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Besides being very annoying, rugs that slip and move around can cause accidents and pose a serious threat to your safety as well as that of others living in your apartment, especially if you have pets and little kids. Not to worry. The truth is, most rug materials tend to move around on tiles, hardwood, marble floor, or in areas with high traffic if not well padded or held down by furniture. 

Herbert Read said, “Art is pattern informed by sensibility.” That’s a great lesson to apply to including patterns in home décor. You take your own sensibility, introduce patterns and before you know it, your home has become a work of art. 

But there are dos and don'ts one should consider in the application of patterns, especially as they apply to rugs. While we absolutely encourage playing with patterns, you might be less than thrilled with your look if you don’t follow a few suggestions. Just as a painting comes to life as layer upon layer of acrylic or oil paint is added, such is the case with making a patterned rug work in a space. It needs to flow with the canvas below it. And to master this patterned rug technique, we’ll examine the 4 best tips for playing with area rug patterns in this guide.

To start, you might be asking, are some patterns off-limits? By all means no. Variety is the spice of life and adding in contrast with textiles is one of the best ways to bring a room to life. That said, some patterns don’t play nice with others. So we’ll spell out what to avoid as much as what to embrace in this tutorial. 

Another thing to consider before we dive in is that pattern doesn’t just mean zigs and zags, swirls and stripes. Color can be a pattern as well. So think about your palette before beginning your rug search. 

Without further ado, here’s a look at some pattern tips:

Start Neutral

Take it from the art world, one common painter technique is to paint their canvas a solid color or toned ground first. This sets the tone for the picture and provides a space to build from. 

You can use the same approach when introducing a patterned rug to a room. This can mean filling a room with neutral-hued furniture or neutral window treatments. Keeping the underlying look of the room one hue can help make a patterned rug pop and stand out without competing against other patterns already in the space. 

You can also stack a rug on a neutral carpet to bring out a fresh texture that makes a room warmer and inviting. For instance, this Manhattan Patterned Shag Gray Modern Area Rug from Luxe Weavers has a distinct interlocking wave pattern that would look great amidst a creme room.

Choose Color Wisely

As mentioned above, color can be part of a pattern or the pattern itself within a rug. And one way to make it all come together is to let your color pattern set the tone for the entire room. For example, if your rug features bold blues, like this Luxe Weavers Oriental Nayara Collection 7160 Blue Area Rug, bring those out in other elements within the room, like a bold blue lampshade or a bold blue vase. 

Say you want to exaggerate your neutral base. Deploy a rug that neutral hues to match like this Luxe Weavers Maria Collection Grey Abstract Area Rug. The cool white and grey tones in this gorgeous rug will highlight the neutral colors throughout the room bringing the entire look together. 

Keep Your Patterns in Check

Listen, it’s easy to fall in love with patterns. So many have a mesmerizing quality and it’s a natural instinct to keep wanting to add more. But easy does it. Throw too many patterns in a room and you’ll make your guests dizzy. 

Smart pattern deployment begins with restraint. A good designer rule of thumb is to stick to no more than three patterns in any given room. And use similar color families. Want to add a chevron rug to a space like Luxe Weavers Chevron Collection 3400 Mango Geometric Area Rug? Great. Just remember that if you want to add Greek Key curtains, they’ll make more sense against your chevron if they’re in a similar color palette. 

Why can’t you go crazy on the patterns? Well, of course you can, you just run the risk of making a room feel chaotic. And who wants that. According to Psychology Tomorrow magazine, interior design can affect emotions evoking a positive or negative response depending on the design. So if you want to create a sophisticated space that makes people relaxed, an explosion of mix-matched looks might not be the right approach.

Consider the Space

What patterns look best has a lot to do with what you do in each space. In a bedroom where the goal is sweet dreams, soothing flowing patterns might be ideal. For a kitchen where loud gatherings take place, you might opt for a rug with a little more playful look. 

