Rugs

Start with the look you want, then narrow by size and colour. Modern and contemporary rugs suit most living rooms, and abstract rugs add pattern without needing a busy room around them. 

For a softer feel, shag rugs and faux fur designs have a deep pile that feels good underfoot. Round rugs break up a room full of straight lines, black and white rugs give a graphic contrast, and Persian-style rugs bring a traditional pattern to modern rooms. 

Size matters more than anything else. Choose an area rug large enough for the front legs of your sofa and armchairs to sit on it, so the seating reads as one zone. If you are pairing a rug with a 3 seater sofa , a large rug usually works better than a medium one, and your coffee table and TV unit can sit within the same frame. A rug that is too small tends to float in the middle of the floor. 

For colour, grey and white floor rugs are the easiest to work with, as they sit comfortably with most sofas and timber or tiled floors. Beige and taupe add warmth without much contrast, while green and brown tones bring more character to a neutral room. 

Bedroom rugs are about comfort first. Place one under the lower two thirds of the bed so it extends past both sides and the foot, giving you a soft place to step out each morning. In a smaller room, a rug on each side of the bed does the same job. Browse bedroom furniture to plan the whole layout. 

Under a dining table, choose a rug wide enough that chairs stay on it when pulled out. A shorter pile makes chairs easier to move and crumbs easier to vacuum. Measure your table with its chairs, or check the dimensions of your dining sets , before choosing a size. 

Pile height changes how a rug looks and feels. A shorter pile is easier to clean, while a deeper pile feels softer underfoot. If you prefer natural fibres, look at wool blend rugs or seagrass rugs , which are a smaller part of the range, along with a few cotton blends. 

Rotate a rug every few months so wear and sun exposure stay even, which matters in bright Australian rooms. On hard floors, a rug pad adds grip and cushioning, unless the rug already has its own anti-slip base. These rugs are for indoor use. For patios and balconies, see our outdoor rugs .