By Editor,Sophie Hines

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Decorating your home involves a lot of decision-making, with endless paint swatches plastered over every wall and numerous trips back and forth to furniture shops (or three-hour IKEA hikes) to pick the perfect furniture. But one thing I’ve always found particularly tricky is rugs.

There were numerous quandaries when I was choosing rugs for my home, from whether it was okay to have a rug over carpet (my new build flat came with lots of ugly silver-grey carpets, which I was keen to cover up) to exactly how big a rug should be in relation to the sofa. The problem is, you don’t get to ‘try before you buy’ with a rug, and I was wary of making an expensive mistake.

Luckily, there are interiors experts out there who are wised up on all things rugs, from the colours to avoid to the best fabrics for in high-traffic areas like hallways. Here’s the insider advice to help you get your rug choice right…

How can you choose the right size of rug for your room?

You might just assume the bigger the better when it comes to rugs, but actually it’s all about getting the balance right with your existing furniture. ‘Taking the bedroom as an example, you should think about how much space your bed takes up in your room,’ says Claudia Kampmann, Brand Manager Europe at Ruggable. ‘If it is in the centre, place a large area rug under the bed to create a focal point in the room. But if your bed is smaller or off to one side, a smaller rug next to the bed works well as a design-focused accent. In the living room, your rug should be the basis around which your furniture sits. Make sure it is large enough to have the sofa and perhaps an armchair around the edge with a central object, such as a coffee table, in the middle. This will help to define the space while providing that cosy feeling.’

How can you choose a rug that complements your room’s colour scheme?

‘First of all, identify the three dominant colours in the room and choose a rug which incorporates at least one or two of these colours. This will ensure the rug aligns well with your colour palette, drawing the scheme together as a larger piece of décor,’ says Kampmann. ‘The key here is to think about colour tone, as well as the colours themselves. For example, if you have a warm colour base, e.g. beige or cream walls, or vintage wooden furniture, choose a rug which features earthy, rich tones which will complement this. Or, if you have a cool base such as white or grey, choose jewel tones such as blue or green. The rug will then align well with the vibe of the room itself and create more of an impact without dominating the space.’

Any tips on choosing a rug for the hallway?

The hallway is generally the first part of your house anyone will see, and is also an area with lots of footfall, which can make choosing the right rug – attractive yet practical – extra tricky. Alice Naylor-Leyland, who shares interiors inspiration on Instagram @mrsalice, says ‘When guests walk into my home, I want the hallway to feel like a gentle transition into another world. A runner is the perfect way to add warmth and personality. I’m drawn to bold prints with softer tones. It brings in colour and pattern without being overwhelming, and it makes even a quick visit feel like an occasion. In terms of high-traffic, I am a huge proponent of a washable rug. They take away the stress of a muddy-footed guest, and mean that I can choose any design without worry.’

Which rugs do you recommend if you have children?

Buying a beautiful new rug and then having it trampled under muddy shoes or covered in Weetabix is not ideal – but likely to happen if you have kids, no matter how many times you politely warn them to keep things clean. It’s therefore a good idea to think practical when choosing your rug, as mum-of-two and interior expert Katherine Ormerod advises. ‘I like a neutral rug with an earthy (read somewhat brown) tone to it – think jute in shade and texture. The tendency with kids can be to opt for dark tones, which can of course work well as they hide a multitude of underfoot sins – but if you get the neutral tone right, you can keep things lighter and brighter without constantly scrubbing stains. Of course a washable rug is also a great option – I have an oatmeal and off white chequerboard style in our sitting room which has weathered football boots and red wine (aka my boys and husband). I like Ruggable rugs as you can just throw them in the machine if things get too feral – but they also spot clean really well.’

What are the key trends for autumn/winter 2025?

While you’re hardly going to change your whole décor scheme season after season, it is at least useful to be aware of interiors trends when choosing a rug – and there’s one look that Kampmann thinks we’re definitely moving away from. ‘I’ve seen a shift away from the beige, polished trend from a couple of years ago towards more self expression, colour, pattern – a real sense of creating your own joy via interior design,’ she says. ‘The variety of rugs available nowadays means that there is generally an option for anyone, whether you want a large, plain rug to soften a space, or a maximalist pattern to bring that design feature to a less-busy room.’

How can you avoid a rug that looks cheap?

A rug should never feel like an afterthought – it can have a huge impact on the feel of a room. You also want it to look luxurious rather than cheap. ‘In terms of something that feels expensive, opt for a thicker pile as these will both look and feel more luxurious,’ says Ormerod. ‘It’s also worth considering size – choose a rug that complements your other furniture and draws a room together. An undersized rug can look cheap and somewhat random so do get the ruler out. For me, rugs are the opposite of a throwaway purchase, so I stick to timeless motifs – checks, stripes, borders – which won’t date.’

How can you make a rug slip-proof?

‘To make a rug slip-proof you’ve got to look for one with either a separate or integrated non-slip pad. They’re the only way you’re going to keep your rug in place and as an added bonus, I find the non-slip pads keep rugs flat and looking box fresh for much longer,’ says Ormerod. ‘Alongside this, I would say to centre your rug around heavier furniture which can weigh it down. For example place it under a coffee or dining table, which will prevent it from moving all about the shop.’

Can you put a rug over a carpet?

In an ideal world we’d all have beautiful wooden floors to throw our rugs over, but sometimes you just have to work with what you’ve got. If you are putting a rug over a carpet, then follow the same rules as you would with any other floor type, says Naylor-Leyland. ‘That means choosing a rug which contrasts your original carpet, either in colour or fabric,’ she advises. ‘If you’re working with something plain, opt for a patterned rug which can draw the eye and break up the presence of a large carpet.’