Recognizing how you want to feel in each area of your home will help in selecting the right rug pattern for each space. To that end, this Luxe Weavers Madison Collection 9060 Light Grey Geometric Area Rug might feel too subdued for a kitchen, but might be just right for a formal living room with its Zen rock garden qualities. 

To find more patterned rugs to fit your needs, visit luxeweavers.com. 

Rugs are grouped into three categories: Traditional, Modern, and Transitional rugs. But if you walk into a rug store right now, you would likely find it hard to distinguish one from the other. However, each category is unique, and learning this uniqueness will make your rug shopping experience more fun and effective.

More often than not, the bathroom is the forgotten room in a house. Demoted to mere necessity space, it languishes with old curtains, tired towels, and questionable rugs. Why? In many ways, the bathroom should be a sacred space where you can relax and cleanse yourself, feeling rejuvenated. But too many bathrooms don’t spark joy. 

But here’s the secret, making a bathroom a luxurious space is easier than you think. It doesn’t require installing a new high-end sink or expensive bath faucets. You don’t even need to splurge on a whole new set of linens. What’s this magical décor option we speak of? A new rug of course. 

By employing a plush and stunning rug, you can amp up your bathroom overnight. And even better? This décor improvement doesn't have to break the bank. When you shop with Luxe Weavers, you can get designer rugs for a fraction of the cost. 

So, what to choose? In this guide we’ll show you 5 rugs to add to your bathroom to make it luxurious. 

Think Pink

Want to make your powder room a fancier place to be? Then go with blush tones. The flattering colors of light red, mauve, violet, and straight pink will perk up any bathroom. And the best way to get this look is by purchasing Luxe Weavers’ Pink & Beige Vintage Oriental Area Rug. Available in 5x7 or 8x10, this can take a cold, large bathroom and warm it up. 

Shag, baby

Hate stepping out of the shower on to cold tile? Forget that feeling with a plush, shag rug. Not only will a beautifully patterned shag rug add an air of sophistication to your loo, it will make it a heck of a lot nicer to enjoy. The shag rug texture makes a space feel cozier while keeping your tootsies warm in the process. 

But you don’t have to go all Austin Powers 1960s with it. Shag has come a long way since the ‘60s and ‘70s heyday and now is being re-embraced as a great decor accessory, especially in small spaces as an accent piece. 

How do you pick a shag rug for your bathroom without going too retro? Think simple. This Manhattan Plain Shag Dark Gray Modern Area Rug from Luxe Weavers is a stunning option that brings a contemporary approach to the classic shag style.

Dress it Up

If your bathroom feels too modern or monochromatic, an Oriental rug does a nice job of dressing it up. And while traditional Oriental rugs might bring to mind huge textiles filling a grand hallway, you can find them in all sizes on Luxe Weavers.

The company specializes in affordable, functional Oriental rugs that are as timeless as they are tread-ready. They can take some serious traffic and still hold up. 

For a small bathroom, a runner size makes the most sense. This narrow shape can easily fit between a sink and tub tying the space together into a cohesive room. For this style, Luxe Weavers offers many choices, for instance Hampstead Collection 8027 Silver Oriental Area Rug. Or, there’s the Nayara Collection 7158 Blue Oriental Area Rug featuring distressed blue tones. 

Choose Soothing Tones

If you want your bathroom to be a true respite, think about the color palette that puts you most at ease. For many people, that will be soothing tones like cream, grey, light blue, maybe warm ochre. Whatever the case, find rugs that bring these colors out in your space. 

Consider that some strong colors, like bright red, might make you feel stressed while getting ready in the morning. Or a spray of orange across the rug and walls may have seemed a good choice when shipping, but might make you feel anxious instead. Considering your favorite colors then write down how each makes you feel before committing to a rug. 

Decompress, don’t Distract

And to avoid making the room too busy, choose abstract or patterned rugs. These will blend more easily with your current décor without stealing the spotlight and distracting the user. 

