Area Rug Brings Light to Small, Dark Space

Area Rug ~Darkness into Light

I love my cottage home by the lake. It is a happy space for me to create, cook, and collect. There is only one thing I would change. The great room is a very dark space with only French doors to a covered lanai for natural light. I have chosen light couches to give the room a boost of light, but it didn’t work very well. You can see in the before photo below, the navy oriental rug did not help the problem.

NOTE: I must apologize for the photographs. Hurricane Matthew is bearing down on my beloved island and we were ordered to evacuate. All I have are some positioning/planning photos to share. If this room exists when we return, I will thankfully take photos with my DSLR.

Enter Wayfair Change You Rug Change Your Room event. I jumped at the chance to lighten the space and made a drastic decision. I selected a white rug. YES, WHITE!!! Can I pull this off with a dog and HIMself who wears his shoes at all times?

Selecting the Perfect Area Rug

An area rug is considered an accessory, but it is the foundation of a delightful space for me. My area rug turned out to be the soul of the great room, giving it the light and airy feel I longed for. Plus, I love love love the soft, shaggy texture you can see in this image.

There are many things to consider when finding the perfect area rug – color, pile, size, shape, and cost. Other considerations are pattern, texture, weight, durability, practicality, along with fibers and the manufacturing processes. It can be overwhelming.

I decided to be daring and break out of my decorating comfort zone. A good area rug can anchor the entire composition of a room. My choice brings something unexpected to the space – texture, pattern, and loads of light! It quickly became the room’s focal point.

This is a soft and shaggy area rug. Shown here on the diagonal, like the fireplace, it provides comfort and coziness. I love the luxury of a high-pile carpet underfoot. In this room, the rug provides a point of interest while anchoring the coffee table and sitting area within the large room. It was used without a pad layered over wall-to-wall gray berber.

Area rugs are an investment both visually and financially. It can make or break a room and instantly change the way the space feels. The 9’2″ X 12’5″ Carmela Ivory/Gray Area Rug by Home Dynamix ties together the eclectic room with its light color and diamond pattern repeated in the couch fabric.