In which Liam photobombs every single picture.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014


Dear Pinterest-loving, design-blog-following friends (that's you, right?),

I need your expertise.

Since moving into our house 5 months ago, we've yet to buy one single rug. The only rugs that even exist in this house are two bathmats.

So, considering our entire house is hardwood floors (with tile in the bathrooms), it's time. Time to buy a rug. (It feels very "adult" of me to talk rug-buying, much less actually purchase a rug. They're just about the last thing I ever want to spend money on.)

We want to start with the living room.


I'll give you a little tour...
1. $60 Craigslist find from a few weeks ago. It's a mustardy gold velvet. Yum.
2. The blinds on both windows are about to go. We're thinking white plantation-style blinds (we need them to be able to close at night because we're very close to our neighbors) and/or possibly curtains as well.
3. Another gold velvety chair that our neighbor just gave us a few weeks ago. She's like our other chair's mustard cousin. Not sure she'll stay there forever. It's a bit of mustard overload.
4. The cutest photobomber I ever did see.
5. The verse painting I did, though we're looking for something else (a little larger and brighter) in this spot. Perhaps a New York or Chicago map framed?
6. This couch definitely needs some color. Maybe I'll make a couple more throw pillows.
7. Remember this chair? Never knew it would find such a perfect home in Raleigh.
So back to rugs. 

I really only have two stipulations:
1. It has to be under $200. I just can't come to grips with spending any more than that (though these Anthro rugs are all so tempting). 
2. No chevron. I like chevron (obviously), but I have a feeling it's a home decor trend that may be on its way out. 

Here are a few ideas I have so far: 
Star Tile Rug ($199)
Jute Rug ($153.99)
Flourish Tile Rug ($89, but possibly too small for the space)
Maples Fretwork Rug in Charcoal ($127.49)
Ok, so those are 4 preliminary options. 

What do you think? A more flat, woven-style rug? Something more plush and comfy under your feet? No rug at all? 

Are there places online that I should definitely look? 

I'd love to hear your votes...

58 comments:

  1. The Jute rug looks like a nice neutral to add to the space. (Do you think it's scratchy, though?) We have a lot of rugs in our apartment and I appreciate how forgiving the patterns and textures are of crumbs, dirt, and small spills. I LOVE the pattern of your star tiled one, but I could never ever go white or near-white in my house.

    www.novelbenedictions.com

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  2. If you have a Ross, TJ Maxx, or Marshall's handy I would check them! I recently moved and have been stopping into each looking for deals, and they rarely disappoint. Ross seems to have the lowest prices, and surprisingly some of the best selection.

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    1. Ross! Yes. I hadn't thought of that and I definitely need to stop by.

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  3. My only plea: DARK. I am so desperately in love with the light colored rugs- especially the ones you chose here- and all I can say is that I regret having one with all my heart. So many stains. So dirty looking. Even though I vacuum it every single day- and spot clean it the moment Eliana drops something on it- but it still just looks old & worn out & it's not even a year old. Boo. Ok. That's all. I think the light colored rugs for maybe somewhere like your bedroom- somewhere where there's much less traffic.

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  5. KateMarch 19, 2014 at 9:05 AM

    I love the color and texture of the Jute rug, but it may be a little rough. The star pattern and flourish tile pattern rugs are beautiful and would look great in your living room. Have you checked online at rugsusa.com? They have a huge selection of rugs and run sales pretty often.

    Also, what paint color did you use in this room? It is the perfect light blue with hints of grey.

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    1. RugsUSA.com is such a great find! Thank you!

      And the paint color is Sherwin Williams Sea Salt, lightened by 25%.