For that, Luxe Weavers has a host of options. One nice choice is the Trellis Collection 3029 Turquoise Geometric Area Rug. The trellis design could fit in an old or new house and go well with white ceramic fixtures. 

If at first you don’t succeed, try again

Here’s the great thing about a bathroom rug, it’s a low stakes purchase. First, it’s generally small so that means it will likely already cost less. Second, if you buy from Luxe Weavers, it’s going to cost even less than competitors! So even if you don’t fall in love with your first choice, you can afford to take two and try something else out

Ready to start shopping? Head to Luxe Weavers today to find your new dream bathroom rug. 

The history of rugs dates back to the Fifth century B.C. That, according to the BBC, is the date of the ‘Pazyryk carpet’ which was discovered in the 1920s in Siberia. Throughout the ages, this grand textile tradition has evolved enormously, but the foundation of the art remains: use designs to create thick woven material into decorative, functional pieces.

So how did it all begin? 

In this guide we’ll look at the international history of rugs, from the Pazyryk carpet to today’s modern options.

Oldest Rug in the World

How did a carpet preserved in ice show up in Siberia? The world’s oldest rug, according to Matt Camron, was found in the Altai mountains in a grave of the prince 5400 feet above sea level. The grave has been said to be one of the Scjythian people, however, the carpet exhibits a design indicating it was of Persian origin due to images that mimic statues found in Persepolis.  

And as far as we can tell, we have Persians to thank for this incredible craft, a tradition that would be carried far and wide beyond their initial work some 2,000 years ago.

500 BC

Skipping ahead to 500 BC, we find rugs mentioned in ancient Greece. Agamemnon, to be specific, has a famous scene with a rug where Women in Antiquity reports, “as it revolves around a discussion of a particular piece of purple cloth that would normally be used as an expensive bridal cloth, proceeding to shock the audience when used first as a carpet, and eventually to ensnare the title character of Agamemnon to kill him. Clearly textiles for floor coverings had reached the Greek empire.

Crusade Appreciation

Fast forward to the Crusades and suddenly hundreds of European warriors are being introduced to fine textiles opening the door for a whole new fashion back home. Opening the doors for new expansion and trade, Europeans fell in love with goods from the East including perfumes, jewels and precious fabrics, rugs chief among them. According to Rugs of Nations, by In 1277, King Louis IX had begun to spread rug popularity through France thus opening the door for custom orders from Middle Eastern countries.

The Orient

Meanwhile, by the 16th century, the Qing Dynasty of China had weakened the height of Asian rug making. 

China Heritage Quarterly says that this period was defined by two weaving styles: Tibetan and Muslim. Both were made from wool. The latter was noted for floral prints inspired by porcelain. China Heritage Quarterly goes on to say that the Tibetan carpets are considered more folk art but are still just as important and “Tibetan carpet making may turn out to have been one of the most prolific indigenous design traditions in the world.”

A Décor Shift

One fun fact in the long history of rugs is that by this time in Europe, rugs were so precious people are no longer putting them on floors, but instead displaying them on walls and tables as delicate and precious art pieces. In fact, Britain attempted to start making its own Persian rugs. 

And another shift happened when rug weaving moved to India. Following the Mogul conquest of Akbar the Great, India established carpet factories, according to Nejad Rugs. This move made India a leader in rug production, something the British Empire capitalized on by expanding exports abroad.

Modern Rugs

Today Oriental rugs aren’t just made in India or Persia. Modern takes on traditional designs are crafted around the world and wool and silk are no longer the only textiles used. Today, weavers employ poly-blends and synthetic fabrics to produce rugs that pay homage to classic and historic designs while giving contemporary home owners pieces that can stand up to lots of foot traffic and busy lives. 

Buying an antique Oriental rug is one easy way of bringing this grand tradition home, but it can be costly. For those of us who want the look and feel of history in our homes without the painful price tag, there is an alternative. Luxe Weavers makes Oriental rugs for a fraction of the cost but with all the beauty and tradition woven in. 

