How To Layer Rugs + Other Rug Laying Ideas

One of the most popular ways to warm up a room is to add a rug - but have you ever thought of adding multiple rugs in layers? Layering rugs allows you to showcase multiple colours, patterns and textures in a single space, while also making your floor softer and more enjoyable to walk on.

At Spotlight we are proud to offer our customers a huge range of rugs, mats and accessories, with bargain prices available if you're hunting for them. It's easy to find some complementing rugs to layer, but if you're new to rug layering then this is the blog for you - we'll go through where in your home you should layer rugs, a few different rug combination ideas and some helpful tips on how to layer rugs in interesting ways.

Quick Links

• The Best Rooms For Rug Layering
• Rug Layering Colour, Pattern And Texture Combinations
• How To Layer Rugs And Layering Rugs Ideas

The Best Rooms For Rug Layering

Can you layer rugs wherever you want? Unfortunately, not every room in your home is suitable to have any rugs at all, let alone a few layered rugs. Here are the spaces you should avoid layering rugs:

• The bathroom: Rugs in the bathroom aren't usually a good idea, as all of the moisture and warmth can cause them to become damp and mouldy - hence why you should always hang up your bath mat and towels! Layering rugs will also trap this moisture between the rugs themselves. If you want a more permanent floor covering, look for contoured toilet mats and bath/shower runners that are more resistant to water and designed to be easy to clean and dry.
• The kitchen: Like the bathroom, kitchens are prone to excess moisture, but also food and drink spillages that can stain your rugs. Most rugs aren't designed to withstand repeated dirtying and washing, and when layering rugs it's often the delicate softer and fluffier ones that go on top. If you must have a rug in the kitchen go for a durable and easy to wash option, like rugs made from polyester or jute, and be sure to clean them and air them out often.
• The hallway: Hall runners are a wonderful way to add some colour and warmth to your entryway, but you should avoid layering rugs here for a few reasons. As a very high-traffic area, there's a chance for tripping over layered rugs here, plus the narrow space means any sort of effective layering will be difficult to achieve.

Here are some better places for rug layering:

• Living room: Layer rugs in the living room to elevate the space into an even cosier and more stylish area! With a wide floor to decorate and multiple pieces of furniture to work with (couches, side tables and coffee tables), you can use many differently sized and shaped rugs in this area. Layer rugs in the living room to help divide it into areas of use (play, rest, work) if it gets a lot of use.
• Dining room: Using a large rug that extends almost to the edges of your dining room, paired with a rug that just extends past the border of your dining table, is a super fun way to uplift any dining room. Be careful when placing rugs under your dining table, as you need to make sure they are small or large enough not to get caught under the chairs when they are moved.
• Bedroom: Learning how to layer rugs in the bedroom can really help you transform your sleeping area. Rugs in the bedroom can ensure you roll out of bed onto a warm and cosy surface, so try layering large area rugs and bedside runners together. Or if you have a corner chair in your bedroom, try a circular rug underneath for some added colour on the floor space.

Rug Layering Colour, Pattern And Texture Combinations

Now that you know where you want to try some rug layering ideas, let's discuss some popular combinations that you can rely on always to look good.

• Using a natural grass rug, such as one made from jute or seagrass, as your base layer is always a reliable option. These rugs come in neutral colours and are thin, hardy and easy to clean. They won't be damaged from a lot of foot traffic and have a wonderful texture that can go with all other rugs.
  Grass rugs are great to pair with highly patterned, detailed rugs, as their neutral colour allows these rugs to really pop against them. Moroccan-style, diamond pattern and antique-styled rugs are some of the best to layer on top of a natural grass rug!

• You can create a soft and rustic look in your home by using a hide rug. Both real and faux hide rugs come in unusual shapes, making them ideal as a top layer rug, particularly one that won't be walked on like under a chair or coffee table. Their neutral colours and minimalist pattern mean that hide rugs look great over the top of both plainer and more detailed rugs - more natural colours suit them better, although darker artificial colours can also look nice with a hide rug, such as navy blue and carmine.
• Layer circular rugs on top of each other for a whimsical look that's perfect for smaller spaces. Small circular rugs are ideal when placed under furniture like single recliners or small coffee tables, and can also work well in kids' bedrooms to mark their place spaces.

Can you layer rugs that both have patterns? The answer is yes, but to make sure they don't clash you should look at their colours - similarities in colour and vibrancy are key to ensuring your patterned rugs match, so avoid layering rugs with very different vibrancies like pastels with bolder hues.

How To Layer Rugs And Layering Rugs Ideas

There are no set instructions for how to layer rugs, as how you choose to style them depends on the kinds of rugs you have chosen. But here are some handy tips to keep in mind as you build your layers!

1. Your base layer rug, no matter how large it is, should never reach all the corners of your room. Leaving a decent gap (between 40 to 80cm) between the end of the rug and the edges of your walls gives the rug some room to breathe - and a bit of negative space will give your floor a cleaner look!
2. Never use shaggy or fluffy rugs as your base rug. Having extra rugs on top of it will condense and flatten the pile of the rug, which will become very apparent should you ever want to change your layered rug's setup or give them all a clean.
3. Don't be afraid to change the direction of your rugs! Layering them diagonally or off to the side creates a visually interesting effect that works well even under furniture.
4. Did you know you can layer rugs over your carpet? This kind of layering can be used to help define areas in a larger space - for example, a circular rug in the corner can denote a child's play area, while a runner can showcase the main walkway through a space. Rugs can also be used to help anchor furniture in a space, rather than leaving it loose and 'floating'.
5. Anchor your rugs with rug grippers to prevent them from moving out of place, curling up and becoming trip hazards. You can also keep rugs in place by placing heavier furniture, like couches or recliners, on top of them.
6. Your layered rugs shouldn't be too drastically different in size. Try not to use a top rug that is any less than half the size of your base rug, otherwise, the smaller rug will look like it is being swallowed and overwhelmed by the larger one.

Discover Gorgeous Rugs For Layering At Spotlight

Ready to start bringing your rug layering ideas to life? Shop for rugs online, safely pay and we'll deliver your rugs straight to your front door. Otherwise, visit your nearest Spotlight store and our friendly team can help you with some layering rug ideas, as well as pointing you to the perfect rugs for your needs.

For more help with choosing and taking care of your layered rugs, check out our buying guides on rugs and mats and rug and mat care and maintenance. And if you need a little more inspiration on decorating your home, read our helpful blogs on living room decor ideas, everyday tablescaping ideas and how to decorate with wall art.