Layering rugs has become one of the top interior design trends in recent times, and for good reason. It’s an easy way to up your style game and make your bedroom feel cozier.
“Bringing a sense of comfort, coziness, security, rest, and safety is becoming a very important component of health, wellness, and wellbeing,” says Sharon L. Sherman, interior designer and founder of Thyme & Place Design in Wyckoff, N.J. “Creating layers of texture and color on the floor is very powerful especially when you realize how many nerve endings are in our feet.”
With a viewpoint that layering rugs is no different than layering throw pillows—something you likely already do in your home— Sherman also believes layering textiles helps visually create the “sense of cuddling up with a warm blanket.”
If this sounds like the cozy element your bedroom needs, read on to discover how to layer rugs and make this trend work in your space.
How to layer rugs in your bedroom
1. Start with a low pile and neutral hue
When stacking rugs in a bedroom, Sherman likes to start with one neutral rug for the whole room, “a tight loop or plush either wall-to-wall or nearly wall-to-wall,” she says.
She prefers low pile or tight woven rugs as the base carpet so the layered rug or rugs on top “don’t sink down and disappear.”
2. Accommodate bedroom furniture
Next, Sherman places an area rug on top of the wall-to-wall rug which extends three feet beyond the bed frame to the left and right “or whatever size you need to accommodate the width of the nightstands or chests on either side of the bed,” she says.
You’ll have the option to also add a runner at the foot of the bed if you’d like to include another rug. “That size depends on any furniture piece you might have there, like a bench, chest, or pair of poufs,” Sherman advises.
3. Mix in a small rug or two
Want even more rugs? Sherman says that last but not least are the smaller rugs in luxurious materials that are placed “right where your feet will rest when you sit before you snuggle down under the covers.”
4. Experiment with angles
If you’re feeling a bit bold with your overlapping rugs, Sherman shares that you can angle the rug that goes under the bed to create an unexpected look.
“Remember, you don’t have to line everything up,” she says. “Play with the angles of the layered rug.”
5. Coordinate colors
For a layered area rug, Sherman recommends using colors that coordinate while mixing and matching “with thought.”
“The easiest way to feel confident in selecting those colors if you are not working with a design professional is to go to your local paint store,” she says. “They have great color palette suggestions curated by the paint companies. You can also select a paint color you like and then look for the lighter and darker shades of that color—instant color layering.”
Not a huge fan of lots of pattern or color? You can layer your rugs by mixing textures instead—or you can layer varied shapes. For instance, Sherman says a faux or real hide rug in an organic shape layered on top of a woven rug always looks stylish.
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FAQs
How do you layer multiple area rugs?
For layering multiple area rugs, Sherman says, “I think the best rule of thumb is to choose colors and patterns that reflect your style. If you love pattern, I suggest using a smaller pattern for the main rug and then add complementary patterns and colors to the room—for example, combining a stripe with circles, or a solid rug with a patterned one.”
Can you put two rugs on top of each other?
Yes. The top rug should be smaller than the bottom one—or, if they’re the same size, one rug should be angled to set it apart.
What size should a layering rug be?
When it comes to layering and bedroom rug sizes, Sherman suggests the “⅔ rule.” She explains, “The smaller rug should be ⅔ the size of the larger rug: a 5’ x 7’ rug placed on an 8’ x 10’ rug and a 6’ x 9’ rug placed on a 9’ x 12’ rug.”
What else can you do besides layer rugs to make your bedroom more inviting? Check out our guide to how to make your bedroom feel cozy for inspiration.
