Hardwood floors are an incredibly stunning feature of any interior, creating a more natural, elegant, and refined design. But even though hardwood floors are often considered to be quite warm and inviting, some types of flooring could also leave a space feeling too bare and uncomfortable, which is why area rugs can be a great solution for bringing an interior back to life.
If you’re looking for ways to enhance your hardwood floors with rugs as well, here are some of the best interior design tips to keep in mind:
Select an appropriate size
A rug can be a wonderful accent that helps to highlight certain parts of your space, section off a room to your liking, or even give the illusion that an area is larger than it actually is. For example, smaller rugs are perfect for accentuating areas or dividing an open layout, while bigger rugs could make a small room feel larger, which is why selecting the appropriate rug size for your space is so important when it comes to interior design.
However, if you wish to protect your hardwood floors, there might be some additional aspects to consider. Whether you decide to decorate your home with bamboo or oak, an area rug that is large enough to fit under all pieces of furniture is best for protecting any type of hardwood flooring.
Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash
Choose contrasting color combos
When choosing a rug for your space, it’s important to take both the color palette of the overall interior design, as well as the shade of your flooring into consideration. In an effort to bring out the colors of your hardwood floors, create a more cohesive design, and bring more balance to the rooms, choosing a contrasting rug hue is the best option.
For instance, if you have bamboo flooring in lighter shades, deeper colors like brown, red, and green are perfect for adding dynamic layers to your space, while lighter neutrals such as white, beige, and grey could be ideal for brightening up darker shades of wood flooring. Evidently, mastering wood and bamboo is much easier when you opt for contrasting accents that add depth and dimension to any space.
Enhance the floor with texture
Area rugs are the ideal accessories for adding a touch of comfort and warmth to any space, making it feel cozier and more inviting. And as certain types of hardwood shades and styles might deliver a colder and more unwelcoming effect, finding rugs in contrasting textures can be a wonderful way of making your space that much more comfortable and snug.
For that reason, you might want to invest in high-quality rugs, for instance, that are as long-lasting as they are beautiful. Offering a wide array of neutral shades and delicate patterns, such stunning rugs also come in a number of different textures, from wool and shag to jute and flatweave options, allowing you to select the perfect texture and style for your space.
Opt for the right placement
When placing an area rug on any type of hardwood flooring, your goal should never be to completely hide the beautiful floors. Both wood and bamboo in modern design play quite an important role, especially when it comes to Japanese or Scandinavian design, by adding organic textures, natural colors, and rich, beautiful finishes to any space.
To that end, you should aim to center area rugs in your interiors. Taking into account the size that helps to cover all furniture and protect the flooring, a central placement will allow you to establish the flow and focus of any room, while still leaving enough of your gorgeous hardwood floors exposed to enhance the overall interior design.
Practical tips to keep in mind
While rugs might be among the best accent items for your home, they could also end up being quite damaging to hardwood floors if they are not handled correctly. Apart from selecting the best rug size and placement, there are a number of other aspects to consider when setting down a rug in your space.
For example, it’s recommended to properly clean your flooring before placing a rug, as any dirt and oils that might be trapped under it could end up staining or otherwise damaging your hardwood floors. Similarly, you might want to use a non-slip pad underneath your rug in an effort to keep it in place, thus preventing both the rug from scratching and damaging the floor and the people from accidentally tripping in your home.
In conclusion
From choosing the best shape and style to selecting the right placement, decorating your space with rugs on hardwood flooring is never an easy task. But as long as you keep the above-mentioned tips in mind, you will surely be able to find the ideal rug that enhances both your interiors and your beautiful hardwood floors.
