9 Living Room Rug Ideas That Will Make Your Floors Look So Much Better

By  Emily Farris Updated
living room rug idea with big sliding glass doors in the background, in the foreground a wire chair and leather pouf sit atop a kilim rug layered over a flokati rug Amber Interiors

Whether you're a renter or a homeowner, have nice floors or ... well, not-so-nice, you don't need a giant area rug to complete your living room look. Depending on your space, a small, narrow, or round rug can work just as well. In fact, it's time to forget all of the old-school rug-styling rules you've heard over the years and try one of these nine modern living room rug ideas instead.

1. Layered Rugs

living room rug idea with leather couch in a home library, placed on a bright blue and red vintage rug, layered over a jute area rug Juniper Home

Layering rugs is a great way to show off your beloved rug collection, cozy up a room, or make a small rug work in a big space. It's also great for mixing patterns and textures, like this colorful combo from Jenny Komenda over at Juniper Home.

Get the look: Safavieh Vintage Hamadan Traditional Rug, $194.79 and Safavieh Natural Fiber Coastal Hand-Woven Natural Jute Area Rug, $311.59

2. Rectangular Rug

living room rug idea with airy, narrow living room with a light pink couch, round coffee table and kilim pouf on a black and cream rectangular rug Instagram @reserve_home

Contrary to old-school interior design rules, a rectangular rug, or even an oversize runner, is the perfect living room rug idea. The elongated shape helps to define a seating area in a narrow space, like the cozy apartment of Reserve Home's Mallory Fletchall.

Get the look: AllModern Lederer Off-White Area Rug, starting at $93.99

3. Bright Pink Rug

living room rug idea with a bright pink rug under a wood-framed couch, with a faux-fur ottoman in the background RugsUSA

A bright pink rug in the living room might seem like a bit much, but that's kind of the point. It's an easy way to add a pop of color and personality to an otherwise neutral space, and a distressed or over-dyed style can make it feel more timeless than trendy.

Get the look: Rugs USA Winsdor Damala Overdyed Rug in Pink, starting at $71.40

4. Flokati Rug

living room rug idea with an off-white flokati rug, a bamboo coffee table, and a stuffed, light-color sectoinal Anthropologie

A flokati rug instantly adds warmth and texture. And this gorgeous find from the new Joanna Gaines collection at Anthropologie is no exception, with a subtle texture that can work in just about any space.

Get the look: Joanna Gaines for Anthropologie Hand-Knotted Camille Rug, starting at $398

5. Round Rug

living room rug idea with a round light gray rug in front of a tan sectional, with abstract art behind it on the wall West Elm

Round rugs shouldn't be relegated to the dining room. Try one in the living room, especially if you have a sectional sofa or a space with a lot of straight lines and hard angles.

Get the look: West Elm Lucent Round Rug in Frost Gray, $224

6. Overlapping Rugs

living room rug idea with big sliding glass doors in the background, in the foreground a wire chair and leather pouf sit atop a kilim rug layered over a flokati rug Amber Interiors

Slightly different from layered rugs — usually a smaller rug over a larger rug — this living room rug ideas involves partially overlapping your woven beauties to give you more floor coverage, like in this project designed by Amber Lewis.

Get the look: Mercury Row Peraza Hand-Tufted White Area Rug, starting at $74.99. and World Menagerie Rametta Sumak Area Rug, $123.99

7. Floral Rug

living room rug idea with a light pink rug with a large floral design, an acrylic coffee table sits on top and a dark velvet couch is in the background Rifle Paper Co.

Traditional floral rugs are sometimes overly ornate and, in turn, feel dated. But the new collection from Rifle Paper Company features flowers in a fresh and modern way.

Get the look: Rifle Paper Co. Floral Vines Ivory, starting at $100

8. Cowhide Rug

living room rug idea with a green couch in a living room with a small round coffee table, and a brown and white cowhide rug layered over a jute rug Instagram @farahpro

In addition to being versatile, durable, and just the right amount of edgy, cowhides can help soften the feel of a boxy, modern space. If you want to max out on natural textures and add warmth and depth to a really big room, layer a cowhide (or a faux cowhide!) over a big jute rug.

Get the look: IKEA Koldby Cowhide Rug, $169

9. Jute Rug

living room rug idea with a neutral living room, white and wood couch and pink and wood chairs over a jute rug with a glass coffee table Melanie Burstin

Another gorg living room rug idea: a jute rug. They make a great base for layering, but the classic textile is fabulous on its own, too. And it's perfect in a light and airy room like this one from designer Melanie Burstin.

Get the look: Pottery Barn Chunky Wool & Jute Rug in Natural, $199 – $1,099

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