Rugs the decorative detail

For a long time, rugs were seen as nothing more than a secondary decorative element, most often used to warm our feet when we got out of bed in winter... and yet, in an interior, everything starts at our feet. It is the rug that anchors the room, sets the scale, dictates the flow of traffic and silently determines the overall feel. Today, rugs have taken their rightful place in our interiors, becoming a decorative element in their own right. They are no longer just a ‘nice extra’, but a basis for composition around which we adjust volumes, light, materials and even the look of the furniture. And if we had to sum up the trend in one sentence, we would say that we no longer choose a rug to dress up a living room, we build a living room around a rug.

The method for ‘pimping’: contrasts, textures, focal point

The word ‘pimping’ is often associated with overdoing it. However, when applied to a high-end interior, it means quite the opposite. Here, we create personality through precise gestures, allowing the whole to breathe. And this is exactly where an exceptional rug in a bright colour becomes an ideal base, as it allows you to take risks while maintaining harmony.

1) Play with contrasts... in a controlled way

With a light base, the interior benefits from incorporating deeper tones, but without creating too many breaks. Here are a few combinations that immediately create a ‘luxurious’ look on a light-coloured rug:

• a dark velvet or patinated leather sofa placed on a light, dense surface;
• a dark wood coffee table (walnut, smoked oak) that creates an elegant gravitas;
• a sculptural piece (armchair, console table, bench) with clean lines, as a graphic counterpoint.

2) Multiply textures: guaranteed richness

The strongest trend in decor is the idea of layering:

• raw or glazed ceramics,
• patinated metal, soft chrome, aged brass,
• blown glass,
• natural leather, bouclé, brushed wool,
• washed linen and thick textiles.

3) Dare to add a pop of colour... but make it unique

To avoid the ‘beautiful neutral flat’ effect, you need a focal point. Not ten. One is enough:

• a colourful work of art,
• a graphic light fitting, almost like a piece of jewellery,
• an accent armchair in a bold colour.

A light-coloured rug visually absorbs the shock and keeps the whole look coherent. The rule to remember: one focal point per area, no more.

7 concrete steps to energise an interior around an exceptional rug

• Think big: a rug that is too small instantly ‘dwarfs’ the room. A large rug structures and brings the room together.
• Focus on texture: looped, tone-on-tone, a play of loops and cuts, crafted edges... The material makes the style.
• Install a sculptural coffee table: travertine, solid wood, dark lacquer... it's the chic shortcut.
• Work with spot lighting: table lamps, wall lights, directional floor lamps. Low-angled light reveals the texture on the floor.
• Coordinate the textiles ‘above’: cushions, throws, curtains. Two or three strong materials are enough.
• Add a focal point to the wall: a work of art, a mirror, a large-format photo. This is often what makes the difference between “pretty” and ‘lived-in’.
• Go for a single bold accent: a piece, a gesture, a signature. The rest will follow.

Faux pas that ruin the luxury effect

• a totally neutral look with no contrast or texture (everything looks flat),
• a carpet that is too small (immediate floating effect),
• an accumulation of small objects (the eye is distracted),
• several pop accents at once (elegance is diluted).

Translated by Bethszabee Garner