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  6. I love the star tile rug and the maples fretwork rug - I think the jute rug is to rough under foot plus it might clash with the mustard chair, the flourish rug is nice but I personally would get sick of it quicker. The first and last are nice ones, the first has a light print that is really nice plus the white/cream colour would bring some brightness. And the last one looks nice and plush and soft underfoot - good luck! :)

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  7. I love how cute your living room is looking! We have a wool jute mix that is soft but for the most part jute is really uncomfortable. Have you tried Rugs Usa online? A few of my friends and I have found excellent deals on really great rugs there. Also I would stear away from any flatweave/dhurrie. We bought one for our daughter's nursery and we hate it. It's really uncomfortable/mat-like, really hard to clean and always looks dingy. Although they are usually really inexpensive it's for a reason:/

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  8. We have a jute rug on our wooden floor, and I love it! It is very forgiving with stains and easy to clean. I have a picture of it here (http://capturingdailydelights.blogspot.com/search/label/interior) There is only one picture where you can actually see it, but you get the idea. Good thing is that they are rather cheap, and not at all as hard and scratchy as I expected it to be!

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  9. The jute rug looks good anywhere and isn't too rough on the feet,in my opinion, but ours SHEDS all - the - time. I hate it. Wish I never had bought it. That being said, Ikea has some great options right now. We just picked up a 5x7 for only 60$.

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    1. Ohhh shedding. That's no good. Ikea is such a great idea, thanks.

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  10. Love your verse art, and hope to make my own when I find a place to put it!

    1. Have you seen Jenna Sue's Map prints - I love them (http://www.jennasuedesign.com/chicago-illinois/)

    2. Have you checked out Homegoods/Marshalls for Rugs? We found our dining room rug on a whim one night when we were browsing Marshalls.

    Have a great Day!

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    1. Love those maps! Thanks for pointing me in that direction!

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  11. What a pretty space! Someday I hope to have hardwood floors, but for now I have no need of rugs and no advice to share. :) I know that the Nester (http://www.thenester.com/) has lots of opinions and some good sources for shopping for rugs. Also Jessica at http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/ is currently sharing her decorating process in her new home. Not too long ago she went through the whole rug shopping ordeal too, and as I recall she shares some good links. Hopefully this helps!

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  12. Agree totally, chevrons are on the way out. I think they'll stick around for another year or so, but it's too late to shell out for a rug with that pattern now. If you want to be trendy, hexagons are going to be the next big shape. BUT! I think something more classic, like the darker trellis pattern in #4, will be a better move. Plus, it'll hide the dirt!

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  13. Consider how much traffic it have to endure (Will it be placed in a frequent walkway/path? Do you wear shoes in your home?), because if you'll be vacuuming it frequently, you need to get a rug that can withstand the suction and abuse that inevitably comes from vacuuming. Check reviews for durability. (Looped rugs are awful with vacuums, in my experience). So I would consider either a low-pile rug or one that won't show the shmutz.

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  14. Yes to checking out a Home Goods if you have one nearby! But I really like the last option!

    I also would love to know what color your living room is painted??

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    1. Home Goods! Yes. I will definitely stop by one.

      Our living room is Sherwin Williams Sea Salt lightened by 25%.

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  15. I was totally thinking a light gray and white pattern immediately. I like the Flourish Tile Rug.

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    1. Me too. I'm not sure I'm brave enough for how light it is.

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  16. Yeah, I like the suggestions above. The most recent rug we bought for the girls' room was actually from Aldi! It was just in the center aisle there and is a 5x7 simple, one-colored, yet very plush rug that works great. It was $30. :) I also really looked at Target, Kohl's, and Home Goods, and I think those are the most quality/lowest price options. I totally agree with not getting anything too light in color. Our living room rug has lots of pattern in reds/blues/dark tan, and I'm so grateful it doesn't show the stains too much! Also, if you rack up some Target gift cards on Swagbucks, that will definitely help offset your cost!! :)

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    1. I need to just come visit and learn from your thrifty ways. Love you.

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  17. Have you looked on Overstock.com? We've bought most of our rugs that are in our apartment from there and have been nothing but happy with them. Plus shipping ranges from free to $3 or something crazy low like that. The one that is in our family room where we spend most of our time is still in great condition and it's been 3 years. Also, I love that you can read all kinds of reviews before purchasing.

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  18. I kinda of really love the star tile rug, but all of the options you picked are super cute and go with the decor already in the room. I have purchased two rugs from Rugs USA, and I highly recommend the site. First, the rugs are REALLY inexpensive and are the same quality that you would purchase anywhere else. They also usually have some sort of sale going, and they have similar style to what you have in this post.

