Apr 29, 2015

New Spring and Summer Area Rugs for the Family Room and Living Room

I'm just popping in today to share a quick peek at the new area rugs I found for our living room and family room. Here in Boise it's very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter, and I've found that what's underfoot can affect how we respond to those extremes. So I've begun switching out some of our area rugs for the seasons. I've searched high and low to find well made and good looking, yet very affordable area rugs that I don't mind having rolled up in our attic for six months out of the year. 

Last fall I purchased this large 8'x10' deep sumptuous shag rug in rich warm colors that complement my decorating in the living room during the cooler months of the year. (This photo is from last Christmas.) This plush rug was only $398 at our local Lowe's and brought instant color, warmth and coziness to our living room.


However, during our hot high desert summers here, I've learned that bare hardwood floors with smaller and lighter weight area rugs help us feel cooler. This is the same room with the 5'x8' jute area rug I bought on clearance for $120 from our local Pier One Imports on Saturday. (As you can see I still haven't unpacked this room since the new floors went in.) 

I originally purchased a different sisal rug from Overstock.com that I'm now giving to my daughter. Although that rug was beautiful, it had yellow and green grasses that washed out the sofa and walls and made them look dingy. This rug has both gold and gray grasses woven throughout that seem to marry the armoire and sofa well while complementing the Manchester Tan walls. 

 I love the informal look of natural jute and sisal rugs for summer along with the textural layer they add to a room, but I'd read many reviews that said they were difficult to vacuum and keep clean because of the thick weave. This rug has a relatively tight flat braid that my vacuum glides over more easily, and I have a Dyson handheld that makes quick work of vacuuming the fringe. (The thick grassy fringe is one of the things I loved best about this rug.) 

Though nothing about our cottage can really be considered formal, the living room is a more formal room in our home that gets less traffic and wear than others. So I feel comfortable leaving more of the hardwood floor exposed and unprotected in there than in more high traffic rooms. 

And I already feel cooler.

Here is my (headless, oops) husband and Tucker checking out the new family room rug. Our family room lives hard with the whole family watching movies and munching on snacks and just hanging out informally here in general. Add to that the dog and the door leading out to the deck and yard, and we needed a sturdy, tough, easy to clean rug that will protect the new hardwood floor. Believe me, it's not easy finding a neutral rug with those requirements that you also really want to look at everyday.

This 8'x10' indoor/outdoor rug, purchased at our local Home Depot on Saturday for $119, fit the requirements for us. It's drag-outside and hose-off tough, but still looks nice enough for our summer family room. I love how it brings together the creamy walls and white TV console with the brown leather furniture and how it adds some texture and pattern to the room. 

I also originally purchased a different rug for this room online from Target. Luckily, it was an easy local return to the store because, like the first living room rug I ordered, it was less than appealing. I've come to the conclusion that for large size rugs, computer screens just can't adequately convey true colors and returning them is a pain in the rear. As difficult and limited as shopping is here in Boise, I'll still be sticking with purchasing rugs locally from now on where I can see them in the store before bringing them home.

Since we have the final rug sizes, I ordered custom cut rug pads for all our new rugs from rugpadusa.com, whom we've been happy with in the past. The high quality felt pads cost as much as some of our inexpensive summer rugs, but it would be crazy not to protect our new hardwood floors properly, and we consider that money well spent. 

Now that I have my neutral summer backdrops in place I'm looking forward to adding more layers and textures throughout our house. I'm planning on taking it slow and including only items that we really love. There are four boxes sitting on the dining room table waiting to be unpacked (just a start) and I'm excited to get started making our house uniquely ours again.

I'm so glad you stopped by to see our new spring and summer area rugs today. I hope you enjoy the rest of your week!

  

I love to party!

Savvy Southern Style

19 comments:

  1. I'm a fan of jute/sisal rugs, looks beautiful anywhere, any type of room, only problem is, the dust underneath that accumulates quite frequently, so watch out for that Laurel. I love the one you chose for your family room too!!!! You know I'm a huge fan of quarterfoil pattern, I'm betting you'll love this one better than the other one, and my, what a deal!

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  2. Nice rugs, Laurel! I love that one in your family room. It looks great with your furniture. I also love your winter rug in the living room. It looks perfect with your Christmas décor!

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  3. When I purchase rugs, I usually buy indoor/outdoor rugs from Ballards. I believe the indoor/outdoor ones are cheaper and you can just hose them down!
    Brenda

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  4. I love that look! perfect rug!!

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  5. Oh, Laurel, you have such an eye for decorating! Your pretty home looks wonderful no matter what the season. :-)

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  6. I love the idea of switching out your rugs with the seasons. Each one really gives the room a fresh new look and sets the tone for whole room. I especially love the modern feel of this new one. And you are really good at hunting down thrifty finds too!

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  7. Love your new rugs. I'm wanting new rugs and furniture for my living room, but don't have the money now. It doesn't cost anything to collect ideas from great designers like you!

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  8. I love your area rugs. We are thinking of getting a rug for the living room, but haven't found one we can both agree on yet.

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  9. Just beautiful! I love the choices you have made. The rugs are gorgeous! xxx Maria

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  10. Great information. I've always wanted to try a sisal rug. I love the look. The rug you have for winter is gorgeous. Love the pop of red with the leather chair. I have hardwood floors and buying rugs has always been a challenge.

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  11. I'm with everyone else! I especially like your winter rug since the colors are perfect for my home, too! Where did you get your living room couch??

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  12. Hi Laurel, Beautiful rugs. I love indoor outdoor rugs. Easy to keep clean and they always looks so nice.Love your winter rug too. Great colors for the holidays. So nice to change things out isn't it?
    Your home is gorgeous!
    Have a nice weekend, CM

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  13. Gorgeous rugs - and what great deals you got! I love those indoor outdoor rugs as well. I have one in my kitchen and wouldn't think of putting anything else in there with kids and a dog (and a messy husband!) Every time I see your new floors I love them even more. I keep getting nervous about the finished on site hardwood floors but then I see yours and I know it will totally be worth it! Beautiful!
    Shelley

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  14. Very nice, I like them all. I've never thought of changing rugs out for the seasons. Not sure I have the storage space ... but I like the idea and your rugs will probably last longer.

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  15. You are very talented and it's always a pleasure to read your blog and see your ideas put into actions. I would not have the storage space but hey we are moving to cold North Dakota soon. We are moving into a parsonage so I believe there is carpet there and I have wondering what I can do with the brownish carpet. We both have allergies :) It's temping to lay an indoor/outdoor rug over it :) Thank for sharing Laurel.

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  16. Great rug choices, Laurel! Our weather here in Illinois sounds similar to yours. Our summers can get quite humid so I don't like anything that feels heavy in the house (I like to keep the windows open and don't turn on the AC unless it's scorcher outside).

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  17. I always love how rugs brighten a room, but I choose not to use them in our home. With small dogs and running a salvage/construction business, they just get too dirty and it's easier for us to just clean the hardwood floors. One thing that I noted that I really do like (and have always liked) are your transom windows above your sofa. Such great light and a view of the trees, yet they provide privacy.

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