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Home Decorating Flooring Design Dilemma

How do you make area rugs cohesive in an open concept room?

3 years ago

We are in finish line for a total redo at our newly purchased house in Florida. We have a beautiful new kitchen, lighting, floors, windows etc. My question is...how do I make the area rugs cohesive with out making it matchy matchy? I would like a runner along the island (10') and an area rug in front of the sink. Also, a rug under my dining room table, under my couch and tv sitting area and possibly one more rug (maybe circular) in a small sitting area at the end of the kitchen. The whole room is open to the pool.

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Comments (3)

SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
Start with a company that makes different sized rugs in the same look. A runner along the 'stool side' of the island is not a good idea...but you will find that out soon enough. I would nix that option right now. That means the rug in front of the sink won't really matter because it will be hidden from 90% of the rest of the house...so that one doesn't have to follow suit with anything. That reduces the purchase by 2.

Now that brings us to the living room and dining area rugs. That means you have 3 to coordinate instead of 5. Excellent. Now we are getting somewhere.

First things first. Put your anchors into place (the furniture) and live with it for a month or two. Put up your wall art. Go shopping to get ideas...do not purchase until you have a 'feel' for what is going on in your home. Don't do anything until you decide your accent colour/pattern.

That's when you start to coordinate your soft finishes...like pillows, drapes, area rugs. Do NOT do anything until you have your big expensive stuff set up. Once you live with gray on gray for a while you will discover that you CRAVE something. That something is colour.

And try to stick with the same shape of rugs. Adding in a round rug when you have two rectangles can be tricky.
HU-152070163
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you so much for your input. you can't see it, but there is a focus wall in the right front (tv & fireplace). To the left and in the front window there is room for a dining room table. In the top left is the entry way. Looking at the kitchen straight on I purchased two swival chairs. I was thinking it would be nice to anchor them with the round rug.? I wasn't planning on putting the runner under the counter stools. I was planning on the opposite site. It's so hard to describe everything.
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I like a lot of light as well. I think everything is well lit except for your family room. Definitely not enough light in there (especially if you want the option of a brightly lit space. There is no center lighting and everything has been arrange around the edges of the room. IMO, what you have is a HUGE span with zero lighting which is not at all adequate. Some people prefer room edge lighting and that’s what they’ll recommend. But if you like a lot of light, I don’t think the way your designer set things up will satisfy that need. If it was my home, even though the ceilings are only 8 feet, I would want a center fixture (small chandelier or semi flush)...something pretty. If you are not sure about your furniture placement they can always install the box with lots of extra wire looped in the ceiling so you can adjust it later. Just take pics of your ceiling joists when it’s all opened up (if it is opened up) so you know where everything is located. Makes it easier later. You’ll have a little sheetrock repair, but completely manageable. I would add more cans/wafers around the center of the room and put them on a dimmer. You can always turn them off or dim them if it’s too much light, but if there’s nothing there, you’re stuck with a dark room and no real way to fix it (other than having your electrician return and hack up your ceiling). I’m not a fan of LED, but some people love it. Just make sure you like the type of light they put out before you bite the bullet on them.
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Thank you for the suggestions everyone-- this is my first time posting on this site. I appreciate the feedback. I didn't post the room because we currently live in an apartment and we don't plan to be here much longer, but I can definitely repost when I get home if that will help! As for the 60% rule suggestion, I am a total newbie and I truly do not know what would look best. Gray might be too sterile, white might be too clinical, and red may be too bold. There is a sage green in the rug that I think is pretty, but obviously none of my other furniture is that color. I feel like we have bungled this badly already.
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Yes, the spaces are rather defined. I will make the assumption, you want as many do........ a sectional. I doubt I'll be wrong on that. Before even that sectional? Plan on finding a very good carpet store. Not the big box. You will need to create your own rug, from broadloom that comes in a 15 foot width. These abound in wonderful textures - durable wools and wool/nylon blends. Antrim has many ! Then the sectional...... with a short side of 114" and a long side of 144" . Add a chair.... cocktail table with a forgiving solid surface. Bluestone is great. An upholstered ottoman? I stay away, as the room will feel as if it is drowning in upholstery. Notice I have stayed away from the "chaise" concept in that sectional. There are lots of iterations possible..........this is but one. Based on the cuddle assumption: ) It only considers the main seating space. As to the rest? We don't know if it's already built, in progress. or anything else. Dimensions aren't fully detailed. We don't know how you want to use the space named /dining/family room" ........... I will disagree as to "it's not that big". It's very generous, BUT for the area you plan as sole dining space. The single BEST thing to do? Get an interior designer, local to you. Buy once, and buy right. It begins with that area rug ......and you are NOT going to be able to get it done in one big hurry. Don't try. : ) I doubt you have been sitting on the floor, to now. The pandemic problem in upholstery of EVERY variety, is "not expected to correct for two more years" . that's a fact. Foam, fabrics, springs, labor. They are all problematic, and it is true of every price point, custom and non custom. Thirty plus weeks to a delivered WHATEVER it shall be? This is now commonplace. Be patient is all you can do..
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SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
So you want TWO rugs in the kitchen??? One runner and one by the sink? On the same side? You still don't need the runner.

Photos that show your entire space would be much more helpful. Remember: a picture is worth a thousand words.

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