    Also, take a look at this site: http://maps.stamen.com/watercolor. It's a watercolor map generator. You can create a map for (pretty much) any city, and get it printed in various sizes. I have one up in my home, and I love it!

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  19. Jute rug! We have one in our living room (a score from Pottery Barn that was surprisingly under $200) and I absolutely love it.

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  20. I have that exact jute rug in our dining room and I love it so far. I have bought all my area rugs at Rugs USA- wait for their 70% off sales to score a great deal! They usually happen over a holiday. Best deals ever for rugs. I am very happy with the ones I have purchased from there and the prices were amazing after the discount!

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  21. We have the Maples rug in the same color in our living room with two little kids. It cleans well and is a soft rug to play and roll around on. I have the rug paired with yellow and white damask curtains and it is a nice color contrast. We found ours at Target!

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  22. Love the Maples Fretwork Rug in Charcoal rug for that room. Also an idea for wall that you might want to do New York or Chicago, just saw this on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/480548222711717267

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  23. IKEA for sure, we bought our rug from there for a crazy good price (under $100)

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    1. Ahh if only we had one! Ours is 3+ hours away. Someday...

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  24. Can't remember if you have pets, but I don't think they like jute rugs. I like the UO one! But I also love shopping for other people. ;) These are what I found!

    I think a soft blue would be beautiful in here! Like this one from Target!
    http://www.target.com/p/room-365-deco-scallop-area-rug/-/A-14747840#prodSlot=medium_1_5

    Or if you wanted to tie in with the mustard, this one is lovely, also from Tar-jay.

    http://www.target.com/p/threshold-lattice-area-rug-yellow/-/A-14665782?reco=Rec|pdp|14665782|ClickCP|item_page.vertical_1&lnk=Rec|pdp|ClickCP|item_page.vertical_1

    I also like this one (bet you can't guess where it is from) because it is a mix of blue and mustard!

    http://www.target.com/p/threshold-soft-floral-area-rug-cream-blue/-/A-14652326#prodSlot=medium_1_21

    This one feels anthro-ish to me and has a mix of colors...

    http://www.target.com/p/nellie-floral-area-rug/-/A-14667600#prodSlot=medium_1_43

    I also like this one, check out World Market for rugs. Also, they most always have coupons!!

    http://www.worldmarket.com/product/yellow+lucine+flat-woven+wool+rug.do?page=3&from=fn

    Good luck finding the perfect one!!

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    1. Ha, my name is linked to my grad school blog. PLEASE disregard. Oy.

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    2. Ahh you go/went to University of the Cumberlands? My dad is an alumnus there (when it was Cumberland College). :)

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    3. Also... you're the BEST. I didn't even think of World Market and absolutely love that one. Thank you thank you!

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    4. Oh I'm so glad. :) I went to Western when I came to your house, graduated with a BS in Interior Design. Changed my mind a little while later and went to UC for a Master's in Elementary Education. I finished in December. I love it, so happy I took the plunge and did it! I have not visited the actual campus yet (did it all online) but will when I walk the line in May, bought my dress today!! :D

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  25. Every guest wants value for money aside from an excellent ambience.
    Best Western artwork

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  26. Whitney - we have a jute type rug in our family room - I love it, and it goes with all our decor, but my children who are grown are still complaining that it's rough on little people's knees and feet. If I had it to over again I would not purchase this type of rug.

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  27. When we bought our house this past summer I had to be very adult-like and buy rugs as well! Our home has wood floors throughout, and I'm so glad I have the rugs — they tie the living spaces together a bit more (we have a pretty open floor plan) and creates a nice warmth. Especially the well-lived in areas, such as your family room, I recommend a darker or a heavier pattern so the every-day messes blend in. I have a patterned rug and it really hides, which is really nice with our dog. We're having our first baby this fall and I'm sure I'll be thankful for that with a kiddo too! Can't wait to see what you end up with!

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  28. Hi Whitney!
    Your house looks great to me in such a way as iny our pics (with adorbale Liam with a milk bottle :))
    Well, I like things mad eo natural materials and looking like hand made so I'd opt for a jut rug. But it is up to you of course, you have such a good taste for color and shape!
    Have a blessed day!

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