Their Oriental rugs are made to have a distressed look giving them the same aesthetic as antique without the fear that they’ll fall apart. For instance, the Victoria Collection Cream Oriental Area Rug evokes an Old World charm, but costs less than $500. The Howell Collection Red Abstract Area Rug is the same. The red medallion pattern mimics Persian design without the high price tag. 

To be a part of the long history of rugs, the best way to start is by buying one. And no matter your budget, Luxe Weavers has a rug that will match. With a large inventory of beautifully crafted designs, you’re sure to find a rug in any size to suit your home. To begin shopping, visit luxeweavers.com. 

Area rugs are meant to define the sitting area and create a sense of perfection by complementing or matching the colors of everything in a room. If you must get the best out of your gorgeously-produced area rug by matching the existing  décor and furniture in your home, below are a few things to keep in mind.

So you have a beautiful new wool rug. Congratulations! You’ve invested in a traditional decor item that has a reputation for standing the test of time. The only hiccup? Sometimes wool rugs can shed and, much like a pet shedding, that can be a real frustration. Why does this happen and what can you do about it? The good news is we have answers for both of those questions. In this guide we’ll look at how to keep your wool rugs from shedding.

The first fact to know is that shedding is normal. There are a couple of reasons why wool rugs shed. To start with, wool is a natural fiber just like hair. Because of this, the fibers can split and fall off. In addition, shedding can be the result of different ways of weaving. According to Fabra-Clean, a carpet cleaning company, shedding can occur when loose filaments left over from the spinning process of staple or spun fibers — “yarn is made of many short strands, twisted together to form the carpet texture” — fall out. 

Know your terminology

With rugs there are two things that can happen with fibers, shedding and sprouting. The former is what we’ve discussed above when the fibers become loose and fall away from the rug. Sprouting, on the other hand, is when fibers remain attached but due to pulling appear to grow taller than the rest of the rug. These can easily be fixed with trimming. 

How to prevent shedding?

There’s one very easy way to prevent shedding right off the top and that’s by investing in a high quality wool rug. Next make sure it has a well made pad beneath it. One might think that the padding was only designed to make the rug more cushioned and comfortable for someone walking on it, but it actually can help prevent fibers from rubbing on the floor and deteriorating. A rug that’s in a less busy area might see less shedding as well, but it’s not a given. 

Next, regular vacuuming will collect those rogue fibers from building up. Speak to the rug salesperson about vacuuming instructions to make sure you are following the right steps. Generally speaking, it’s best to go with the grain of the rug and use a lower setting on the vacuum to ensure you don’t encourage more shedding. Many rug sites recommend vacuuming twice a week. And consider the design of your wool rug as well. For instance, a wool rug with fringe probably should have the fringe vacuumed as the pressure could actually loosen the knots further.

Another option is to apply a fabric protector solution. Some rug vendors can apply this for you or you can seek out a professional rug cleaning company for solution options.

Get a rake

This might sound weird, but if your rug is really giving you trouble, it might be time to buy a rug rake. What on earth is that? Well, like it says, it’s basically a rake for your rug. It looks very similar to a garden rake, but the teeth are more like a broom. Often made of tough synthetic fibers, the rake can gently pull away loose fibers as well as collect any wayward pet hair in the mix as well. 

But those aren’t all the tricks you can pull out to lower shedding of a wool rug. Another smart move is to frequently rotate your rug. Foot traffic can be a shedding culprit and to avoid one area of the rug getting too much wear and tear. Rather than let a section get worn down, rotate your rug at least quarterly to avoid doing more damage than necessary.

Avoid the problem altogether

The truth is, wool rugs are the main shed offenders. But synthetic rugs will spare you the headache altogether. Made from alternative fibers, like poly blends, synthetic rugs can have the look and feel of a gorgeous wool rug without all the trouble of excess fibers. 

