Living Rooms with Area Rugs

When working with expansive uninterrupted wall space, you can turn to a piece of abstract art, which draws focus but doesn’t have the confines of creating a theme for the room. A beige rug underlies the main seating area.

Mix up vintage and new pieces in your living room, like this glamorous white sofa juxtaposed with reupholstered vintage French chairs, and a cowhide rug against a sleek wood floor.

Products Shown:

Cowhide Rug, Jayson Home & Garden

A studded wing chair nestles into the corner of a cyan accent wall that stands in opposition to the starkness and cowhide rug ruling the remainder of the space.

In this refreshing lemonade-hued room, cheery yellow walls create a soothing canvas for fabrics and furnishings just a shade or two brighter. The rug and wood floor play off the warm sunshiny vibe of the room.

White keeps an open floor plan feeling fresh and spacious so that the walls of books can reign as the topic of conversation. Simple white area rugs help navigate the flow of the room.

Low sitting black leather couches amid patterns, airy paintings and an old-fashion bar balance one another out in a cafe espresso motif, however, a thick white carpet reminds you you’re definitely at home.

White walls—and furnishings in this case—provide a crisp background for any decorating style. To make white work, layer on chic accessories to really boast its personality factor. Pink and animal print pillows and a shapely modern table lamp infuse a splash of glam into this neutral family room. If you have kids or pets or rowdy friends, opt for easy-to-clean slipcovers on furnishings and durable sisal rugs underfoot.

In Cara Scarola's living room, she hung her favorite pieces of artwork, including a black-and-white charcoal piece by Janet Lippincott above her sofa. The bold ottoman was professionally upholstered and sits on a cowskin rug.

Products Shown:

Sofa, Gus*Modern

Floral fabric, Romo

Side table, Arteriors

A carved mantle brings a classic touch to a rustic brick fireplace sitting opposite a Persian rug.

Set up for conversation, this room feels both intimate and open. A large piece of artwork hides a flat-screen TV, while a spray of forsythia displayed at eye level is a dramatic focal point.

A natural stone fireplace with hints of yellow dominates this relaxed living room in grand scale matched by its counterpart, the area rug, that sweeps the length of the room.

The stepped room partition, made from lumberyard beadboard, screens sleeping quarters from living room without walling out heat. The patterned rug and collector's items add character—a flea-market log holder and vintage signs express the home's thrifty and cheerful spirit.

Unconventional, but fun: A hammock hung from wood beams is dressed with a featherbed topper. Add additional comfort with no-sew bolster pillows rolled in outdoor fabric and tied at the ends.

Earth-toned valances help the room seem less tall and create a cohesive Georgian feel anchored by the wooden writer’s desk and adjacent chairs. A large area rug with a border protects the wood floors beneath.

A classically designed stone fireplace sits pristine in white juxtaposed by the worn, exposed brick of the interior and colorful rug directly across.

The cascading fireplace, reminiscent of adobe, brings Sante Fe flare to the room. A geometric multi-colored rug breaks up the large stone tiles.

Earthy greens and grays hug inhabitants of this casual living room with soft textures and warm tones.

Matching woven storage bins hide unsightly electronic components and lighten up the expansive black entertainment unit.

Monochromatic colors take a backseat to silver vases and decorative bowls that stand out on tables spread evenly throughout the living room space.

Exposed brick walls counteract the modernity of an L-shaped couch engulfing a petite glass bistro table nestled atop a tripod stand. A patterned area rug adds warmth and focus to the center of the room.

Flecks of gold infuse the swirls of the brown area rug and play up the convex legs of the glass-topped coffee table.