If you’re getting started with decorating your home with area rugs, chances are good you’ve found yourself looking at a wide variety of different area rug shapes you can choose from. Depending on the style you’re going for in your home, you may want to stick to certain shapes over others, but it can be difficult to know which ones are best for your specific situation. In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the most common area rug shapes out there, so you can have a better idea of what you’re looking at the next time you go shopping for a rug for your home.
Rectangular
This is by far the most popular and oldest area rug shape out there. Some of the oldest rugs on record are rectangular rugs, and this shape was widely popularized by tapestry style rugs and Persian antique rugs centuries ago. Today, rectangular rugs are still the most common on the market, and you’re much more likely to find the color or pattern you’re looking for in a rectangular piece than in any other shape. This shape remains the front runner in the world of area rugs and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
With that said, however, there are certain situations when a rectangular rug is a better pick than others. For example, if your room has a very traditional design, then by all means, stick to rectangular rugs. Rectangular rugs are the quintessential shape for traditional decor, and they can also help blend a transitional room together when you’re working with many other design elements that fall into a modern category instead. Overall, rectangular rugs can work in all but the most contemporary of rooms—and even then, you can still often get what you’re looking for out of a rectangular rug, too.
Square
Using a square rug is almost as easy as a rectangular one, with a few small differences. For example, you would not want to use a square rug in a hallway, but a rectangular runner would do the trick just fine. A square rug is also very traditional and can be used well in transitional spaces, and many square rugs work beautifully for contemporary rooms as well. Especially if you stick to smaller square throw rugs that match or complement each other, you’ll be able to put together a modern look on your flooring in no time.
Round
Round rugs are decidedly very modern in most situations. It’s common to find contemporary rooms decorated with round rugs in all sorts of sizes and materials, and a round solid color shag rug is a great way to accent a very modern space. This is an especially popular trend in modern living and dining rooms, but it can be made to work in just about any type of room with the right design elements, too. Some contemporary rooms even combine large and small round rugs to create a polka-dotted effect that has become quite popular in recent years.
Another great way to use a round rug is to go for something a little more transitional. In a room like this, you might have modern furnishings but stick to colors that are more traditional, like earth tones. And you might choose a floor-sized round area rug instead of a rectangular one, but go with a rug that has a traditional print instead of a solid color. Sticking to wool is another great way to make your round rug something a little more transitional than the commonplace shag rugs out there, too.
Oval
Oval rugs have their own charm, and they are most often used in spaces like country-style kitchens or quaint living rooms. They are often transitional in their design, simply because they are usually made in a braided style that’s much more old-fashioned than the modern rugs on the market today, but feature modern colors or patterns. It’s easy to work an oval rug into all sorts of different room designs with a little creativity, so don’t feel too limited if you want to include an oval rug in your design. Just remember to pick something in the right color or pattern to get the job done right.
Don’t forget, too, that oval rugs are best for country style rooms or homes. These rugs are almost synonymous with a country kitchen, but they come in all sorts of sizes and colors to work into just about any space, too. Many country living rooms feature a very large braided oval rug in the center of the room, and some homes even incorporate this type of rug into their foyers, hallways, or sunrooms, depending on the style of the space in question.
Unique Shapes
Last but not least, there are plenty of rugs with unique shapes out there. If you’re looking for something a little more unique like this, then it might take you some time to find the right fit for your home. However, chances are good whatever you’re searching for is out there somewhere. Rugs can be found in shapes like stars, paw prints, flowers, and many other less common shapes, too. Many of these rugs are designed for use in kids’ rooms or playrooms, but not all of them are; for this reason, you can easily incorporate a shaped area rug into just about any part of your home. Just remember that this is a much more modern option.
Conclusion
With so many different shapes to pick from, it’s easy to see why decorating with area rugs can be a little challenging, especially for beginners. However, the best way to decorate with rugs in your home is to simply choose the ones you like the best. After all, you’re decorating your home for yourself and your family before anyone else, so as long as you like the style and shape you’ve chosen, then that’s what’s most important. Keep in mind, however, that if you are trying to stick to a specific decorating style, some rugs will work better than others for this purpose.