Companies like Luxe Weavers make gorgeous rug alternatives in classic, abstract, modern, and Oriental designs. Made to withstand busy households while holding up their quality and style, Luxe Weavers designs are sophisticated, durable, and timeless. Not to mention affordable. Where a wool rug could cost up to $26 per foot, a Luxe Weavers rug will only cost a few hundred total, making it an easy investment decision. And to keep it looking great, one need only vacuum and occasionally deep clean a Luxe Weavers rug. No fretting over shedding or sprouting here. 

So sure, you could spend a handsome chunk of cash on a wool rug, then buy a new vacuum, rug rake, and pruning scissors to avoid any wild haired sprouts. Or you could save that money with a Luxe Weavers rug that will look just as good without all the upkeep. Not a bad trade off. To see all of Luxe Weavers options, visit luxeweavers.com.

English novelist and poet George Eliot once said, “Animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” Pets don’t harbor criticisms of you or of the mess they make in your home. But house guests might find paw prints on the furniture less than appealing, regardless of how much they love and appreciate your pooch, cat, parakeet, or your animal of choice. 

The truth is, owning a pet is a negotiation. What matters more, your furnishings or your furry friend? Sometimes the two can live in harmony, but more often than not the latter is the cause of one decor tragedy after another. So what's the solution? Forego a nice home in exchange for the love of a sweet animal? Or keep a tidy house instead of sharing it with four-legged friends? 

The good news is, at least when it comes to area rugs, the two aren’t mutually exclusive. With Luxe Weavers there’s a way to have your cake and eat it too. Thanks to the brand’s commitment to creating sophisticated and beautiful rugs that are also durable, they can endure everything a pet may throw at them. The only question is really choosing which one works best for your home. Let’s at how to find rugs to decorate your house with your best (pet) friends in mind.

Consider the Pile

Pile is the term rug vendors use to describe the length of the fibers. Short pile are generally made of dense fibers. This can be a great choice for pets as they don’t trap dirt tracked by pets and are easy to clean. That said, a “cut pile” that is a rug made from sheared fibers that stand up and are soft to the touch might be an advantage for delicate paws.

“High pile” meaning rugs and carpet like shag, should probably be avoided if you own pets that like to scratch and pull. They could tear a fluffy rug apart and the long fibers also tend to trap dirt, a no-go for playful animals who bring the outdoors in. 

Pick a Smart Color Scheme

Have a white tabby cat? Then perhaps an all black area rug isn’t the smartest choice. Love your black lab? Then spare him the stress he’ll cause you by ordering a cream colored area rug. Listen, shedding is going to happen whether you like it or not. To keep your anxiety in check, pick a rug color that will hide stray hairs rather than magnify them. This might mean going with a color palette that mimics your pet’s or choosing hues that disguise wayward pet fur, like a blend of browns and tans or even blues. 

Luxe Weavers has affordable rugs in a variety of color choices.  Even if you need to obscure the feather of a pink-tummied Finch, they have a rug for that. The company’s Taba Collection 7085 Grey Orientral Area Rug has enough design to distract the eye while its grey and brown tones hide rogue pet hairs. 

In the same way, Luxe Weavers’ Howell Collection Red Abstract Area Rug is busy enough to draw all the attention to the vibrant bold hues of red and blue rather than fixate on any pet-induced flaws.

Accentuate the Positive

Just as color can blend in pet hair, dander, and dirt, pattern is a great way of sparing yourself the need to constantly run the vacuum on a favorite area rug. There are many directions to go when it comes to rug patterns. Detailed Oriental rugs can be a great option in high traffic pet spaces thanks to their intricate designs that steal the eye away from “overly loved” areas of the rug. Luxe Weavers specializes in reasonably priced Oriental rugs made from materials that can withstand the test of time, for instance this Magnolia Collection 7560 Blue Oriental Area Rug in brilliant blues. 

