideas you need to go forth with confidence and get the perfect area rug for your bedroom!
