Lessons in Pinning the Look of Layered Rugs to a Room

Layered rugs add a certain tactile element to a room that a single tapestry can't achieve, and it's often a more budget-friendly one. While you may be hesitant to show off your design prowess with this trend, the options and results can be endless. Just take a look at these beautiful interiors and our hand-picked combinations for endless inspiration and to keep the concept of "the more the merrier" in mind.

Here are a few reasons why we went with the layered carpet look.

1. They add visual interest/contrast to the room.

A common layered rug recipe is a jute rug + small patterned rug, but you don't have to stick with just natural seagrass as a base. Try delicate or layered patterns. Choose a veritable rainbow of rugs with similar textures, tones or patterns to unify your space.

2. It's more budget-friendly than buying an oversized rug.

Room-sized rugs (such as 9'x12' and up) can be quite expensive, but if you choose a smaller version of your dream rug, you can easily lay it over a more reasonably priced natural weave or coarse pile to achieve a similar look with friendly options. For example, assuming you prefer a Moroccan wedding rug, an 8'x10' (or larger) version of a similar rug will either be hard to find or cost more than $1,000. If you buy a 9'x12' jute rug like this for less than $300 and lay it under something similar to a Moroccan-style wedding rug ($229.99 for a 5'x8), you can accomplish the look you want and for half the cost.

3. It can anchor an open floor plan.

If you have an open floor plan or live in a one-bedroom apartment, the solution to the "where does the space begin and end" dilemma is to lay a smaller, more stylized rug over a larger rug to create a defined, cohesive space.

4. One size does not necessarily fit all.

Thanks to layering techniques, the smaller decorative rugs of years (and homes) past don't quite fit your new space, but they definitely still work. All you have to do is highlight and frame it over a larger neutral textile; right now, a rug that's too small is the perfect, cozy addition to your living room.

5. It can add texture for a cozy ambiance.

By pairing it with a high-pile pile or using cowhide over a small jute rug, the texture and depth of your space doubles. Not to mention it just looks and feels so comfortable.