Another approach is to go abstract. With no rhyme or reason to its design, gorgeous abstract rugs from Luxe Weavers are a wonderful option for pet owners. They’re forgiving and stunning, a win/ win for any pet who occasionally gets its paws dirty. The Bevery Collection 8442 Blue Abstract Area Rug from Luxe Weavers is a great example. 

When it comes to cohabitating with other species, the key to good design is ensuring that nothing is too precious. You can still make stunning decor choices that are welcoming to both humans and pets without sacrificing style. All you need is to follow some of the strategies above and invest in a rug company that puts a premium on creating rugs as timeless as they are durable. For this there’s only one choice: Luxe Weavers. Whether your aesthetic is classic, abstract, patterned, or modern, Luxe Weavers has a suitable option that you’ll love as much as your fur baby. 

Depending on the gravity of the stain, cleaning a polypropylene rug is a fairly easy thing to do. You can wash your polypropylene rug using any of these simple yet effective methods to keep them sparkling clean always.

One might think the decision between an area rug and a runner rug would be simple, but consider this: you need to determine how much floorspace you actually want to cover. Cover too much and the room could suddenly appear small and squished. Cover too little and your runner will look like a doormat.

So how do you decide what’s best for kitchen decor, area rug or runner?

In this guide, we’ll look at 3 criteria to help you make this decision.

Size

Choosing the right size rug for a kitchen means measuring out narrow spaces, as often the area between an island and the wall is quite slim. Here, you’d want to choose a runner rather than an area rug. However, if you’re looking to place a rug in a breakfast nook or eat-in kitchen with a small table, an area rug is ideal. 

Large area rugs can add warmth to a room while brightening up what may be a more austere palette. Keep in mind though, many interior designers recommend keeping a six inch frame of flooring around the rug to the wall and cabinets to make the rug expand the room rather than look oversized.

For instance, this Beverly Collection 6495 Cream Oriental Area Rug in 2 x 7 could fit a space between the island and sink and bring a timeless look to the room while warming it up. Or, if abstract is more your style, this Euston Collection 7681 Blue Abstract Area Rug brings a pop of color that would blend seamlessly into a bustling kitchen space. 

Color and Design

The beauty of selecting the color and design of a rug for a kitchen is that it can embellish your color palette or even draw the eye away from a space in your kitchen you don’t like. And they can go in any direction you want.

Say you want to elongate a small space. Consider stripes. Stripes on a long runner can make a kitchen feel bigger, as with this Luxe Weavers Towerhill Collection 7501 Blue Striped Area Rug.

Have a monochrome kitchen that needs perking up? Go bold on your floor with a brightly colored rug that brightens up the space. This could be done with something like this wild Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Multi 5x7 Oriental Area Rug, which brings a pop art feel to a traditional design.

Or if you have a kitchen that’s very formal — think vintage range, hanging copper pots, and an old farmhouse sink — keep with the theme by incorporating an Oriental rug that’s as timeless as your home. Here, a big area rug can make a wood space feel toasty and inviting. The Hampstead Collection 8027 Red Oriental Area Rug is one such option. As stunning as it is durable, this gorgeous rug can stand up to boisterous dinner parties, busy afternoons making cookies, and lots of little feet while still looking as classic as any antique rug.

Construction

Let’s talk about construction. Traditionally—and by traditionally we mean for the past, oh, 2,000 years—rugs were made by hand or on a loom and from materials such as wool and silk. You can still buy those today, and they can be beautiful investment pieces. Or, you can buy modern rugs that use the latest weaving technology and synthetic fibers to craft rugs that can stand the test of time.

You can see this in choices like the beautiful Multi-Colored Modern Bohemian Distressed Area Rug or Gray Anthracite Modern Area Rug. Whether its a trendy modern design you’re looking for or something that speaks to classic Persian looks, Luxe Weavers endeavours to deliver the highest quality for the best price.

That means making cosmopolitan rugs for every room, including the kitchen. As the center of most homes, the place where you eat, cook, and share priceless family memories should be as warm and inviting as the rest of your home. To see more styles, visit luxeweavers.com.

Winter can be a magical time when viewed through your window. Outside snow may fall, wind may blow, and a chill may set in, but inside can be an oasis—that is, if you have the right interior touches to make it cozy and warm. 

That’s no easy feat when considering how the cold can sap moisture, creep in through windows pains, and leak in through thin insulation. For homes without a fireplace, it’s also difficult to make a space as inviting as those with a hearth. 

But, never fear, with a few appropriate touches, even the coldest spaces can be heated up to bring in a warming glow. In this guide we’ll look at 7 ways to raise the temperature in your home.

Embrace the throw blanket

For anyone who has fought over the thermostat, you know that all body temperatures are not made the same. Some of us walk this earth permanently chilled while others are always one degree away from breaking a sweat. Rather than force one party to always be uncomfortable, embrace throw blankets as a means of personalizing temperature control. 

With a tasteful throw blanket you can make a couch look more cozy and add a note of care and concern for guests who might need an extra layer of warmth.

Lean on textures

Faux furs, fluffy knits, quilted pillowcases—now is the time to embrace a little texture in your space. These little details are the embodiment of the warm, fuzzy feeling and can make a space feel like a soft place to land on an especially frosty night.

Lighten up

With Daylight Savings in effect and the days shorter, the light in your space may no longer be up to snuff. Warm up a space by investing in a new lamp or light fixture that provides a soft glow. Then consider adding some candles. A few choice candles burning can really brighten up a room and give it an old-world ambiance ideal for the holiday season.

Introduce an Oriental rug

What’s classic, soft, and timeless the whole year through? An Oriental area rug. If a room feels cold or sterile one of the swiftest ways to make it more appealing is to add an area rug and with an Oriental design, you’ll be installing something that will never go out of style. 

For a great winter option, consider an Oriental rug with a thick ply that will be comfortable to walk on with or without shoes. Another trick is to make sure it’s large enough. Too small and not touching all of the furniture and the rug will only add to a discomforting cold feeling. Make sure your Oriental area rug is large and can fill a space, like this Howell Collection Red Abstract Area Rug. 

Branch out

Practically speaking, it may sound counterintuitive to bring greenery from nature indoors during the winter. But it works to remarkable effect. 

Just as a Christmas tree with ornaments brings a warming vibe to a room, so too can any greenery, be it magnolia branches or evergreen leaves. This tradition started in pre-Roman times, according to natural history and botanical illustrator Lizzy Harper. Harper writes, “evergreen plants represented new life in mid-winter, and gave hope for the spring.” Bring the hope for warmer days into your home and warm it up in the process. 

Get wood-centric

Natural fibers and materials can make a space so much more authentic. Consider Scandinavian design. The emphasis on birch woods gives places like lake houses a warm feeling even when minimally decorated. This can be easily done with something as simple as a natural candle holder, or on a larger scale with a full chest of drawers in wood.

Go ahead, buy more pillows

Tis the season to wear your slippers all day and don jammies from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. Continue the sleepover feeling in your home by putting pillows everywhere. Pull in warm hues like red, orange, and yellow in big cushy pillows in various shapes, from square to lumbar support styles, to give off even more heat in a space.

With these seven ideas, you can start to amp up the temp in your home and make it a safe haven for the winter months. And don’t forget to double check your heating system as well. Sometimes it’s not the décor that’s making a place icy! A good check-up will help you survive the winter months and be ready for spring. 

Dining room rugs offer more than just a cushion to our feet or cover for our floors. They are often introduced to shape the dining room table and create a dining area that's visually appealing, comfortable, warm, colorful, and stylish. Truth is, a perfect dining room area rug is an art as well as an investment. So here are a few tips to help you make smart decisions when choosing the right for your dining room.